Headlights problems of the 2014 GMC Sierra - part 1

Headlights are extremely dim making it difficult to see at night out in rainy conditions causing a huge safety problem when driving at night. Can barely see when making left or right hand turns as well causing a huge safety issue at night with pedestrians are in a dark crosswalk.

I bought my 2014 GMC Sierra brand new in Dec 2014 and had it back to the dealer within 3 weeks because I was sure there was a defect with the headlights ! you can only see maybe 30 feet in front of you and nothing if you make any turn on a dark road with no streetlights ! the mechanic at the dealership said there was no problem with the lights and they meet all general motors specifications . . . I have read many many complaints from other 2014 GMC Sierra owners with this same complaint so I know its not my imagination or a problem with my eyesight !! I sure hope that GMC doesn't wait for fatalities or a class action lawsuit before addressing and correcting this problem , I have been a loyal GMC consumer for 45 years but this obvious problem with the lighting and GMC's refusal to acknowledge that there is a design defect I can say this is the last GMC vehicle I will ever purchase . Do the right thing general motors ! fix the problem and save some lives !.

The vehicles headlights are dangerously ineffective. They rarely illuminate the distance between 2 telephone poles. The ineffectiveness of the headlights is amplified on hills or on any turn. The during the transition from decline to incline, you sometimes have barely a trucks length of illumination. Any corner on a dark road requires a severe decrease in travel speed to avoid over driving the lights. I have never driven a vehicle that made me feel more apprehensive to get behind the wheel after dark. I visited the dealer who executed a TSB that increased headlight voltage and replaced the bulbs. It made a negligible improvement and left the vehicle still unsafe at night. I frequently travel on rural roads with no street lights. I have almost hit wildlife too many times to count due to the poor visibility caused by these dangerous headlights. Travel over 30 mph on dark country roads with a legal speed limit of 50 is ill advised due to the ineffectiveness of the headlights.

Headlights are not adequate for night driving: have driven this truck for the past year at night and in different types of weather and have had to really strain my eyes to keep it on the road due to poor visibility due to the head lights, after missing a turn last night off the highway decided to see if the dealership would take a look at them and see what they could do ,if they say there is nothing that they can do ,ill have no choice but to install different headlights .

Headlights are not adequate for suburban or rural areas. Inadequate side-to-side illumination in hi or low. Dealer is unable to fix.

The projector headlights on this vehicle are terrible. They are dim and have a very poor light pattern. (the bulb presumably meets federal standards, but the projector system was designed for a brighter bulb). It is very difficult to see the sides of the road, or very far down the road, on roads where there are no streetlights. It is even worse on a rainy, dark road. Gm instituted a TSB (#pit5374, attached) in February 2015 which involves reprogramming the body control module (bcm) to increase the voltage to the headlight bulbs and substituting vosla hir 55 watt bulbs for the original stock 55 watt bulbs. The results are a minimal improvement. The new 2016 models have the same headlight design but have been upgraded to a hid bulb that cannot just be plugged into the 2014/15 headlights. The improved bulb and wiring is evidence the TSB did not really improve the lighting very much. (the internet is full of complaints about the headlights on this vehicle; recommend you google "GMC Sierra headlights" and see what you get!). I live in northern virginia and would be glad to come down to the NHTSA building on a dark, rainy night and give you a ride -- the problem isn't so bad in areas where there are streetlights, but it is terrible out in the country. Bottom line, gm should be directed to issue a recall that involves replacing the wiring harness and bulb with their latest design. The headlights in the 2014/2014 Sierra are hazardous to the people in the truck and to pedestrians along the road. Thanks for listening to my complaint, and please take action for safety's sake. (note: there is no specific time, mileage, mph, etc. , that this was noted. It is continual. I had the TSB performed in the summer of 2015 and noted minimal improvement at that time. ).

Headlight output is horrible at night time driving on the highway. It is flat out dangerous. The headlights are only adequate for city driving at night.

I purchase this vehicle Nov. 2013, and ever since I notice that the headlight on this vehicle do not light the road properly, whether you have them in low or high beam. The distance of the low and high beam appear to be the same (at times it seems the highs) are aiming skyward. Not to long ago I almost ran over a woman and a child who were crossing a street over to my left when I was attempting to make a left turn (this was a dark area). Luckily I was going slow when I was making the turn and was able to see them when the headlights hit them and came into view. By this statement I am trying to point out that there no lighting to either side of the vehicle, I am sure (positive) that if I would have been making a right turn an accident would have happen. Are there any recalls regarding this problem? if not, I think there should one. Because if something like this example I am submitting to you ever happens, the driver will held responsible. An in my case it will be blamed due to my age.

I wish to complain about the headlights on this vehicle. They are really terrible. Low beam does not project far enough, and high beam seems to illuminate road signs at a distance, but not adequate for their purpose. Seems as they are more of a spotlight than a headlight. These are the most unsafe headlights I have ever had in 43 years of driving. Again, there was no accident thankfully, and I just wish to file my complaint and concern. Thank you.

This is my first time to have a vehicle with projector headlights. They do not light up the sides of road, and are not very bright in dim or high beam. This is not very safe when driving at night, even when the weather is good. I will not buy another vehicle with these type of headlights.

Headlights are very dim. Like having none at all. High beams are useless. I actually had to follow other vehicles lights to keep from running off the road.

I have two 2014 GMC Sierras with very weak headlights. Called gm and they said nobody has complained. They lied. Wake up gm and smell the roses before someone is hurt or killed. The headlights look great but work bad. Feel like it will be forever before they do anything so I added my own aux. Lights. My my I can see again. Spent 400. 00 dollars on 45,000 dollar truck so I can drive safety at night. 2014 chevys have duel headlights. Must be better. Fix the problem gm. My first car, a1962 comet had better lights.

2014 GMC Sierra. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlight problems. The consumer stated when he made turns, there was not sufficient lighting. The dealer stated the head lights were four inches too high, so they adjusted them. Upon driving at night, he found the lighting to the side had slightly improved, but the light was sharply cut off about 45 feet in front of the truck on when the low beams were on, which made it unsafe to drive over 35 mph. The high beams gave good lighting at distances, but brought flashed from oncoming traffic. The second head light adjustment extended the lighting out about 20 inches further, but less lighting to the sides for turning. The head lights were adjusted again and the technician stated the lights were at the level from the factory. The consumer stated the head lights were not adequate in his opinion.

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights were very dim and impaired the vision to see the road. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

The headlights are very poor. I have owned many cars and the lack of night vision with the 2014 Sierra is the worst of any car I have ever driven. I used to work on my family farm back in the 1980s and our old tractors and combines had better night visibility than my brand new Sierra. GMC, you must fix this now! I guarantee you will have a major lawsuit on your hands if you don't. This is such a simple thing to get right, do the right thing and recall all these vehicles and install proper headlights.

Headlights on high beam were aimed to high & pointed up into the trees. Low beams seemed ok. I finally took to a local dealer for some recalls and talked to them about complaints and they adjusted saying the lights were aimed to high. Drove vehicle yesterday and the low beams now have so little projection forward that I'm afraid at night, if anything came in front of me, I'd hit it before being able to stop. Will be taking it back to have lights adjusted up again and live with it until GMC does something. Reason it has taken so long to file complaint is I do not drive much at nights and did not think of filing complaint until I found this website and reading other owners having the same problem.

Wanted to update info on this complaint. I have been in contact w/dealer and they have agreed to replace both headlights, even though they consider this to be abnormal, with the agreement that if it happens on new headlights they will consider it normal and do nothing more! I feel this is a safety issue as it obscures the light and also that they are trying to bully me into an agreement I don't agree with. My vehicle has a bumper to bumper warranty and they are trying to exclude this issue in the future if I agree to have the headlights replaced now. I have contacted GMC regarding this and have yet to hear back from them.

Headlights appeared to be leaking, condensation and water droplets. Took to dealer for oil change and advised them of the headlight issue. Was told they were not leaking that the design of headlights caused this, bulbs burn so hot they have a vent for cooling. Because of the air flow through vent it brings in condensation & water droplets can form which can take 2 to 6 hours to clear! was told that they w/only replace headlight assembly, which costs $900, if its over 50% of the lens. I was told one headlight was over 50% and had water droplets, as well as a halo effect around the bulb that he had never seen before. However, dealer did nothing at the time as the lens was clearing up. I asked about the condensation obscuring the light output and therefore my vision and was told it would not affect it. After reading the other complaints regarding the headlights I feel this may be part of the problem. If the lens is covered inside w/condensation & water droplets, it does affect the light output. I live in the pacific NW where it rains 9 months out of the year and therefore we have moisture in the air all the time! I am now documenting the condensation w/pictures of the headlights every time I drive it.

The headlights on this truck are unsafe. They do not put out enough light on dark nights and especially on nights were there is rain. They do not reach beyond the edge of the road way past the fog lines,. Or extend that far up the road in front of the truck.

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Sierra. While driving various speeds at night, the headlights were dim and caused poor visibility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

Headlights are insufficient. Driving at night away from the city is dangerous. Brighter and wider light patterns are needed.

It was the first time I drove this new GMC at night and I couldnt see anything almost hit a huge moose cause I didn't see it. The headlights are aweful and its terrifying to drive at night. Went to dealer and told them about the headlights they said they had numerous complaints but gm has no fix. These headlights are going to cause multiple accidents simply driving 45 mph feels like you can out run the headlights in high beam.

The headlights are so good, they helped to save the life of several deer which I could clearly see up ahead, just above the crest of the road. The deer started to dash across the road, which was not lit, and I could clearly see them and properly steered clear of the deer. The headlights on this truck are the best I have ever had !! I find the 2014 GMC Sierra as the most well equiped vehicle I have ever driven. My complaint is not really about the lights or how well I could see the deer on the side of the road, it's about the need for other brands of vehicles that are not equiped with these type of headlights. I believe this type of headlight system should be mandatory on all vehicles of all makes. GMC has done the world a favor. Now it is up to the rest to catch up and use this technology!.

Headlights on this vehicle are terrible. Very poor illumination for night driving. There should be a safety recall for these headlights, pickup is dangerous to drive at night. Headlights light up road about 50-60 feet and offer very poor side vision. High beams are useless and shine up in the trees and not on the road. Vehicle has projectors with only a flapper to change high/low beam. Ihave been driving for 40 years and have never driven a vehicle with this poor headlight design. I cannot believe headlight passed photometric design certification (maybe they did not) I have complained to GMC but they say headlights are working as designed. Headlight assemblies were replaced once and adjusted several times by dealer. Still no remedy to the problem.

Headlight are extremely inadequate!! very poor visibility especially on low beam!.

The headlight output on my new 2014 GMC Sierra is so bad that I cannot drive the vehicle safely at night. In fact, I only drive it unless it is absolutely necessary. Not only are the lights very dim but the shape of the beam is also very poor and awkward . With the current oem headlight equipment, this vehicle is unsafe to operate at night. I contacted the dealer and they told me there was nothing they could do about it . I can't even find a better bulb because gm has the patent and not even piaa can make a better bulb.

My complaint is with the how dim the oem headlights are. I have complained to GMC regarding the headlights and the response is that they are ok with how dim the lights are. Compared to other vehicles I own/have owned the headlights are extremely dim to the point of being dangerous.

The front headlights are insufficient for safety. They do not light the road sufficient to see objects in road above a speed of 50 mph. These are single bulb projector headlights and my old 2001 chevy silverado has much better lights. GMC should replace the lights with dual beam lights or add on a supplemental light system.

The headlights are too dim and are unsafe. In my 50+ years of driving, I have never experienced headlights so bad. I live in a dark rural area without any streetlights and lots of bicyclists and deer. I have already had many near misses on rural roads, and fear it's only a matter of time before an accident happens.

The contact owns 2014 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the headlights were dim and impaired the contacts vision of the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20.

The headlights on this truck provide inadequate lighting, including both low beams and high beams. Any night driving is difficult due to limited visibility, there simply is not enough illumination to see. Can be very dangerous - especially at speeds above 35 mph or during precipitation. The headlight has a severe design flaw with gms approach at a shutter system. This type of design does not leave any options for simply changing the type of bulb - the design is actually at fault for the poor visibility. The visibility problems simply cannot be fixed with a different bulb type due to the shutter design type. Many complaints are being registered online related to the visibility problem. These trucks are not safe to drive at night. If there is a standard for minimum headlight illumination for night time driving, this model headlight needs to be reviewed if it is meeting the minimum standard. Not safe, a definite problem that needs attention.

Can not see the road with the light output with these factory headlight.

Bought vehicle new in March '14, headlights are hid units, and are worse than poor. Very easy to overdrive these lights here on dark, twisty mountain roads in wv. We have the highest rate of vehicle- deer collisions in the us and seeing deer with these lights in time to avoid a collision is chancy. Traded a 10 year old same make and model and never had these problems. These lights need to be corrected before folks are killed as a result.

Headlights are so dim you can not see street signs or the sides of the road clearly.

Vehicle has very poor headlights, making it unsafe to drive at night. Headlights are too dim, and do not provide illumination on shoulders of roadway. Probably the worst headlights I have seen in over 20 years. Dealer says nothing can be done to correct problem. Someone needs to step in and force gm to do something about this issue.