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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

36,600 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting240.0%

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
1
Electrical System
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Power Train
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Tires
1
Vehicle Speed Control
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags1
Electrical System1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Exterior Lighting1
Power Train1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission1
Tires1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Tires: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 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.

2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2014
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20101
20111
20121
20141
20261

2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10349015 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)

I BOUGHT A GMC SIERRA 3500HD DUALLY AND THE TOP ROOF LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS RT AND LT 4TIMES AT THE DEALER . MY WARRANTY 36000MILS EXPIRED AND THE LIGHTS ARE BURNOUT ,I CAN ALSO SMELL BURN SOLDER INSIDE TRUCK CAB. ALSO MY TIRES ARE NO GOOD AFTER 10000 MILES TIRES WORE OUT GENERAL TIRES AW . TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE SPECIALLY COMING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10381306 · 2011-02-09 (February 9, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING A SERVICE INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LINE LEAK. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381306 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10474392 · 2012-09-09 (September 9, 2012)

I DROVE MY WIFE TO THE PHARMACY AND AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO PALMDALE ROAD IN VICTORVILLE THE TRUCK WENT INTO TO LIMP MODE. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTO PARK AT 25MPH ALMOST CAUSING A REAR COLLISION BEHIND US. THE GMC SIERRA 3500HD 2009 CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP CAUSING A BIT OF WHIPLASH TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON BOARD. THE TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THIS CLOSE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 73,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474392 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576425 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)

FEB 7, 2011, WITH JUST 11,200 MILES REPLACED TWO GLOW PLUGS. SEPT 6, 2013, IN MILLERSBURG, OHIO, WITH 26,632 ANOTHER GLOW PLUG WAS REPLACED AND WAS ADVISED WE SHOULD HAVE THE TURBO CHECKED WHEN WE RETURNED HOME IN CALIFORNIA. MARCH 20, 2014, WITH 31,986 MILES, TURBO WAS REPLACED. GIVEN THAT OUR 2005 GMC TRUCK, VIN # [XXX], BLEW UP AND BURNED UP WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES, THIS IS VERY ALARMING THAT OUR 2009 TRUCK IS HAVING SUCH MAJOR PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11746826 · 2026-06-26 (June 26, 2026)

I keep going back to get the recall done and they keep telling me they don't have parts .This has gone on for years

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11746826 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

14V407000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.

Consequence: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. 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 14260.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V267000 · Equipment

Reported: 2018-04-26 (April 26, 2018)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V050000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V052000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V053000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.

NHTSA campaign record ↗