Headlight complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 2% | — |
| 2024 | 15 | 4% | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 11 | 2% | 4,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% | 4,000 miles |
| 2017 | 9 | 3% | 13,000 miles |
| 2016 | 4 | 1% | 40,000 miles |
| 2015 | 93 | 13% | 1,000 miles |
| 2014 | 148 | 20% | 3,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 3% | 18,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 2% | 266,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 120,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 3% | 109,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 2% | 172,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 1% | 69,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% | 81,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% | 53,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% | 50,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The truck when put in parking it still roll forward a little bit. Back up camera can't not see during night time. Dealership stated they will not solve that problem and tell us to do manually by turn around look back. The suspension really bouncy but the tech stated that is normal. Spoke to other 3rd party tech they said that not normal at all.
Just purchased a new 2025 GMC Sierra. The backup camera system is useless at night if not in a well lit parking lot. This make the system unsafe as you cannot detect people or objects in the field of view. I've had many GMC vehicles over the years and this is the first one with this concern.
The backup camera is useless at night. When backing up at night the camera is so dark you cannot see more than a foot or two behind you. If someone or something is behind you you will never see them before it's too late. The camera is supposed to be a safety feature! I talked to the dealer service department about this and they said it's a design flaw with GMC and nothing they could do. I Also looked online and see several people complaining about the same thing. This truck has as of today 268 miles on it. I called GMC help center and just got the runaround telling me I would have to go back to the dealer for them to fix the problem even after telling them several times that the dealer said nothing they could do it's a design flaw with GMC. I believe GMC should be made to do a recall and fix this safety problem.
The reverse or backup lights do not properly illuminate, as the angle does not allow for viewing dangers behind at night. The lights are angled to aim way too high, and the lights are aealed. No way to adjuat. An adult standing just three to five feet behind truck, the lights illuminate at chest level, meaning a small child could not be seen at all, even with the rear view camera. Speaking of the camera, it not longer displays low light situations. People are going to be injured or killed because of these lights, or lack thereof of. On researching, this is a known defect since GMC went to LED tailings in the 2024 1500. This problem was not in my 2024 3500 as they use different lights. This is a dangerous situation.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night on an undulating roadway, the contact noticed that due to the narrow vertical area of illumination of the head lights, front visibility was severely reduced, with the lowest portion of the area in front of the vehicle receiving little to no illumination. The contact stated that the failure was not present while driving on a flat roadway. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 1,000.
Was driving my 2023 GMC Sierra in a mild snowstorm after leaving the grocery store and heading home. It was about 10 minutes after dark and it has just started snowing. I was only 5 minutes down the road and the visibility in front of me suddenly & drastically declined. I could barely see the road. I could barely make out anywhere to turn out to. Once pulled over, I walked to the front of the truck and the headlights AND fog lights were completely covered in snow. I wiped them off with my hand and could then see great again. Well, 5ish minutes down the road again and they were back to completely covered. Twice I wasn't able to pull over, due to the steep terrain and no shoulder so, I had to push on, traveling at no more than 4MPH. And getting out during one of the 7 cleanings, I almost slipped and fell. It took me 48 minutes to get home. A trip that usually takes 25! …
Dangerous visibility hazard when backing up vehicle at night. Infotainment screen switches to "full brightness" when backup camera is activated, resulting in blinding light to driver. Driver can not backup safely without physically covering the screen to regain visibility. Screen brightness reflects off all 4 windows, windshield and back glass. Side mirrors are unusable in this condition. There was a fix for this issue on previous GM models, (prior to 2018), however no fix for 2019 - present
Brand new truck. Stuck at the gym in the middle of the night truck wont start. The interior lights, head lights, and radio wont shut off. Vehicle wont start. I'm assuming the battery was drained because interior lights, exterior lights, radio, wont shut off. Has to be some kind of electrical malfunction. Waiting on GM roadside.
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Lighting control module › Software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
General Motors (GM) has decided that certain 2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with an accessory sport bar. The accessory sport bar contains a high-mounted brake light that may not function. In addition, it may block the vehicle's existing high-mounted brake light.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the installation of the accessory bar and provide the correct vehicle wiring, if necessary, free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (148), 2015 (93), 2024 (15), 2019 (11) and 2023 (11) model years. Headlight complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for GMC Sierra 1500 headlight problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 22V-903 (software, Dec 8, 2022); 22V-463 (brake lights, Jun 30, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Sierra 1500 headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles; 81% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (15 mentions), followed by the brake lights (2).
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.