Most common 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 381 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019. Compare all years →
2008 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500:
Non-crash engine compartment fires
In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation(odi) during preliminary evaluation pe08-010, GM provided odi with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires originating with the ignition in the off position.one of the fires was determined to be caused by an arson event.odi has also received 5 reports, 4 of which are of duplicative…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Non-crash engine compartment fires
In a letter dated August 27, 2008, general motors corp. (GM) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 08v-441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population.
What 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Air bags all 243 →
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel air bag and driver seat belt air bag were inadvertently deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she veered to the side of the road and cut the air bags. The contact also stated she could no longer use the driver's seat belt as it was locked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that they could not determine the cause of the failure. However, the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not share the diagnostic of the vehicle because it was confidential. The manufacturer also offered to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off at the residence, the front windshield cracked. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's and passenger's side air bags had deployed without impact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that a short circuit was caused by water damage in the air bag modules underneath the front driver's and passenger's side seats. The vehicle was then towed to a body shop for the air bags to be replaced; however, the replacement parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Electrical system all 31 →
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,498. It was later discovered that the mileage on the title was approximately 250,205.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving 55 MPH, smoke emerged from the vents on the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to a shoulder lane where the passenger side began to catch fire. The contact stated that wires were visible prior to the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and the insurance company deemed the vehicle destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V383000 (air bags). The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and opened a case for the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Body & structure all 25 →
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the spare tire detached from underneath. After a visual inspection of the underneath of the vehicle, he observed that the spare tire hoist and frame were severely corroded, potentially compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 197,000.
left side frame is defective, I have welded 4 patches on frame.from the bend by wheel well and fuel tank to front wheel well all by were frame has bracket welded and bottom of inside of frame . if hit on left side can cause frame to crumble and fuel tank to explode. it needs to be looked at for recall. i have spoken to many oweners of 2007 to 2009 gm trucks. and all have same problem. my truck only has around 112 thousand on it this is 3rd year i had to repair.
2008 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 381 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Sierra 1500 rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 1500 at the same age. It is one of the Sierra 1500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500?
The air bags — 243 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (31) and body & structure (25).
How many recalls does the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019. See the full GMC Sierra 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.