Short answer
Among GMC Sierra model years through 2024, 2023 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (4) and 2015 has the most (23). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
GMC Sierra: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 134
- Fewest recalls
- 2023 (4)
- Most recalls
- 2015 (23)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (41)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026
GMC Sierra Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 6 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Equipment |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2023 | 4 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2022 | 8 | 4–5 stars | Exterior lighting, Power train, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2021 | 10 | 4–5 stars | Tires, Power train, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 16 | 4–5 stars | Tires, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2019 | 17 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Tires, Seat belts |
| 2018 | 12 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine |
| 2017 | 11 | 4–5 stars | Seat belts, Air bags, Child seat |
| 2016 | 13 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic, Seat belts |
| 2015 | 23 | 3–5 stars | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system |
| 2014 | 22 | 2–5 stars | Seat belts, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2013 | 7 | 2–4 stars | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, diesel |
| 2012 | 6 | 3–4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2011 | 9 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Suspension |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2009 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2008 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2005 | 11 | Not rated | Seat belts, Steering, Air bags |
| 2004 | 9 | Not rated | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2003 | 7 | Not rated | Seat belts, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Parking brake |
| 2002 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other, Interior lighting |
| 2001 | 7 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2000 | 11 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure, Air bags |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20266 recalls
- 20254 recalls
- 20248 recalls
- 20234 recalls
- 20228 recalls
- 202110 recalls
- 202016 recalls
- 201917 recalls
- 201812 recalls
- 201711 recalls
- 201613 recalls
- 201523 recalls
- 201422 recalls
- 20137 recalls
- 20126 recalls
- 20119 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20096 recalls
- 20087 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20065 recalls
- 200511 recalls
- 20049 recalls
- 20037 recalls
- 20026 recalls
- 20017 recalls
- 200011 recalls
GMC Sierra: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in GMC Sierra recalls are air bags (41), seat belts (28), service brakes, hydraulic (26), electrical system (23) and power train (16). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 16 of these 27 model years, and 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: GMC Sierra Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the GMC Sierra?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 4 each.
Which GMC Sierra model years have the most recalls?
2015 has the most, with 23 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Sierra", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy