Steering Problems of GMC Sierra 1500 - part 1

Head gasket failure and overheating. After fixed, power steering has just failed during driving. Will have to have it towed to shop.

See all problems of the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

My 2023 gnc Sierra 1500 has experienced a recurring electrical and safety-related malfunction on multiple occasions while driving. The dashboard and warning lights intermittently flash on, and off and numerous warning messages appear simultaneously. During previous occurrences, warnings included power steering service, safety restraint system, check engine and transmission related messages, including a message instructing me to pull over and shut the vehicle off. During one occurrence, the electric power steering assist stopped working while I was driving. The vehicle was taken to an authorized GMC dealership multiple times while under the factory warranty. The dealer replaced the brake system control module and performed vehicle-wide software/programming updates. When the problem continued, the dealer contacted gm technical assistance. The dealer subsequently diagnosed an intermittent open circuit involving the electric power steering rack-and-pinion/steering gear assembly and replaced the complete steering gear assembly. Despite these repairs, the malfunction has occurred again, during another occurrence while driving on the freeway, the dashboard flashed on and off and multiple warning lights and messages repeatedly appeared, similar to the condition that occurred before the steering gear was replaced. The vehicle currently has approximately 55,000 miles. The condition remains intermittent despite multiple repair attempts. I am concerned that this recuring electrical or vehicle communication failure could again cause loss of power steering assistance or affect other safety-related vehicle systems while driving.

See all problems of the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

Vehicle: 2021 GMC sierra slt | VIN: [xxx] dealership: carl black GMC roswell, GA (11225 alpharetta hwy, 30076) | invoice #[xxx] | service date: [xxx] paragraph 1 – suspension hazard: dealership diagnosed a worn left upper ball joint (popping sound on left turns) and installed rough country aftermarket upper control arms on my stock-height sierra slt. These arms are designed for lifted suspension and alter factory caster/camber geometry, placing extreme stress on ball joints. This can cause sudden ball joint separation, wheel collapse, and total loss of steering control at speed. The dealership admitted on the invoice they "could not find branding" on original parts and chose non-oem lift components without my consent or any safety disclosure. Paragraph 2 – brake failure & no safety warning: the same service included a full front/rear brake job (pads + resurfaced rotors) using their certified technicians and parts. After pickup, the brakes failed to operate properly. When I returned, the service manager refused to correct their own workmanship and instead quoted $1,900 to repair the very brakes they just serviced. Most critically, at vehicle pickup they issued no written or verbal safety warning—no "do not drive" instruction—despite the brakes being knowingly compromised, endangering me and the public. Paragraph 3 – requested action: the service manager was unprofessional, condescending, and refused accountability. I request an immediate NHTSA investigation into carl black GMC's unauthorized use of lift-kit suspension parts on stock vehicles, failure to warranty their own brake service, and reckless omission of safety warnings at delivery. This dealership pattern poses an imminent public risk. Please escalate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

Truck shut off and would not turn back on. Negative battery cable so hot it burned skin off. Would not start, tried to start clicking sound, radio blipped for a moment.

See all problems of the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

Power steering went out for 2-3 seconds as I was making a turn into a street , this happened twice to be exact.

In early June 2026 I discovered a sheared pin on the front control arm of my 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 at4x (VIN [xxx]), sold to me new by parks GMC, kernersville nc, with a dealer-installed performance package modifying the factory suspension. I delivered the truck to parks GMC for warranty repair. The dealer represented it as a 1-2 day job. The truck was out of service approximately 2 weeks. The dealer sub-contracted the work to a third-party shop (ccv). At pickup, the dealer provided written documentation stating the repair was not performed. Neither the dealer nor I has been able to obtain any documentation from ccv describing what, if anything, was actually done to the vehicle. Three unresolved safety conditions: sheared front control arm pin — original failure, status of repair unknown and undocumented. Tire-to-bodywork contact — front tires intermittently rub the inside of the wheel wells during normal driving and steering, causing visible damage to the plastic mud guards. Tire-to-bodywork contact creates risk of sidewall failure, sudden air loss, and loss of vehicle control. Front right suspension creak — loud, persistent creak from the front right suspension during low-speed driving and steering inputs. Present at service drop-off, never addressed. Consistent with a worn, loose, or improperly installed suspension component. I escalated to parks GMC management and GMC customer assistance. Parks has not provided a written repair plan, no decision-maker has contacted me, and the only response has been "looking into it. " GMC customer assistance declined to assign a district service manager. I am filing to document these suspension and tire safety conditions in the federal database against this VIN and to request NHTSA evaluation of whether further action is warranted. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on the highway, the steering became much more stiff, and then I heard metallic clanging sounds for a few seconds. The dashboard said press start to start vehicle. I pressed start while going 30 miles an hour and all lights and instrument clusters went black. I pulled into the grass median where the truck would not start or shift gears. Truck was towed to a GMC dealership.

My truck will not start when I press the push-button ignition. After waiting a few seconds and trying multiple times, it typically starts on the third attempt. Additionally, it will not restart after the auto stop feature activates at stop signs or traffic lights. This is very concerning, especially when pulling into oncoming traffic, as I’m worried the truck could shut off while I’m crossing. I have already had the battery, starter, and alternator checked, and all components tested fine. However, the issue is still occurring. There are also no warning lights or messages displayed on the dashboard.

A known problem with these trucks is ground strap failure. I was driving and all the sudden lost power steering which almost caused an accident. There is a customer satisfaction program n252515590 that covers 2019-2024 trucks but mine was not included in this for some reason. I did have the truck fixed a my cost and was looking to get my money back from gm. I'm not sure if you can help with this but wanted to make a report that is happening with more trucks then they are fixing. If you need any other info from me please let me know.

See all problems of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

- the ground strap corroded and broke apart. Yes, I have the ground cable that failed, if needed for inspection. - yes!!! the truck's steering kept going in and out of manual steering and the engine reduced in speed allowed, and then the engine cut out on me completely - while I was in the middle of a busy road trying to turn onto a side street. Then the engine would not restart. - I had the truck towed on a flat bed to a GMC dealership nearby. They confirmed the issue was that the ground strap failed. They replaced the part at my cost, which fixed the issues. - yes, the dealership inspected and confirmed the issue was the corroded and broken ground strap. - yes, there were many warning messages that started to appear about 3-4 days prior to the complete failure of the electrical system. I started seeing a message about servicing the trailer brake system, and another about servicing the side detection system. Then a service power steering warning and to drive with care. The check engine light was off and on over that time. - I checked the wire connections iunder my vehicle to check for broken wires or corrosion. I did not find any. I then checked if a hard battery reset would work, but it did not. Lastly, I bought a new battery to replace the existing one, even though the existing battery had no issues even when tested under load. That resolved the issue for about 35 minutes that night and then the next morning. After that, the electrical system failed and the truck would not start. At that point I got towed in to the GMC dealership. I had to leave the truck for a weekend, and the dealership did not come up with a loaner, even though I requested one. I got the truck back on Monday afternoon and everything was working fine since then. - over that weekend, I was amazed to find out about the bulletin gm released to cover only some trucks for the issue, but not others! my truck is still not covered, despite the obvious safety issues I experienced!!.

Driving down road and had total loss of power steering and yes it is available for inspection. Almost drove it off the road due to loss of steering yes, it happened to be a failed main grounding strap that created the issue. The dealership made the repair. No, it was inspected and repaired by the dealership yes, started with loss of power steering, then truck died and these codes popped low fuel code, but tank was full; trailer brake system code; side detection code and esc traction control code.

Driving and truck started to misfire (due to collapsed lifter after shop diagnosis) that then made my truck do reduced steering assist and my wheel got super hard to turn that almost sent me in the ditch at 60mph and also turned off my electronic stability control and also turned on my service parking brake drove straight to the shop and parked it very lucky I did not crash and the fact that multiple people this has happend too gm need to recall from the 2019 and up for these lifters after reading about it.

See all problems of the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

Please append these work orders to this complaint number and VIN complaint: number xxx VIN: [xxx] three repair orders from beck & masten GMC south attached. Thank you!!! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

Engine failed at high speeds on interstate. When my truck shut off the steering and braking system went out and getting to shoulder of interstate was difficult with others around me. Express lanes were limited on emergency shoulder therefore my truck was partially on the high speed driving lane. 911 was called out to block freeway lane. Check engine light blinked right when truck shut down.

Power steering locked up while driving. Multiple dash lights turned on, on its own after the issue, 4wd, emergency brake, abs, and other ones im not sure what they are. Took it to the dealership for a recall and told them the issue that happened.

Power steering locked up while driving. Has been inspected and repaired by manufacturer. Recall.

Loss of steering, erratic steering control. Steering locks up.

My 2024 GMC sierra denali ultimate 1500 experienced a catastrophic powertrain failure that created a serious safety hazard. On xxx, while driving at highway speeds, the truck unexpectedly shifted into neutral, causing an immediate loss of propulsion. During this event, the electrical system was also affected. The battery power dropped, power steering assistance was lost, and due to the electronic push-button start system, the vehicle could not be restarted while in this condition. This placed me and surrounding motorists at significant risk of a crash. I initially brought the vehicle to point GMC, where I was advised no issue was found. After the problem continued, I returned on xxx and a dealership technician rode with me. During the test drive on [xxx], the truck again shifted into neutral, confirming the defect. The vehicle was then towed to the dealership, where diagnostics revealed dtc p0016. I was informed the engine had seized and required a complete engine replacement. The engine was replaced by an authorized GMC dealership in new jersey. After only about 2,000 miles, the check engine light returned and the vehicle began experiencing additional electrical issues. This is a denali ultimate, the highest trim level, with advanced electronic systems, making these recurring failures especially concerning. To date, the vehicle has been inspected by three authorized GMC dealerships, and I have opened multiple cases with GMC corporate. Despite repeated repair attempts, the manufacturer has not provided a permanent resolution. I continue to experience recurring engine and electrical issues and no longer have confidence in the safety or reliability of this vehicle. Given the repeated failures, loss of propulsion, loss of steering assistance, inability to restart the vehicle, and lack of resolution after multiple dealership visits and an engine replacement, I believe this matter warrants investigation by NHTSA. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

I had this truck as brand new for approximately 24 hours when it had a major failure. It had 450 miles on it at time of purchase, but was sold as new. While driving at 45mph it had a check engine light, service power steering message, lost power steering, lane departure system failure, and reduced power amongst several other lights on the dash. I limped the truck into a gas station parking lot. After turning the truck off, it would not restart. I unhooked the battery for a minute and hooked it back up. The truck did restart with no messages or check engine light. I was able to safely get it to the dealership. As a result of this issue, I forced the dealership to cancel the trade.

Vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure characterized by a percussive "shotgun blast" noise from the rear chassis, followed by an immediate, total loss of braking power (pedal to the floor) and a violent loss of directional stability. This incident represents an aggravated safety failure of known gmt900 platform defects. The technical chain of causality began with the factory exhaust manifold fasteners suffering a metallurgical shear, a universal defect documented under gm bulletins 19-na-218, pip5075, and pip4701. This shear created a high-velocity, high-heat exhaust leak directed at the brake master cylinder and vacuum assembly. This "heat soak" event compromised the engine-mounted mechanical brake vacuum pump (recall n192268490 / NHTSA 19v645) and destroyed the internal seals of the master cylinder (special coverage 15143 / NHTSA 11v599), resulting in total depletion of vacuum assist and hydraulic pressure. Simultaneously, the "shotgun blast" and violent swerve were caused by structural failure consistent with rear brake caliper bolt fracture (gm 13247 / NHTSA 13v342) and rear axle shaft/pin fracture (gm 14892 / NHTSA 14v819). This mechanical collapse caused the caliper to strike the wheel, resulting in a catastrophic rim blowout and immediate loss of tire pressure. Despite the vehicle having aftermarket long-tube headers installed, the root cause of the heat-related brake failure was the failure of the oem gm manifold fasteners which snapped off in the cylinder head, as documented in the aforementioned bulletins. Under the magnuson-moss warranty act, the manufacturer remains liable for these pre-existing safety-critical defects. The vehicle is at glenn polk Chevrolet for a 901-series product allegation investigation (case #90199492). This report is filed to demand federal oversight into these life-threatening defects. The combo of failed fasteners, rim blowout, and compromised braking created a vehicle that was both unable to be steered or stopped.

See all problems of the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

I stopped at a red light in the middle of a 50 mph intersection when the light turned green the engine completely shut off, and it didn’t want to turn back on. I was stuck in the middle of the intersection in a very high risk area, putting myself and other drivers at risk. Onstar diagnostics didn’t report any issues with the truck. According to their diagnostics, everything should have been running perfectly fine. The motor shut down completely and we weren’t able to shift the truck into neutral in order to try to move out of harms way. There was no warning lights or anything before this happened. The first tow truck driver that came by was told that he was there “in order to do a jumpstart” he ran a diagnostic on both of the batteries and said that they were perfectly fine. Another tow truck had to be dispatched since the first wasn’t equipped to take the truck. In total we were stuck in the middle of the intersection for almost three hours. The amount of times we almost had someone crash into us during that time was very concerning. Dashboard and lights were all working perfectly fine. Auto start stop technology seems to have shut down the motor and was not able to get it to turn back on . This vehicle is a safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to steer to the left or the right. The power steering and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a corroded body ground strap. The error codes were cleared, and a test drive was performed. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to the GMC customer satisfaction program: n252515590; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,061.

Hi, was driving vehicle GMC 1500 denali, vehicle lost power, all lites lite up on dashboard, vehicle just lost power and I swerved off road and sideswiped a plant holder on side of road, damaging side passenger rear door. I bought the truck to GMC rvc and they said vehicle blew cam shaft and lifters. I explained to them I'm very concerned for others safety in these vehicles with the 6. 2 engine. Someone is going to get killed or even a family. I did look up this vehicle its not listed in recall, but this vehicle has same engine as ones in recall. Rvc GMC issued me a bill for repairs for the amount of $8185. 20 and they stated they took 3k off invoice. I did pay total invoice. . . . I'm just asking you to please look into this as this is defiantly an issue and this year should be listed on recall as well. . Thanku for at least looking at this. My cell is [xxx] if you need to reach us. . . Thx. . . . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving 13-15mph down the road the front right upper control arm ball bearing sheared off causing the tire to lean in rubbing the wheel well, forcing my truck to veer to the left across the other lane of traffic. Luckily there wasn't any car next to me.

This is separate for VIN 3gtuudel5ng657492 I had to change dealerships because beck & masten south / GMC would not provide me with a loaner after being told I was on the list and I was next in line. I waited a month and drove to them and spoke with the girl who oversaw loaners. I explained I had severe safety issues such as front-end wobble which is related to transmission issues. And the oil consumption issue and oil light. Once again, I was re-assured the loaner program was indeed still active and I would be put on priority. Again to no avail I had wasted too much time with beck & masten. After months of this I found out I did not have to take it to the dealer I bought it from. So, I took it to monument Chevrolet. I explained my concerns related to the front-end wobble which was very intermittent. And the oil consumption issue which I was very concerned with due to the year model and mileage of the truck. Also, the 75,000. 00 price tag was really has me extremely upset. . . Monument Chevrolet treated me well. I had actually brought it in and called about the steering which was greatly affected by the severe front end wobble more than one time. I was told at first the oil consumption was pretty normal. Until I told them how much I had to add between changes. I have attached two work orders to this complaint. These work orders show what was done at 18017 miles and 18323 miles. The later work order was when the pico test was done. Also, an oil consumption test was started once I picked the truck up. After I had driven it for 2077 miles and was bringing the vehicle back to monument Chevrolet, as instructed for the oil consumption results, when a loud squeeling, then hard knock, power loss and I pulled over. I called monument and was instructed if I could get it to start and bring it. I drove it to them while knocking and rough running. It has been in the shop for over 2 months for an engine replacement. 2077 miles after recall work! refer complaint 11729716.

Loss of power steering while driving.

This letter serves as a formal notice of concern and demand for accountability regarding the 2009 GMC sierra ld, VIN [xxx] , owned by [xxx] . There are numerous documented complaints and safety investigations concerning premature tie rod failure in 2009 GMC sierra models. While the 2009 model year may not have been subject to a sweeping, industry-wide recall specific to tie rods in the 1500 series, it is undeniably and consistently associated with premature steering component failure — including both inner and outer tie rods. The refusal to proactively address this defect, assign a broader recall, or take ownership of the recurring issue reflects a troubling disregard for consumer safety. Documented and reported issues include: • premature wear: tie rods becoming loose or failing between 50,000–100,000 miles, resulting in steering wander and excessive play in the steering wheel. • clunking/knocking noises: audible front-end knocking at low speeds, a well-known symptom of failing tie rod joints. • severe safety risk: instances where tie rods have separated or become dangerously compromised, directly affecting steering control. • uneven tire wear: excessive inner or outer tire edge wear caused by steering instability. • recall 14v-246000: a related recall acknowledging improper tightening of tie rods where they thread into the steering gear rack — a defect that could cause separation and loss of steering control. The common symptoms — steering vibration, looseness, clunking when turning, and vehicle pulling due to misalignment — are not minor inconveniences. They represent serious safety hazards that endanger drivers, passengers, and the public. It is unacceptable for gmac and general motors to minimize or compartmentalize this issue when patterns clearly demonstrate a systemic steering component weakness in this model year. The presence of recall 14v-246000 further demonstrates that the manufacturer was aware of tie rod-related risks ! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5.

See all problems of the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle lost proper steering ability, and the steering wheel became loose and spun around in a circle. The air bag message was later displayed on the instrument panel. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the bolt connecting the steering shaft was missing. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the cause of the failure was confirmed. The contact was then informed that there were no recalls or warranties on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified several times about the failure and agreed that the part should never fail. However, the manufacturer then stated that the owner of the vehicle was responsible for the repair. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The power steering on the truck would quit working at times. I made an appointment with a local dealership to have it checked out. I was told the steering rack was binding and would need to be replaced. I was also told there was a two to four week backorder on the parts. As I am trying to back out of my garage to take it to the dealer the steering totally locked up. I called a wrecker to take the truck to the dealer the next day. When the wrecker operator started to load the truck, at first the steering wheel wouldn't turn . Then it broke lose and worked fine. Imagine if I were driving when this on again off again power steering would quit working!! I should also say this truck only has fifty-seven thousand miles on it. Since there is a backorder on these parts it tells me that I'm not the only one that is having this problem. In my opinion this is a very dangerous safety problem and should be a national recall. Thank you.

Heated steering wheel reaches temps of 137 - 143 degrees. Should have the ability for the owner to select a lower temperature setting the same as the heated seats.

See all problems of the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

1. )when driving the vehicle it will randomly shutoff while driving with loss of brakes and steering until it will randomly turn back on. The vehicle experiences intermittent electronic and drivability malfunctions. The issue appears to involve one or more vehicle control modules and/or electronic systems. At times, warning lights and system messages appear, and vehicle performance is affected. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. )these failures create a serious safety risk because they occur without warning while driving. The vehicle may lose normal functionality, display multiple warnings, or behave unpredictably. If this occurs in traffic, at speed, or while maneuvering, it could increase the risk of a crash or leave the vehicle stranded in an unsafe location. Furthermore on 3 separate circumstances I came close to crashing the vehicle putting at risk lives in the vehicle and outside. 3. )the problem is intermittent and has been difficult to reproduce on demand. I have taken the truck to the dealership multiple times. The dealership has stated that because the issue is not actively occurring when they have the vehicle, they have been unable to duplicate the concern and have instructed me to continue driving it until the issue happens again. Despite this, the problem continues to return during normal use. 4. )the vehicle has been inspected by the authorized dealership on multiple occasions. To my knowledge, it has not been inspected directly by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. 5. )intermittent warning lights and system messages appear, including at times a check engine light and other alerts. These warnings may appear suddenly as the truck shuts off and then disappear after the vehicle is turned off and restarted. Another thing to point out is that the audio and turn signal chime cut off randomly. The issue first began while the vehicle was already in normal use and has continued to reoccur since.

Heated steering wheel gets so hot it almost burns to touch it. Ir thermometer readings at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions read between 119 and 125 degrees fahrenheit. Bottom of the steering wheel is 127-130 degrees. Have made an appointment to have the dealer check for issues.

Loses power steering when vehicle is low speed or stopped. Same details as safety recall 14743 for 2015 GMC sierra.

See all problems of the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 🔎.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and shut off. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road even though the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that the failure had recurred while driving. The contact stated that the message "service stabili-trak" might have been displayed. The local dealer and another dealer were contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18v586000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,379.

Without any notice, I lost my power steering while driving. The wheel jerked to the side, and when I corrected I realized that I no longer had power steering. I was still able to "steer" my vehicle, but not without brute force. If it were someone of lesser ability (e. G. Elderly) it may have led to a devastating outcome. I have yet to get the issue diagnosed, as it just happened yesterday, but it certainly is concerning! I just wanted to bring this to the attention of the NHTSA, as I've since learned that I'm not the first gm sierra owner to suffer this malfunction.