Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 2 NHTSA variants

2022 GMC SierraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 603 owner complaints for the 2022 GMC Sierra. Most complaints involve engine (241) and power train (113). The EPA rates it 16–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
16–26mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
4–5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Feb 2026
Owner complaints
603
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$3,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: software

Free remedy

General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.

Power trainReported Feb 13, 2026NHTSA 26V083000

Engine and engine cooling: hard parts internal

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 24, 2025NHTSA 25V274000

Structure: active shutters

Free remedy

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with chrome front grille deflectors. The attachments that hold the front grille deflectors in place may fracture, resulting in grille detachment.

StructureReported Feb 6, 2025NHTSA 25V060000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

603 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2022 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine241
  2. Power train113
  3. Structure107
  4. Electrical system83
  5. Fuel/propulsion system29
  6. Engine and engine cooling29
  7. Service brakes28
  8. Forward collision avoidance24
  9. Lane departure13

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Sierra model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2020495
2021599
2022603
2023506
2024386
2025136
202681
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

241 reports1 crash2 fires
“Coolant control valve failure per code P1098. Known issue with a special bulletin from Duramax which claims this should be a covered replacement for this year make and model. However, dealer claims VIN is not covered”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2026EngineODI 11773648

Power train

113 reports3 crashes
“The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The transmission shuddered, and the vehicle drove abnormally rough. In addition, the transmission shifted abnormally hard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,950.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Power trainODI 11774096

Structure

107 reports1 crash
“I was driving on a highway when the front grill deflector flew off of my vehicle and broke my driver's side windshield wiper. The incident scared me and made me jump and I'm not sure where the part went after it flew over my wind shield but it could have hit the car behind me. The part in question was part of recall 25V060. I took the vehicle to the dealership, and they said they had already completed the recall in June of 2025 and that GMC would not cover the cost of fixing it. I see there is a new query for this exact problem RQ26003.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026StructureODI 11774047
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel · 2.7L 4-cyl turbo · 5.3L 8-cyl · 6.2L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 10-spd · Automatic 8-spd · Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Diesel · Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sierra 2WD
Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
233026$3,600394
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive
222624$3,900427
Sierra 2WD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive
192220$3,200441
Sierra 2WD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo, SIDI; Transmission with Sport Mode · Rear-Wheel Drive
192220$3,200441
Sierra 2WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; Stop-Start · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550491
Sierra 2WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, with Sport Mode · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550484
Sierra 2WD
Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; Transmission with Sport Mode · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550506
Sierra 2WD
Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550503
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start · 4-Wheel Drive
152017$4,700529
Sierra 2WD
Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; FFV · Rear-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000555
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI · 4-Wheel Drive
151916$4,000545
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI · 4-Wheel Drive
141916$5,000555
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo
    23 city · 30 hwy · $3,600/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo
    22 city · 26 hwy · $3,900/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo, SIDI
    19 city · 22 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo, SIDI; Transmission with Sport Mode
    19 city · 22 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; Stop-Start
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, with Sport Mode
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; Transmission with Sport Mode
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI; Stop-Start
    15 city · 20 hwy · $4,700/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI; FFV
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L, SIDI
    15 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L, SIDI
    14 city · 19 hwy · $5,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

12 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.8%
Overall
— / 5
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.8%
Overall
— / 5
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC 4WD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.8%
Overall
5 / 5
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 2WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 16862Vehicle 16858Vehicle 16854
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2022 Sierra questions

How many recalls does the 2022 GMC Sierra have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2022 GMC Sierra problems?

Owners filed 603 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (241), power train (113), structure (107). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2022 GMC Sierra get?

The EPA rates the 2022 GMC Sierra at 16–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

How safe is the 2022 GMC Sierra?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2022 GMC Sierra 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026