Here Are The GMC Sierra Years To Avoid
When it comes to the GMC Sierra, there are a lot of good things to talk about, but it’s just as important to know about the bad things as the good. In this article, we’re going to look at the GMC Sierra years to avoid, what problems are most common with those model years, and which models are more reliable or even good candidates to buy used.
However, there’s one thing we need to clear up before we get started. There are several variations on the GMC Sierra, including the Sierra 1500, Sierra 1500 hybrid, and the Sierra 2500 and 3500. For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing just on the basic Sierra model. However, since there are a lot of design similarities across the different models of Sierra, a lot of what we’re going to be looking at will also apply to those versions of the Sierra.
With that cleared up, let’s dive in and take a closer look at the GMC Sierra years to avoid, which models are more reliable than others, and which GMC Sierra models years you should think about buying used instead of getting a new model.
Let’s dive in.
GMC Sierra Years You Should Avoid
The GMC Sierra has been in production for a long time, but since there are a lot of alternative versions of this vehicle, there aren’t actually that many different production years of the GMC Sierra. That means that there also aren’t that many GMC Sierra years to avoid.
In fact, we’ve narrowed down the list to just three:
- 2005
- 2007
- 2012
That’s it!
These three years stand out in Sierra production for having more complaints and more performance issues than any other model. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that these vehicles are bad, just that other models of Sierra usually perform better than these three.
Of these three, the 2005 model is the worst. It’s got a higher rate of complaints and failures than the other two, though the complaint rate is still relatively conservative for a modern vehicle.
That means that it’s not a bad option, but if you’re looking for an older used vehicle, you might be better off with a different model—more on that in a bit.
First, let’s look at the most common problems with the GMC Sierra.
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Common GMC Sierra Problems
These problems are some of the most common reasons consumers aren’t 100% satisfied with their Sierra. The first three problems are relatively common, while the last is a more serious issue, but also much rarer.
Let’s look closer.
Incorrect Speedometer
One of the biggest problems with the GMC Sierra, especially the 2005 model, is that some vehicles seem to have problems with the Speedometer. This is an electrical and wiring issue, but it can be relatively hard to spot, especially if you don’t live somewhere with speed monitoring on the side of the road.
The easiest version of this problem to spot is when the speedometer stops working entirely. However, that’s not the most common problem. If your speedometer stops working, you can use a speedometer on your phone to help limp your vehicle to a mechanic to get the problem fixed.
Unfortunately, the most common version of this problem isn’t that the speedometer stops working; it’s that the speedometer stops giving you an accurate reading. That can be a bit issue because you might get ticketed for speeding or take a curve at the wrong speed and lose control.
Fixing this issue is also a mixed back. Sometimes replacing the sensors is all you need, but other times it’s a wiring or power source problem that is harder (and more expensive) to resolve.
Miscellaneous Electrical Issues
Sadly, the speedometer issue isn’t the only electrical problem the Sierra has to face. Other issues, like dash gauges not working, interior lights giving out, or the vehicle randomly locking or unlocking are all relatively common problems for the SMC Sierra.
Miscellaneous issues can range from very mild to severe. Fixing these problems also has a widely variable cost depending on what repairs are necessary and how hard it is to access the source of the problem.
Heater Malfunctioning
This might be another electrical issue, but it’s worth mentioning on its own. The GMC Sierra also seems to have some problems with the heating system. The heater in your Sierra might turn on randomly, even in the middle of summer.
Thankfully the opposite doesn’t seem to happen, so you won’t have to worry about your heater suddenly turning off in the middle of a freezing winter drive.
Engine Knock
Engine knocks are a more serious problem, as most car people will know. Unfortunately, internal engine knocks can also be incredibly difficult to diagnose, and even getting a diagnosis can be expensive, much less getting an actual repair.
Thankfully this issue is much less common than the other three we’ve explored, but it’s also serious enough that it was worth mentioning that this can be a problem.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE GMC SIERRA 1500
If you’re considering a GMC Sierra 1500, it can be tricky to pick the right one. You might question - what is the most reliable GMC Sierra 1500 year on the market?
Reliable GMC Sierra Model Years
Since the GMC Sierra doesn’t have a ton of different models, the reliable model years are pretty much every year we didn’t already mention as being unreliable.
For clarity, reliability doesn’t mean that these vehicles are perfect or that people don’t have complaints about those vehicles. It just means the number of complaints and problems are within reasonable levels.
Here’s a shortlist of the most reliable GMC Sierra model years.
- 1987-1995
- 2009
- 2017
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Which GMC Sierra Models Are Good Used Vehicles?
Most GMC Sierra models actually make pretty good used vehicles. Even the problem years can be a good used option if you have maintenance records and can see that any of the known electrical issues have already been fixed.
That being said, we also mostly recommend the models released since 2000, just because those vehicles are likely to have lower mileage and better gas performance than the alternatives. That means that when it comes to GMC Sierra models, the 2009 and 2017 models are probably the best options for buying used.
As always, look for used vehicles with relatively low mileage, complete maintenance records, and that haven’t been involved in any serious accidents.
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