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2015 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Sierra 3500, most often about the electrical (19% of complaints). It is 5th of 27 Sierra 3500 model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Electrical
6 complaints · 19%Parts named most often: integrated trailer brake control, horn.
Tl contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that a snow plow was installed by a dealer however, after the installation, the instrument panel was dim and the headlights failed to illuminate. The technician uninstalled the snow plow and the vehicle resumed to function as normal. The technician then…
This vehicle has had numerous electrical issue from the first few months of ownership. The trailer brake system failed and was replaced on october 2014. The vehicle has had many recalls that have been corrected by owner and service provider. The second summer of ownership the vehicle had radiator issues, and most…
Lights
6 complaints · 19%I am afraid to drive at night because the head lights are terrible. I couldn't see the tire carcass left on the highway early enough to swerve around it. I hit it with the rear wheel and did approx. 6000.00 dollars damage to the vehicle.
Headlights on this truck have always been weak, distance is not lit up and in rainy weather on the highway is very poor even with fog lights on. The help from the fog lights is minimal. This is a known problem by the manufacturer and is repeated many many times on various gm related owner forums. This is a safety…
Engine
5 complaints · 16%While driving white smoke bellowing out front right tire wheel well. Upon inspection, smoke coming from exhaust pipe clamp near turbo. Smell so bad have to drive with window open. It appears engine on fire from the amount of smoke emitting from under the hood. At idle it get worse. It appears smoke is exhaust fumes…
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500. While driving, the service exhaust warning error indicator illuminated. In addition, the service trailer brakes error message illuminated, which caused the brakes to fail on the trailer. The contact unattached the trailer and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence.…
Brakes
4 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
This vehicle has had numerous electrical issue from the first few months of ownership. The trailer brake system failed and was replaced on october 2014. The vehicle has had many recalls that have been corrected by owner and service provider. The second summer of ownership the vehicle had radiator issues, and most…
After 3 attempts to correct the brake problem by greiner gm. The last time I drove this truck the brakes locked up in the middle of the hwy for no reason truck was brought back to dealership where they have had gm specialist check it out and I have been told the truck is un repairable , I am seeking a buy back from gm…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 10%My vehicle is being hacked and controlled by other drivers using cell phones to gain access to my vehicle while driving! , and when passing or sitting in traffic! This has been going on for over six months now, every day! All day long!! Have contacted GMC over and over, have been to their shops over and over! , they…
Steering
3 complaints · 10%The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated her husband was driving at 20-30 MPH and hauling a trailer, the driver entered the highway, made a right turn and the vehicle loss of power steering assist and became difficult to steer. The vehicle was towed to cavender buick GMC west (7400 tx-1604 loop, san…
Air bags
3 complaints · 10%The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that after parking in the driveway and turning off the vehicle, approximately 30 minutes later, the rear passengerâs side roof rail air bag erroneously deployed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls
Air bags: inflator
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side rrab modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on august 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on may 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on may 31, 2022. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20v-736. Gm's number for this recall is n202324251.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 gmc sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and chevrolet silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Air bags: inflator
Risk: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rrab modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on december 22, 2020. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: gm filed a new recall, number 21v-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20v-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21v-504. Gm's numbers for this recall are n202309680, n202309681, and n202309682.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 gmc sierra 1500 and chevrolet silverado 1500 and 2015 gmc sierra 2500 and 3500, and chevrolet silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began october 3, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 18278. Note: the vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16v069 for brake pedal loosening.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 chevrolet silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 crew cab special service, tahoe police pursuit/special service, gmc sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Fuel system: auxillary tank
Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Gm has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began december 11, 2017. Owners may contact gm customer service for chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 17399.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2011-2015 chevrolet silverado 3500 and gmc sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
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.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on march 14, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 20760.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 chevrolet silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured october 1, 2013, to february 1, 2016, 2015-2016 chevrolet tahoe police pursuit vehicles (ppv) manufactured march 1, 2014, to february 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured october 29, 2013, to february 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2015 GMC Sierra 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 GMC Sierra 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (6 complaints); lights (6 complaints); engine (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 1, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the GMC Sierra 3500?
- It is 5th of 27 Sierra 3500 model years by number of complaints, with 31 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.