2025 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems & Complaints

Use caution4.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 3500 at the same age

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 4.5× as many as a typical Sierra 3500 model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the brakes (5 complaints). One recall covers this model year.

17complaints
1recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 problems

  • Brakes
    529%
  • Electrical system
    318%
  • Wheels & tires
    318%
  • Engine & cooling~40,000 miles
    318%
  • Body & structure
    212%
  • Driver assistance
    212%
  • Other / not specified
    212%
  • Steering
    16%
  • Lights
    16%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~40,000 miles
    16%
  • Equipment & accessories
    16%

Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

GMC Sierra 3500 complaints by model year

’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26101219263620724241116255220914731191314135120322850175
Owner complaints per model year, GMC Sierra 3500. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Sierra 3500 years: 2012, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025, 2022. Compare all years →

2025 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls (1)

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump › Control/drive module

NHTSA recall 26V-129 · Mar 5, 2026 · 11,807 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.

Remedy: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026.

What 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 owners say

Brakes

While towing my fifth wheel trailer, the truck intermittently disconnects the trailer brakes while in motion. This results in a sudden loss of roughly 75% of my braking capability, creating an extremely dangerous situation. I have a professional driving background, which has helped me avoid an accident so far, but this issue could easily result in a collision, especially under emergency braking or downhill conditions Service Attempt: On June 17, 2025, I brought the vehicle to Madras Chevrolet in Oregon. The dealership acknowledged the issue but stated the truck is "within GM parameters," so no repairs were made. They claimed the problem might be with the trailer, but I've confirmed the trailer works properly with other tow vehicles. This appears to be a systemic electrical or control issue with the truck. …

Jun 2025

The truck automatically engages the parking brake ONLY when on an incline, never at any other time. I am so used to engaging the parking brake at all other times I also engage it when on an incline. The problem is the truck DISENGAGES the brake automatically after I've engaged it. This has happened multiple times when I've been towing a large boat on a launch ramp or towing my heavy 5th wheel. I can be fully exited from the truck and 10 ft away when it disengages and I watch it lurch forward. Simple answer would be for me to not engage the brake on an incline, but its a total habit all the time so I never remember to not engage it on an incline. This is a dangerous feature that needs to be removed ASAP. Thank you

Jan 2026

Electrical system

Intermittent loss of trailer brake function. While traveling and towing a RV trailer with electric brakes, receive a dashboard alert that trailer brakes have been disconnected. This has occurred since vehicle was new. Trailer brake system has been inspected and trailer is not the issue. Took truck to GMC dealer. They are well aware of common issue with GMC owners. GMC issued a safety bulletin 6+ months ago to dealers to replace the integrated trailer brake controller (RPO code JL1). Per reports that has not solved the issue. My truck did not fall into that safety bulletin. Customer Satisfaction Program number N232414840 says, with the brake issues caused by a potential fault in which voltage feedback occurs. This is a DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE.

Jun 2024

weekly you will start the truck and have no audio of any kind. No blinker noises no collision warning noises, no radio, no on star noise. No sound at all and sound will never come back on until you turn truck off and wait 20 mins. GMC says it's a known software issue, but this has been going on since I bought the truck brand new back is April of 2025. I live in a hands free while driving state when it's come to cell phone use and can't even take a call with no audio of any kind. I don't see how GMC can say this isn't a safety issue.

Apr 2025

Wheels & tires

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT tires size LT275/65R20. I purchased a new 2025 GMC Sierra 3500HD in August 2025. By the time the vehicle reached approximately 1,800 miles, noticeable sidewall bulges appeared on both rear tires. As a 36-year automotive professional, I recognized the serious safety risk posed by this condition and replaced all four tires at my own expense with a different brand. Since then, I have seen multiple reports of similar sidewall failures on brand-new trucks, which suggests this may be a systemic issue. Based on my experience and these reports, I believe this defect may be known to both Goodyear and GM but has not been adequately addressed. I urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this matter to determine whether these tires pose a significant safety risk to the public. …

Sidewall · Oct 2025

I am reporting a potentially serious and widespread safety defect involving Goodyear Wrangler TrailRunner AT tires installed as factory equipment on General Motors trucks. My 2025 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali has just 5,800 miles. Both rear tires, with DOT code 2724, have developed identical sidewall bulges behind the "NER" in the "TrailRunner" stamp. These bulges are consistent with internal structural failure, not road hazard damage. The truck has never struck a pothole or curb, and there is no evidence of impact or external damage. I have personally inspected several brand-new GM trucks on dealer lots, equipped with the same Goodyear tires, showing the exact same sidewall bulge in the same location. These trucks also have newer DOT Manufacture date stamps. …

Sidewall · Mar 2025

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 a good car?

Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2025 Sierra 3500 rates use caution: 4.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 3500 at the same age. It is one of the Sierra 3500 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 2025 GMC Sierra 3500?

The brakes — 5 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › caliper. Next are the electrical system (3) and wheels & tires (3).

How many recalls does the 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 have?

There is 1 recall for the 2025 GMC Sierra 3500, the most recent from March 5, 2026 (control/drive 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 3500?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2014 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2022. See the full GMC Sierra 3500 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 100% 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.