VehicleVerdict

2019 GMC Sierra 2500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 38 owner complaints run below the Sierra 2500 median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (9), engine (7), and fuel system (6), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

38

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2019 compare to other Sierra 2500 years?

Sierra 2500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2019 highlighted193 complaints1994: 2 complaints1997: 14 complaints1998: 19 complaints1999: 42 complaints2000: 62 complaints2001: 171 complaints2002: 164 complaints2003: 193 complaints2004: 175 complaints2005: 159 complaints2006: 78 complaints2007: 98 complaints2008: 78 complaints2009: 37 complaints2010: 11 complaints2011: 81 complaints2012: 39 complaints2013: 57 complaints2014: 39 complaints2015: 100 complaints2016: 75 complaints2017: 51 complaints2018: 46 complaints2019: 38 complaints2020: 106 complaints2021: 63 complaints2022: 52 complaints2023: 34 complaints2024: 133 complaints2025: 34 complaints2026: 9 complaints
Sierra 2500 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2019 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Sierra 2500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System924%
Engine718%
Fuel System616%
Brakes411%
Other411%
Tires & Wheels25%
Transmission25%
Lighting25%
Visibility & Wipers13%
Seat Belts13%

Does the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V325000AirbagsMay 21, 2026 · 2,785 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.

26V166000AirbagsMarch 19, 2026 · 2,819 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.

25V432000AirbagsJune 26, 2025 · 1,658 units

Defect

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.

24V756000AirbagsOctober 10, 2024 · 2,061 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.

23V047000Fuel SystemFebruary 2, 2023 · 22,132 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

21V496000Electrical SystemJuly 1, 2021 · 338,020 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

19V328000EngineApril 25, 2019 · 318,374 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Vehicle was last driven on June 23 2024 and parked in my driveway. On the evening of June 29 2024 my horn was blowing in my truck at around 10:30. While I was walking out to the vehicle it was in flames. The fire started from what I understand on the driver’s side behind the dash. Luckily no one…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 29, 2024 · fire

“RECALL WAS ISSUED APRIL 25 2019, AS OF TODAY ALMOST 1 YEAR LATER GM IS STILL SAYING I CAN'T GET IT DONE. YET THEY ARE BUILDING AND SELLING VEHICLES WITH UPDATED PARTS IN THEM.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 25, 2019

“The connectors to the fuel pump have failed causing the truck to mechanically fail and not operate. This is a common problem per the diesel technician who diagnosed our truck and in his opinion should not be happening as often as it does. It’s specifically the cylinder 4 injector control circuit…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · February 6, 2023

“DEFECTIVE TRAILER BRAKE SWITCH ,WHICH POSES A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY IF YOU ARE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER, WHERE BRAKES FAIL LOCK UP IS POSSIBLE DANGEROUS TO PULL”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 14, 2023

“When it rains, there are puddles of water on the passenger side! Cannot figure out how the water is getting in..my concern is of a potential electrical short/ fire / failure of a system that doesn’t allow me to operate the vehicle safely! Possibly, affecting other functions of the vehicle during…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 6, 2024

2019 GMC Sierra 2500 — common questions

Is the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 38 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Sierra 2500 year, with 7 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2019 Sierra 2500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (9 complaints), engine (7 complaints), fuel system (6 complaints).

Does the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which GMC Sierra 2500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sierra 2500 years to avoid are 2003, 2004, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2024, 2020, 2015, 2007, 2011, 2008, 2013, 2012, 2014, 2009, 2010. The cleanest record among Sierra 2500 years belongs to 1994.

How safe is the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.