Most common 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 168 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 →
2010 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
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 24, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
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 25, 2021.
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.
Equipment
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500:
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.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Air bags all 77 →
The contact is an attorney who was representing a client who owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being driven at an intersection, the front end of the vehicle crashed into the side of another vehicle, where it came to a stop. The contact stated that the passenger side dash air bag ruptured, related to a Takata Inflator. The driver's side air bag deployed as well. The vehicle speed was undisclosed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. A police report was filed. Both the driver and passenger were injured in the accident. The injuries sustained were lacerations to the passenger's leg and hearing trauma to both the driver and passenger. It was unknown if the occupants of the other vehicle were injured. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
Tl-contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra --- received tk holdings letter --- had not contacted GM regarding air bag replacement ---- contact was in accident when vehicle was six months old and drivers side airbag deployed in accident... Vehicle was fixed due to low mileage and vehicle only being six months old...... Side air bag also deployed in accident... Contact took truck back to GM and GM stated nothing was wrong with unsown airbag.... 1recallsassociated with this VIN... Cb
Body & structure all 34 →
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bag). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he became aware that there was a crack on the top of the infotainment system on the dashboard. The contact stated that a month later, the vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired, but there was a large hole approximately one to two inches in size on the driver's side dashboard near the defroster vent. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,928.
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, she was informed that the sub-frame was corroded. The contact took the vehicle to the used car dealer where she purchased the vehicle, and requested a second opinion. The vehicle was taken to a second inspection station and was Informed that the sub-frame was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,118.
Engine & cooling
Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the side of the road. We pulled over and thankfully they missed hitting one another. We just couldn't speed up to get out of their way. We cant believe their hasnt been a safety recall on the TCM for these trucks. GMC started doing Service bulletins in 2013 about the TCM causing the limp mode issues. There are dedicated facebook groups with over a 1,000 followers who are experiencing the same issues with these TCM's. Someone is going to die if they havent already. …
At ~ 54,000 miles, the vehicle experienced increased oil consumption and lost compression on two cylinders. This vehicle has only been subjected to highway mileage of about 30 miles/day on average and has been properly maintained. The damage was to the extent that cylinders had to be replaced and it took the dealership 25 days to repair. A coworker had the same engine issue on his Chevrolet silverado with the same 5.3 liter engine at ~ 45,000 miles. A cursory search of the internet will reveal that this is not an isolated incident. The overwhelming majority of owners comments that I have researched believe that it is caused by the active fuel management system failing to properly lubricate components when the engine cycles between 4 and 8 cylinders. GM disavowed any knowledge of these incidents when contacted. …
2010 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 21 / 22 / 22 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 21 / 22 / 21 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 19 / 14 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 12 / 19 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 168 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Sierra 1500 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 1500 at the same age. 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 2010 GMC Sierra 1500?
The air bags — 77 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (34) and engine & cooling (15).
How many recalls does the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 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 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 30% 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.