What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 GMC Sierra 1500

Typical pattern

2.9% of complaints about the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (243 complaints), typically at 8.8 yr or about 85,735 miles.

Complaints
442
Median age at failure
8.8 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=242
Crash / fire / tow
6.3% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
243 reports · 85,735 mi
8.8 yr
4.9%
Other
41 reports · 89,000 mi
8.8 yr
2.4%
Electrical system
31 reports · 57,880 mi
6.8 yr
9.7%
Structure
25 reports · 85,000 mi
8.7 yr
4%
Latches / locks
23 reports · 38,000 mi
3.8 yr
4.3%
Engine
19 reports · 110,000 mi
8.9 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V052000 2021-02-05
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

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

21V050000 2021-02-05
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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 2007-200

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

In owners’ own words

Other 10 mi 11 mo in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PAINT JOB WAS ORANGE PEEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL THE VEHICLES WERE PAINTED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 10/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB
Other 170,000 mi 6.6 yr in service crash / fire / tow
ON 04.12.2014 AFTER GOING TO THE STORE, PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT. THE TIME WAS 10PM. WHILE INSIDE HEARD A POP SOUND AROUND 10:15 PM. WENT OUTSIDE AND THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT FROM UNDER THE CARPORT, TRYING TO SAVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE WARPED ALL THE VINYL UNDER THE CARPORT. LUCKY IT DIDN'T CATCH THE HOUSE ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS WORSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TT
Other 108,000 mi 8.3 yr in service
DASH ALL OF A SUDDEN DEVELOPED CRACK ABOVE THE LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND ABOVE THE DRIVER GAUGE PANEL. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE STORIES I AM READING ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Latches / locks 2,745 mi 10 mo in service
DOOR LOCKS QUIT LOCKING WITH THE AUTO LOCKER AND REMOTE ON THE DRIVER DOOR 1ST 1TRIP. TOOK THREE MONTH TO GET PARTS TRIP TO FIX. AND THEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR QUIT ANOTHER TRIP TO GET LOOKED AT. NOW WAITING TO GET THE REAR DOOR PARTS AND SOMEONE TOLD ME IT COULD DO IT TO ALL 4 DOORS........MY TRUCK HAS SEEN MORE TIME AT THE SHOP THEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

Other Sierra 1500 model years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999

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