U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Gmc SIERRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

37 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

42,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	5	13.5%
Steering behavior	2	5.4%
Engine operation	1	2.7%
Fuel system concerns	1	2.7%

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.

Air Bags

Electrical System

Engine

Structure:Body:Door

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Steering

Structure:Body

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 8; Engine: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 4 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.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2021

2022

2023

2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 10; 2015: 11; 2016: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10344701 · 2010-07-22 (July 22, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE ENGINE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE AIR BAG SENSOR ALSO CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE E…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344701 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10471876 · 2012-08-22 (August 22, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE IT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. AS A RESULT HE HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471876 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10463331 · 2012-06-27 (June 27, 2012)

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND BUMPED THE CURB WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AT LESS THAN 1/2 MPH. PULLED FORWARD AND THEN BACKED OUT AGAIN WITHOUT CURB CONTACT. DROVE LESS THAN 50 FEET AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT INNER TIE ROD HAD FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF THE TIE ROD SHOWED A FATIGUE FRACTURE THAT HAD PROPAGATED TO OVER 1/3RD OF THE CROSS SECTIONAL AREA. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE WERE SENT TO A WORLD RENOWNED METALLURGIST AND WAS CONFIRMED TO BE A FATIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,408 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463331 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10486130 · 2012-11-26 (November 26, 2012)

I STATED MY TRUCK TO WARM IT UP WHEN I GOT IN AND STARTED TO DRIVE I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I REVVED THE MOTOR A LITTLE AND I COULD HEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKE A NOISE AND IT STARTED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486130 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10849999 · 2016-03-16 (March 16, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILIZER TRACK CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A CLINKING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10849999 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10807813 · 2015-12-01 (December 1, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,844. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/02/18*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 27,844 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807813 at NHTSA ↗