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2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 355 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500, most often about the transmission (33% of complaints, typically around 29,500 miles). It is 10th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Transmission
118 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
My transmission shifts very hard from 1st gear to 2and and then from 2and gear to 1st gear at which time I'm usually stopping and it seems to push the truck forward a bit. I've taken it to pekin il dealership and green chevrolet in peoria il and neither one says there is anything wrong
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered upon depression of the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where the dealer found no defects with the vehicle. The…
Brakes
108 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The brakes failed to adequately slow down the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to mastria buick GMC (1525 new state hwy, raynham, ma 02767, ([phone]) to be…
The contact owned 2017 GMC sierra ld. The contact stated the vehicle was serviced for NHTSA campaign number: 19v645000 (service brakes, hydraulic) at local dealer don johnson motors chevrolet buick GMC (734 west ave, rice lake, wi 54868), however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH traffic…
Engine
59 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles.
My radiator has developed a leak and coolant is escaping when engine is hot. The issue appears to be very similar to the incidents with the 2014-15 model year issue. The problem was diagnosed to be a leaking radiator near the top right side by an independent mechanic.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to shift hard, started shuddering, and lost electrical power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with assistance. The contact was able to restart the…
Electrical
54 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: integrated trailer brake control, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the air conditioner started blowing hot air instead of cold air. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that a leak was found on the A/C compressor. The contact reached out to bob stall…
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to shift hard, started shuddering, and lost electrical power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with assistance. The contact was able to restart the…
Other or unspecified
35 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 3,500 miles.
I was towing a trailer for approx: 5 miles when I notice a strange odor and I pulled over and realized the truck had caught on fire by it self and police and good samaritin tried to put it out but was not successful . Hence the truck and trailer were a total loss along with $ 750 worth hand tools. ( trailer worth…
Vehicle came with front collision avoidance system and lane departure they don't work..in motion if I relied on either system I'd be dead...been back to dealer several times about problem they just kind of laugh
Steering
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles.
Was pulling my trailer out of the water and lost all power steering, fluids full, pump working, just electrical issue. Had to drive home 20 miles without power steering, very hard to turn. They said they 'fixed' this is issue in 2015, but here I am in a 2017 with the same problem, low speed and completely lost power…
I was turning around a curb at a fast food when suddenly the steering wheel jerked out of my hands the opposite way I was turning the slightly back again. When I tried to regain control it did it again. I paused and was then permitted to complete my turn. I then experienced it again about a week later while backing…
Visibility and wipers
12 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system.
Back window started smoking next to handle to open sliding window then shattered then started falling out. I was moving and in in reverse backing up when this happened. (left section of back window)
On screen display for backup camera. When putting the vehicle in reverse, the on screen display is so bright that you can't see out the windows, the rearview mirrors or the surrounding area. This display does not dim with the rest of the lights. This causes a severe safety hazard when trying to backup the vehicle.
Speed control
11 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving 75 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, waited approximately twenty minutes, and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to findlay chevrolet buick GMC ([phone]…
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while accelerating at 85 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated to 70 MPH without warning. The contact stated that the throttle no longer operated as needed. The contact had taken the vehicle to faulkner buick GMC trevose (4427 e street rd…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
Air bags: inflator
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace both rrab modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed november 9, 2026. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n262569920. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on september 24, 2026.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016 chevrolet silverado 2500/3500, gmc sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Brakes: service brakes
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ebcm, free of charge. The recall began december 11, 2019. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n192261050.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2020 chevrolet suburban, tahoe, and gmc yukon, and 2014-2018 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 MPH in four-wheel or automatic mode, the electronic-brake control module (ebcm) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module, free of charge. The recall began october 8, 2019. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n192268490.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2017 cadillac escalade, 2014-2018 chevrolet silverado, gmc sierra, 2015-2018 chevrolet suburban, tahoe, gmc yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Child Seat: connector/clip
Risk: If the instructions are missing from the owner's manual, the child seat may be installed incorrectly and not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will provide a corrected insert for the owners manual, free of charge. The recall began on september 25, 2017. Owners may contact gm customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (gmc). Gm's number for this recall is 17307.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2017 chevrolet silverado 1500, and gmc sierra 1500 trucks. The owner's manual for the affected vehicles may be missing instructions on how to use the tether anchorage and child restraint anchorage systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 225, "child restraint anchorage systems."
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2017. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 17287.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 buick lacrosse and chevrolet spark EV, caprice ppv and ss vehicles, 2014-2017 buick encore and chevrolet corvette, silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 cadillac escalade and escalade esv, chevrolet tahoe, trax, suburban and silverado 2500 and 3500 and gmc yukon and yukon xl vehicles, and 2015-2017 gmc sierra hd 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on october 13, 2016. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 16007.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd, 3500 hd, tahoe, suburban, gmc sierra 2500 hd and 3500 hd, gmc yukon, gmc yukon xl, cadillac escalade and cadillac escalade esv vehicles and 2014-2017 chevrolet corvette, silverado 1500, trax, caprice police pursuit vehicle, gmc sierra 1500, buick encore, and 2014-2016 buick lacrosse, chevrolet spark EV and ss vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (118 complaints, typically around 29,500 miles); brakes (108 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles); engine (59 complaints, typically around 57,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 24, 2026 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2017 a bad year for the GMC Sierra 1500?
- It is 10th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 355 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.