Most common 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 355 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 →
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (6)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026.
Service brakes
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
Child seat › Tether › Connector/clip
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The owner's manual for the affected vehicles may be missing instructions on how to use the tether anchorage and child restraint anchorage systems.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will provide a corrected insert for the owners manual, free of charge. The recall began on September 25, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
What 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 118 →
The contact's husband owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, approximately 1 year later the failure recurred. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. An unknown warning light and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. …
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and slammed into the intended gear. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had persisted, and the vehicle had failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the drive was rough, and there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the engine misfired. The vehicle was taken to several unknown locations for diagnostic tests, and it was confirmed that the transmission and the engine had failed. The contact was informed that metal shavings were found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact was provided with the manufacturer's TSB Number: 20-NA-138; however, the vehicle was not covered. …
Brakes all 108 →
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, he heard an abnormal noise and while depressing on the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to decelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to cruise to the side of the roadway until the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated he shifted into reverse to stop the vehicle completely, before shifting into park. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to his residence. The contact stated he had an independent mechanic come to his residence and he was informed that the brake caliper and the front passenger's side brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds or parking the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal, he heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle failed to stop completely. The contact stated that the service brakes warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he continued to experience failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Engine & cooling all 59 →
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and slammed into the intended gear. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had persisted, and the vehicle had failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the drive was rough, and there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the engine misfired. The vehicle was taken to several unknown locations for diagnostic tests, and it was confirmed that the transmission and the engine had failed. The contact was informed that metal shavings were found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact was provided with the manufacturer's TSB Number: 20-NA-138; however, the vehicle was not covered. …
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to shift hard, started shuddering, and lost electrical power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with assistance. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle was shifting hard and was shuddering while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the main power cord had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer; Fresno Buick GMC (5515 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93710) where it was diagnosed that the transmission torque converter and the engine mounts needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the coolant reservoir had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. …
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl hybrid | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 355 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Sierra 1500 rates avoid: 3.2× 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 2017 GMC Sierra 1500?
The transmission & drivetrain — 118 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › torque converter. Next are the brakes (108) and engine & cooling (59).
How many recalls does the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500, the most recent from September 24, 2026 (inflator). 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 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 39,000 miles; 59% 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.