2008 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 63 complaints (61.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Air Bags: 39; Unknown Or Other: 9; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 26; 2017: 10; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10392408 · 2011-03-21 (March 21, 2011)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT, NO TRAFFIC, EARLY MORNING, CLEAR DAY, NEW ROAD, BETWEEN KEY LARGO, FLORIDA AND HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, MY 2008 GMC QUADCAB DIESEL WITH 40,000 MILES BEGAN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. AFTER ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS OF TREMENDOUS VIBRATION AND DECELERATION, AT APPROX. 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED SAFELY ON THE PAVED SHOULDER. AFTER EXAMINATION ON A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE "U" JOINT BROKE CONNECTING THE DRIVESHAFT AND TRANSMISSION. THE FREE-WHEELING DRIVESHAFT PUNCTURED THR…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928592 · 2016-11-29 (November 29, 2016)
I WAS INSPECTING MY TRUCK FOR PROPER FLUID LEVELS AND WEAR WHEN I FOUND MY TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE LAYING ON MY ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. I WENT TO GRAB IT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IT WAS JUST FLOPPING IN THE WIND. I PULLED MY TRUCK ONTO RAMPS, SLID UNDERNEATH AND INSPECTED THE ISSUE. I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK/FLUID FILLER TUBE COMPLETELY FRACTURED IN HALF. THE DIPSTICK IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT IN PLACE. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS FAILURE, BUT THAT THE RECALL HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED TO MY V…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379538 · 2011-01-29 (January 29, 2011)
RECEIVED SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM ON MESSAGE CENTER. DEALER FOUND OPEN WIRE IN FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER BRAKE WIRING HARNESS AT E-BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND REPAIRED WIRE, UNDER VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. PROBLEM WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO WIRE RUBBING AGAINST E-BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *LN
Owner-reported narrative. 4,363 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11063133 · 2018-01-16 (January 16, 2018)
FAULTY HOSES SWEATING OUT TRANSMISSION AND STEERING FLUIDS. REPLACED ONCE BY DEALERSHIP, THEN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AFTER DEALERSHIP USED SAME OEM PARTS THAT FAIL. DASHBOARD CRACK TOP LEFT CORNER OF AIR BAG PANEL TAKATA DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT ALL THREE COMPLAINTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER VEHICLES
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120781 · 2018-08-18 (August 18, 2018)
DRIVING AROUND A CORNER WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED ITS SELF IN POSITION CAUSING THE TRUCK TO NOT TURN, ALMOST AS IF WHEN YOU SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN THE WHEEL IT LOCKS IN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 209,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11258168 · 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND DROVE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC'S SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARRY ROBINSON BUICK GMC (6000 S 36TH ST, FORT SMITH, AR 72908, [phone removed]) FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE MAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED A…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349080 · 2020-08-13 (August 13, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WILKINSON AUTOMOTIVE (3335 NC-87 SOUTH, SANFORD, NC 27332) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED 2 DAYS LATER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11349080 at NHTSA ↗