2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems and Complaints

For a stylish luxury offering, the last segment you would probably look at is the full-size pickup truck segment. The category, ironically, has seen some of the most well put together vehicles in the American market in recent times. The advantage is that these trucks can provide you with everything you need to have fun while perfectly balancing out the practical side of things. The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 is one of the best trucks in the segment and given its recent makeover, it is now selling like hotcakes.

One is also greeted by a wide array of technology and features that might seem quite a lot for the price. Another one of the strengths of the car is its wide array of capable powertrains and general mechanical prowess. Prices for the 2022 models start at MSRP $33,495 with the higher trim levels almost doubling in price. In this class, it competes against the Ford F-150, the RAM 1500, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Let us see how GMC Sierra 1500 problems have affected its reliability through this article.

2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab User Complaints and Problems

Being a luxury manufacturer, GMC does not always make an effort to ensure that the maintenance and running costs of the car are kept down low. At the same time, there is also a lot of build quality and engineering prowess in these cars and hence buyers accept the higher upkeep costs. Generally, reliability is how often the car spares you from visits to workshops that are not for scheduled maintenance.

The best method to understand this is by getting real-world examples of people who have bought a particular car and perceived its dependability. Even though the GMC Sierra 1500 has been around for a long time, the current generation made its debut only as late as 2019. We should look at these problems as a percentage of cars that are defective rather than absolute numbers to adjust for the difference in sales figures. Take a look at them below.

Mechanical problems:

1. Some owners have stated that the check engine warning was illuminated and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 60 MPH. The dealer diagnosed that the problem was that the DEF tank had failed and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 4000 miles.
2. Several owners have voiced complaints about the engine valve lifter failing. This seems to be the most common fault associated with the truck and it has affected a lot of owners.
3. Some people have complained about violent shudders happening in the truck when 4x4 mode is engaged and also during several other times. The truck was taken to the dealership several times where they were not able to duplicate the issue and hence there was no course of action. There have been more reports of owners with the same problem.
4. Other owners have reported a problem that reminds us of the 2017 GMC Sierra transmission recall. The truck allows you to turn it off in Drive and when you let go of the brake, it will act as if it is neutral. This has created a lot of accidents and is a system that needs to be redesigned.

Electrical system problems:

1. Some people stated that the infotainment display in the center had gone completely blank while driving while using it for the speaker system. The entire system had to restart to solve the problem.

Interior problems:

1. Many owners has stated how the HVAC system in the truck is designed in a faulty manner. The only way to turn on the heat for your feet is to turn off the defrost, turn on only feet, turn on the AC, and sync both sides. This creates a problem with the windshield and so on not getting defrosted if you want to keep your feet warm.

Safety problems:

1. One owner reported that the vehicle has a lane departure warning system but it does not function properly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the issue was diagnosed but it was never repaired.

Category	Number of complaints
Mechanical	4
Electrical System	1
Exterior	0
Interior	1
Safety	1
Miscellaneous	0

Most of the complaints that have been discussed above have been regarding the 2021 model of the GMC Sierra which is what the current model year is based on. The 2022 model had certain redesigning done to it and has generated one complaint so far relating to the lane departure warning system. There have been a lot of 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 problems and they are worth looking into. However, it is beyond the scope of this article. Let us look at the recalls history of this truck to find out how the manufacturer has responded.

2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab Recalls

We see that the GMC Sierra has racked up a lot of complaints. The 2021 model has had 45 complaints while the 2020 model has had 80 complaints so far. This is then followed up by four recalls in 2021 and ten recalls in 2022. Overall, it looks like a red flag but what we have to understand here is that this truck is one of the best-selling trucks in the United States and hence, when you compare it to the number of units sold, it is not that bad.

The last recorded recalls are about the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. As we have mentioned, this is part of the same generation, but before the facelift, and hence does apply to the current model year. Other than this, we can also learn about the brand’s habits in organizing recall campaigns. The manufacturer has generally been active as we can observe from incidents like the GMC Sierra 4-wheel-drive problems which were fixed without causing any inconvenience to owners. Take a look at the recalls that have been associated with the 2021 model below.

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1	December 16, 2021	21V985000	Spare tire incompatible with accessory wheels	The spare tire is not compatible with the accessory wheels which will cause the ABS to not work properly.
2	December 23, 2020	20V811000	Incorrect bolts used to attach seatbelt	The seatbelt may not be properly restrained and this will compromise the safety of occupants.
3	December 17, 2020	20V792000	Front seat belts may not be secured	The front center seatbelt may not be able to properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash.
4	November 5, 2020	20V684000	Tires may have been over-cured	Over-cured tires can cause breakage in the sidewall

For a truck that has had many customers complain about it, the number of recalls is also on the higher side. This shows that the manufacturer has been very active in addressing problems of the truck and we can rest assured that this truck will not be a troublesome one if you own it. The 2018 GMC Sierra transmission problem does seem to have reappeared and we hope that it is resolved soon. The current years look nothing like what the problematic years of this car have.

Which model year of the GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab should you avoid?

The current generation of the GMC Sierra 1500 has been in production since 2019 and we have to say that it is a sufficiently reliable truck if you look at its records during this period. Its problems do seem to be on the decline and that is a great sign because as you go from one year to the next, this truck seems to get more reliable. This truck has kept its owners very happy and the hiccups that some owners have faced seem to be isolated cases.

But if we had to ask you to avoid any particular model year then it would have to be the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. The 2014 model had a total of 717 complaints and 21 recalls. The NHTSA even did three investigations on the truck regarding its issues. This particular model year will have a large number of issues and is best avoided. The number of complaints drastically dropped down following this and has been on the decline since.

Should you buy the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab?

The GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab packs a lot for the enthusiast with its nice set of engines, quick transmissions, it’s excellent all-wheel-drive system, and generous storage. The 2022 updates make it a thoroughly good-looking truck too and its higher-end trims are extremely plush and luxurious, staying true to the GMC badge. Apart from this, it also has a lot of luxury features and is more value for money than some of its counterparts. We would recommend that you buy this truck in 2022.

Also Read:

• GMC Showcase Its 2021 Full AT4 Premium Off-Road Line-up
• 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Preview: Expected Release Dates, Prices, MPG, Performance, and Rivals