2009 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
234 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
72,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 121 of 234 complaints (51.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 5.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 121 |
| Unknown Or Other | 38 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Structure:Body | 17 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Power Train | 9 |
Air Bags: 121; Unknown Or Other: 38; Electrical System: 18; Structure:Body: 17; Engine: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Power Train: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 117 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 37 |
| 2017 | 64 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 9; 2015: 6; 2016: 37; 2017: 64; 2018: 32; 2019: 17; 2020: 17; 2021: 16; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10293936 · 2009-11-29 (November 29, 2009)
VERTICAL PLASTIC COVER NEXT TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE IS A VERTICAL PLASTIC COVER OF SOME TYPE, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SOLE OF MY DRESS SHOES GETS CAUGHT ON, DELAYING MY FOOT FROM REACHING AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THESE VALUABLE MILLISECONDS IS GOING CAUSE SOMEONE OUT THERE TO GET KILLED OR SERIOUSLY MAIMED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347306 · 2010-08-04 (August 4, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO OFF AND REMOVING IT FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WOULD REMAIN ON. WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AND SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554832 · 2013-12-04 (December 4, 2013)
TRANSMISSION DELAY FROM PARK TO DRIVE. AS TRANSMISSION MOVES INTO DRIVE THE TRUCK JERKS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. PARK TO REVERSE DID NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. DEALER WORKED ON THE TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS, FLUSHED TRANSMISSION, AND PERFORMED OIL CHANGE, DID NOT NOTICE ANY METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SOUGHT AN UPDATE FOR THE TCM (WAS UP-TO-DATE); HOWEVER, A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER WAS SEEN IN THE OIL PAN. DEALER PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE AND THE TRUCK APPEARED TO BE BACK IN WORKING CONDITION. OWNER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK OUT OF THE DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994016 · 2017-06-08 (June 8, 2017)
TRANSMISSION FILLER TUBE IS BREAKING. THERE IS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MINE. WHY? I ORDERED A NEW ONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10994016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296340 · 2009-12-18 (December 18, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THERE WAS A BURNT WIRE IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS DISABLED THE ACTUATOR THAT LOCKS ALL FOUR DOOR WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION, AND WHEN THE KEY IS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR AND THEN THE WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE GMC MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PARTS ARRIVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531827 · 2013-07-25 (July 25, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE DRIVESHAFT, CAUSING THE WIRES TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS LOCATION AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10818178 · 2016-01-05 (January 5, 2016)
THE DASH ON MY TRUCK HAS CRACKED BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ALSO BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLINE FORUMS PROVE THAT GMT900 VEHICLES (TAHOE, SUBURBAN, YUKON, SILVERADO, SIERRA) HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS TIME THAT GM STARTS A RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE DASH DESIGN. IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE BROKEN DASH COULD EASILY SEND PLASTIC FRAGMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863183 · 2016-05-04 (May 4, 2016)
THE DASH ON MY TRUCK HAS CRACKED BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ALSO BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLINE FORUMS PROVE THAT GMT900 VEHICLES (TAHOE, SUBURBAN, YUKON, SILVERADO, SIERRA) HAVE THIS ISSUE. THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING AND HAVE REPLACED THEM 8 TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ALSO BOTH RIGHT SIDE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL CHILD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10863183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586161 · 2014-05-02 (May 2, 2014)
HIT A POTHOLE FULL OF WATER WITH RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE WATER SPLASHED UP AND ENTERED INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE THROUGH A POOR SEAL CAUSING THE UNIT TO SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE TRUCK. TRUCK STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART BLOCKING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT, AND THE TRUCK HAD THE FOLLOWING CODES SET: P069E, P0231, P025A, P064A. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO HAYDOCY GMC AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE. THEY REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE NEW UNIT TO THE TRUCK.…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507249 · 2013-04-05 (April 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FUEL VENT SOLENOID VALVE WAS FAULTY AND THAT THE FUEL TANK COULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE DUE TO THE BUILD UP OF THE VAPORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR COSTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,886. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 19,886 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966135 · 2017-03-15 (March 15, 2017)
MY TRUCK DIED IN TRAFFIC BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET STARTED AND HOME (2 MILES). MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I AM READING A CODE U0191, WHICH REFERS TO THE FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL MODULE. I HAD TO PURCHASE A BATTERY BECAUSE I HAD A BATTERY DRAINING ISSUE AND WAS HAVING TO JUMP IT IF IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY TRUCK WILL NOT START AT THIS TIME. AFTER DOING SOME CHECKING, BOTH MY FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FLOW MODULE FUSES ARE HOT EVEN WITH THE TRUCK IGNITION OFF. WHICH WOULD INDICATE A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH , I FOUND A SAFETY RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966135 at NHTSA ↗