2017 GMC Sierra 3500 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Sierra 3500, most often about electrical system. There are 7 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
9
Recalls
7
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Median mileage
72,500 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Transmission & Drivetrain is the most-reported problem area, named in 3 of 9 complaints (33%).
  • Electrical System (3) and brakes (3) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 72,500 mi.
  • Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries.
  • The 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 has 7 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 11th of 22 GMC Sierra 3500 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 40% fewer complaints than the 2016 model year (15).

2017 GMC Sierra 3500 problems by category

  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    3 complaints
  • Electrical System
    3 complaints
  • Brakes · 1 crash
    3 complaints
  • Engine
    2 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system3
Service brakes3
Engine2
Power train2
Equipment1
Power train:axle assembly1

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k110k–30k30k–60k60k–100k1100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 complaints that list mileage.

2017 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls (7)

  • Recall 23V047000Feb 2, 202322,132 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. 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 N222368030.

  • Recall 21V496000Jul 1, 2021338,020 vehicles
    EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.

    Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

  • Recall 19V328000Apr 25, 2019318,374 vehicles
    ENGINE

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.

    Risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.

  • Recall 19V088000Feb 7, 201918,574 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front 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.

    Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.

  • Recall 17V567000Sep 14, 201738,048 vehicles
    SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

    General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

    Risk: The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.

  • Recall 17V437000Jul 10, 201740,683 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

    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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 16V651000Sep 8, 20163,640,162 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

    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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Recent 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Jan 23, 2026OHElectrical SystemEngine
    My truck is affected by GM’s engine block‑heater safety recall (NHTSA 21V‑496 / GM N212329840) addressing a risk of short circuit and potential engine‑compartment fire at the heater cord/terminal connection. GM’s interim action has been to remove/disable the block‑heater cord, which my dealer did, and then marked the recall “completed.” As a result, the NHTSA VIN tool shows 0 unrepaired recalls, even though no actual repair/restored functionality exists and GM continues to…
    NHTSA complaint #11712853 · source
  2. Filed Sep 22, 2025120,000 miNHTowedTransmission & Drivetrain
    The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while shifting from park(P) to drive(D), the engine revved, but the vehicle failed to move forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who determined that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by a dealer. The mechanic was able to shift the transmission into manual drive mode, allowing the contact to drive the vehicle to the residence. The dealer was contacted…
    NHTSA complaint #11688844 · source
  3. Filed Jun 6, 202525,000 miMATransmission & Drivetrain
    The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was smoke and a squealing sound coming from the passenger’s side rear wheel. The vehicle was taken to the residence and the contact observed fluid on the axle tube. The contact stated that the axle as taken apart and the wheel bearings were in pieces. The contact stated that the axle nut had unintendedly backed off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified…
    NHTSA complaint #11665289 · source
  4. Filed Apr 29, 2025MNBrakesElectrical System
    Trailer brake system connection warning Intermittent when towing it will say trailer not connected, while still having a secure 7 pin connection. This causes me to loose trailer brakes. My camper is nearly 14,000 lbs. Very dangerous situation. Happened since new. Was into / complained to GM service dept over 6 times.
    NHTSA complaint #11657477 · source
  5. Filed Jan 2, 2025ILEngine
    this vehicle is garage kept and meticulous maintained, has 136,000 miles, original owner, brought to dealer for an oil leak, they said exhaust are frozen and won't come out after heating etc. they have to replace exhaust manifolds! Bolts should not seize is the head of a garage kept vehicle that's heated! Being a mechanic many years ago I have never seen this happen! this is the first year for the new engine, On a internet search I found it's not uncommon, and the bill is…
    NHTSA complaint #11633623 · source
  6. Filed Oct 20, 2024NYTransmission & Drivetrain
    The 6l90 tranmission failed with no warning at 58,408 miles. Had to back the truck up in traffic over 1/2 mile to reach a safe spot. Seems gm is having a lot of problems with this transmission and their 8 speed transmission. No assistance from gm to repair seeing i was out of the 5 year 100000 warranty. Seems gm know about theses problems. Had to spend $5k to get no dealer service to install a remanufactured trans, hoping it will not happen again
    NHTSA complaint #11620867 · source
  7. Filed Feb 2, 2023IDBrakesElectrical System
    SERVICE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM. Faulty control in the dash. Known issue per mechanic but no recall issued. Safety issue as trailer brake may not function properly when towing as a result
    NHTSA complaint #11505276 · source
  8. Filed Aug 8, 2022FLCrashBrakes
    Brake are very spongy all the time we’ll While driving in parking lot at low speed we lost brakes happen to hit person in front. This has been a continuous problem to point we are scared to even use the truck to go to store. Took it to Firestone. They told me it was the master cylinder. So they replaced that, replaced the front rotors and pads, did a fluid exchange abs as well? Don’t know what that is. On the internet there is tons of this issue. I even see GMC 1500 is…
    NHTSA complaint #11478276 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology