2019 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
634 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
13,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 215 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 297 of 634 complaints (46.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 145 | 22.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 106 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 79 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 45 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 297 |
| Power Train | 133 |
| Service Brakes | 107 |
| Electrical System | 91 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Steering | 42 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 22 |
Engine: 297; Power Train: 133; Service Brakes: 107; Electrical System: 91; Unknown Or Other: 43; Steering: 42; Engine And Engine Cooling: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 125 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 125; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (125). 419 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 53 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 46 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 211 |
| 2026 | 141 |
2018: 4; 2019: 53; 2020: 68; 2021: 23; 2022: 38; 2023: 46; 2024: 50; 2025: 211; 2026: 141
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 145 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 106 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 79 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 11160622 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)
HAVE ABOUT 6000 MILES ON MY 2019 GMC SEIRRA DENALI 5.3 . I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY TROUBLING ISSUE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE ALREADY AND HAD A HARD TIME CONVINCING THEM THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK .EVERY TIME I DRIVE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME OR IDLE FOR 10+ MINS WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE I CANNOT GO FASTER THAN 5 MPH WITHOUT THE REAR BRAKES LOCKING UP. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS SOME KIND OF LIMP MODE OR WHAT .
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163136 · 2018-12-22 (December 22, 2018)
REAR WHEEL BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY LOCK UP AFTER DRIVING OVER A HOUR OR MORE
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203684 · 2019-04-25 (April 25, 2019)
TRANSMISSION JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN. WHEN SPEEDING UP TRUCK WILL JERK. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. TRUCK FEELS LIKE IT THE REAR END FALLS OUT WHEN STOPPING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11203684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11242742 · 2019-08-09 (August 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CUMMINS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (300 N AIRPORT RD, WEATHERFORD, OK 73096, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE BACKORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED TAKING FROM STOP @ 25-30MPH, VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11242742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191026 · 2019-03-23 (March 23, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STREET, I HEARD THE VEHICLE NOTIFICATION ALARM SOUND, I LOOKED DOWN AT THE DASH AND HAD SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED:I HAD FOUR MESSAGES: SERVICE ESC SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE - 62 MPH TOP SPEED STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE LIGHTS ON DASH THAT WERE ILLUMINATED ABS CHECK ENGINE BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL BEFORE I COULD READ EACH WARNING LIGHT, A RED STOP LIGHT WAS APPROACHING. I WAS AT THAT TIME I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND REALIZED …
Owner-reported narrative. 161 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193906 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
ON APRIL 2, 2019 I PARKED BREFILY FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. UPON RE-ENTERING MY 2019 GMC SIERRA TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES AND STARTING THE ENGINE I IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING MESSAGES ON MY DASH PANEL. THEY WERE "SERVICE ESC" "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE", "BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE" "STEERING ASSIST REDUCED" AND TO DRIVE NO FASTER THAN 62 MPH. PREVIOUSLY PRIOR TO PARKING I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. I WAS IN A LOCATION WHERE I NEEDED TO GO SO I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE BUT FOUND QUICKLY THAT THE BRAKE PEDEL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474551 · 2022-07-18 (July 18, 2022)
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while at a traffic signal, the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that he shifted the vehicle into park(P) and needed four attempts to restart the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact proceeded a few miles on the road and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the vehicle needed a new battery. The battery was replaced. The …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 11474551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11539535 · 2023-08-19 (August 19, 2023)
The lifter valves for the dynamic fuel management system have failed twice resulting in an immediate loss of power, rough driving, and low speed. To replace the first time, it cost $3500 at a mechanic. The 2nd time that it happened (8 months later), we now have to have the engine replaced and it cost almost $10,000. GM has refused to take any ownership in these faulty lift valves and someone is going to lose control of their vehicle when this occurs.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11539535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11216989 · 2019-05-30 (May 30, 2019)
ON 5/28/19 I FILLED MY 2019 GMC SIERRA DENALI AT THE LOCAL GAS STATION. AS USUAL I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER FUELING, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN PULLING OUT OF GAS STATION. UPON EXITING I LOST ALL BRAKING POWER AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS GOING APPROX. 5 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL IT WAS ON THE FLOOR WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. AT APPROX. 4:41PM I RECIEVED AN ONSTAR EMAIL WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE PROBLEM. EMAIL SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERV…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,051 miles reported. Look up ODI 11216989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11269092 · 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)
I STARTED MY CAR AND I HAD 4 MESSAGES APPEAR ON THE DASH STATING(SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE-62 MPH TOP SPEED AND STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE). I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOTICED THAT I HAD LOST POWER STEERING AND WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. IT TOOK THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 FEET TO COME TO A STOP AFTER BRAKING. ALSO THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO DRIVE BACK HOME AND WHEN I DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 11269092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11618214 · 2024-10-05 (October 5, 2024)
On [XXX] at approximately 2 pm the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 (with 6.2 gas motor) motor died while I was driving in traffic. Incident #1 - The vehicle started sputtering and died - no alerts on dash until after the truck died - an empty fuel tank symbol briefly lit up on dash that led me to suspect a fuel pump issue as the fuel tank was full. Safety issue = vehicle failure with no warning in traffic putting occupants in risk. The vehicle would not start and was towed to the GMC dealer where I had purchased the vehicle. Incident #2, the 2019 GMC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11618214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11680319 · 2025-08-13 (August 13, 2025)
Subject: Urgent Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2019 GMC Sierra Denali Escalating mechanical and electrical failures , many beginning before 100,000 miles, and continuing as of today, at approximately 110,000 miles. These issues have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to drive. Since purchasing the vehicle, I have had it serviced regularly and reported that it was driving rough, jerking into gear, and showing early signs of engine and transmission problems. These issues were noted during multiple multipoint inspection services, yet no lasting so…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11680319 at NHTSA ↗