2023 GMC Sierra 3500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 carries a complaint index of 85, ranking 4th-worst among 21 model years and earning an Avoid verdict. Transmission and powertrain issues account for 50% of complaints, with median failure mileage at 33,800.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 85/100
- #4 of 21 Sierra 3500 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 28
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
Top 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain14 (50%)
- Engine5 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (18%)
- Electrical System4 (14%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (14%)
- Other3 (11%)
- Brakes2 (7%)
- Fuel System2 (7%)
- Lane Departure2 (7%)
- Airbags1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Transmission valve body failures cause hard, jolting downshifts and sudden loss of power while accelerating.
- Some trucks lose the ability to shift above 3rd gear, triggering reduced-engine-power warnings and speeds capped around 40 mph.
- Owners describe wheel lock-up combined with a shudder effect while decelerating from highway speeds, sometimes leading to a crash.
- The power tailgate has opened unexpectedly while driving, in one case spilling cargo and contributing to a lane-departure-related collision.
- A master cylinder was reported leaking brake fluid near the piston seal.
- Electrical faults cause trailer brake lights and connections to intermittently fail when towing.
2023 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V060000Feb 1, 2024Structure & Body570,434 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently unlatching while the vehicle is in park.
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232426400.
2023 compared with other Sierra 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2023 Sierra 3500 a complaint index of 85, the 4th-worst of 21 model years tracked, with an Avoid verdict driven mainly by transmission complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500?
- Transmission and powertrain issues dominate, making up 50% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 33,800 and reports of valve body failures and hard shifts.
- Does the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (24V060000) for power-unlatching tailgates that can short and open unexpectedly.
- How does the 2023 Sierra 3500 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 85, 2023 ranks worse than most other Sierra 3500 years; only 2024 (100), 2020 (95), and 2022 (90) score higher on the index.