2019 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
53/100
#8 most-complained of 16 Sierra 3500 years
The 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 has a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst out of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 13 complaints, 7 recalls, and brakes as the top problem area at 31% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 13
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes4 (31%)
- Electrical System4 (31%)
- Other4 (31%)
- Engine3 (23%)
- Airbags1 (8%)
- Fuel System1 (8%)
- Steering1 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
What owners report
- Power steering and braking effectiveness dropped out together, accompanied by a battery-charging system warning at a median 9,470 miles.
- Trailer brake controller displays a persistent "Service Trailer Brakes" message across multiple different trailers, disabling a critical safety function.
- Dash lights and radio display intermittently go fully dark or dim with no fix from the dimmer control, distracting the driver and hiding towing-related warnings.
- The service brake warning triggers randomly and requires resetting while driving.
- The Duramax engine entered reduced power/regen mode while towing after a turbo hose blew off at a median 27,000 miles.
- Side-view cameras failed while changing lanes due to a disconnected, poorly connected wire causing low voltage.
2019 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V325000May 21, 2026Airbags4,315 vehicles
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.
- NHTSA 26V166000Mar 19, 2026Airbags2,819 vehicles
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V432000Jun 26, 2025Airbags1,658 vehicles
Air bags
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.
2019 compared with other Sierra 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Sierra 3500 carries a Complaint Index of 53 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among 16 model years for this model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC Sierra 3500?
- NHTSA data shows brakes and the electrical system each account for 31% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 23%. Brake-related failures were reported at a median of 9,470 miles.
- Does the 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2019 Sierra 3500, covering airbags, the fuel system, and the engine block heater on Duramax diesel models. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- Should I avoid the 2019 GMC Sierra 3500?
- It is not the worst year for this model but is not among the best either. Years like 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 carry Avoid verdicts with higher Complaint Indexes, while 2012, 2014, and 2018 rank Best.