2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability Report

Restarting after a short stop can bring up a cluster of warnings: brake system failure with a 62 mph limit, Service ESC, service trailer brake, and reduced steering assist. Braking then turns weak, hard, or spongy, and the pedal can sink to the floor. Many cases happen in the first few thousand miles. Dealers usually reprogram the brake control module or apply a recall fix, and some owners say the problem returns. Three crashes are reported, including ABS that did not work on snow. Other reports describe brakes applying on their own and trailer brake fuses blowing.

Power steering cuts out while driving or at startup, leaving a heavy wheel and a service power steering message, often with the same ESC and brake warnings seen under brakes. Reported mileages run from about 35,070 to 50,000. Fixes include a new steering gear motor and a repaired grounding strap. Some owners say the wheel locks completely. Three crashes are reported, including a rollover after the steering froze. A separate failure has the front upper control arm ball joint separating, which collapses the wheel during a turn.

Water leaks around the rear sliding window and third brake light are the main complaint. They cause headliner stains, wet carpet, and fears of mold. Owners say the bulletin reseal is only a temporary patch, and window replacement is not covered once the truck is past 36,000 miles. Other reports include a rear end that locked at very low speed and caused two injuries, a front camera failure that disables collision warning, lane departure, and IntelliBeam, a tailgate that opens on its own when wet, and steering wheel volume buttons that stick.

The engine stalls, loses power, or seizes, sometimes at speed, and some trucks will not restart. Dealers find failed lifters, camshaft damage, cylinder 5 misfires, metal in the oil pan, or a bent crankshaft. Most of these owners tie the failure to the federal engine investigation or recall but are told their VIN is not covered, and many leave the engine unrepaired because of the cost. In one case an oil cooler line came off at its crimp, drained the oil, and seized the engine. Reported failures run from about 50,000 to 115,000 miles.

Water comes into the cab through the rear window, third brake light, or roof seam, sometimes within the first month. Owners report damp seats and worry about mold. Tailgates unlatch while driving, and one fell while a trailer was attached. Other reports include frame coating that peels and lets rust start by about 25,000 miles, a hard tri-fold bed cover that flew off at highway speed, false hood-ajar alarms that disable remote start, peeling chrome trim, and a sunroof that shattered while driving. The one crash report involves ABS on snow.

No bag comes out in any of the three crash reports here. One involves a rear-end collision at 40 mph, and two involve deer strikes. In the deer strikes, smoke fills the cab and either the computer logs a deployment or the bag covers pop loose, yet no bag inflates. One failure happened at 6,000 miles, followed by a service restraint message. None of the trucks had a confirmed diagnosis from a dealer when the complaint was filed.

Restraints misbehave in two opposite ways. In one case a front passenger belt pretensioner did not lock during a hard stop, and the passenger reports a neck injury. A dealer could not find the cause. In the other, the air bags and seat belt pretensioners fired inside a parked truck with no crash, pinning and injuring three occupants. That case was still pending with the dealer and the manufacturer when it was filed. Four injuries are reported across these two complaints.