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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD

2026 GMC SierraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 81 owner complaints for the 2026 GMC Sierra. Most complaints involve engine (59) and power train (19). The EPA rates it 15–25 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.

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Combined MPG
15–25mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
4–5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest May 2026
Owner complaints
81
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$3,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

Power trainReported May 7, 2026NHTSA 26V289000

Equipment: owners

Free remedy

General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”

EquipmentReported Feb 26, 2026NHTSA 26V114000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

81 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2026 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine59
  2. Power train19
  3. Electrical system13
  4. Fuel/propulsion system7
  5. Service brakes2
  6. Vehicle speed control2
  7. Communication1
  8. Tires1
  9. Fuel system, gasoline1

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
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
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

59 reports1 crash
“Three different times now (most recent: 10/22/2026), I have had my truck completely shut off when coming to a stop on the highway/interstate. I always have auto start/stop disabled when I drive. When it happens, a message shows on the dash that says press start button. No other codes or check engine light. Thankfully it has started every time, but this is obviously a serious safety concern. After the second time it happened, I had the dealer (Woodhouse Buick GMC Omaha) look at it on 9/14/2026, but they couldn't find anything since there were no codes. I'm not sure if it is an electrical issue or this is related but my audio will stop working at times as well. Nothing from the radio or any blinker sounds. Sometimes it's static with a high pitch noise. 2026 GMC Sierra Elevation 5.3 EcoTec3 v8 10 speed”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11773272

Power train

19 reports1 crash
“While driving the truck it randomly shuts down, message on dash says shift to park to restart. No check engine light comes on or any other message. When it does this, the truck goes into park. It has been to the dealership 3 times and has not been fixed!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11772705

Electrical system

13 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the GPS was not operating as intended. The system failed to update after 15 minutes. The vehicle was difficult to start and had failed to start on another occasion. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and an update was forced and the battery was charged. The vehicle was scheduled for a fourth repair. The failure mileage was approximately 7,329.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2026Electrical systemODI 11772895
All 2026 Sierra problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
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
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
232825$3,750402
Sierra 2WD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
182120$3,200464
Sierra 2WD with Sport Mode
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172119$3,400472
Sierra 4WD AT4X with Sport Mode
Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive
192019$4,950524
Sierra 2WD with Sport Mode
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550495
Sierra 4WD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive
172018$3,550491
Sierra 2WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162017$3,800514
Sierra 4WD FFV
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · 4-Wheel Drive
151917$3,800524
Sierra 4WD with Sport Mode
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · 4-Wheel Drive
151917$3,800522
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L · 4-Wheel Drive
151916$5,000539
Sierra 4WD
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · 4-Wheel Drive
151816$4,000550
Sierra 4WD AT4X
Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L · 4-Wheel Drive
141615$5,300601
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo
    23 city · 28 hwy · $3,750/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo
    18 city · 21 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD with Sport Mode
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD AT4X with Sport Mode
    Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo
    19 city · 20 hwy · $4,950/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD with Sport Mode
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo
    17 city · 20 hwy · $3,550/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 2WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L
    16 city · 20 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD FFV
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD with Sport Mode
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,800/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $5,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L
    15 city · 18 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Sierra 4WD AT4X
    Auto 10-spd, 8 cyl, 6.2 L
    14 city · 16 hwy · $5,300/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
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

6 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
GMC SIERRA 1500 PU/CC N/A 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 / 5
GMC SIERRA 1500 PU/CC N/A RWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
GMC SIERRA 1500 PU/EC N/A 4WD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
GMC SIERRA 1500 PU/EC N/A RWD
Frontal crash
5 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 21849Vehicle 21848Vehicle 21847
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

2026 Sierra questions

How many recalls does the 2026 GMC Sierra have?

2 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 2026 GMC Sierra problems?

Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (59), power train (19), electrical system (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2026 GMC Sierra get?

The EPA rates the 2026 GMC Sierra at 15–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

How safe is the 2026 GMC Sierra?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 GMC Sierra 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026