Most common 2008 GMC Sierra problems
Share of the 86 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra complaints by model year
Best Sierra years: 2020, 2018, 2009. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
2008 GMC Sierra recalls (2)
Electrical system
GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; Hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; Saturn outlook; and model year 2009…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently…
Electrical system
GM is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 Buick lucerne; Cadillac dts; Hummer h2; my 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, Saturn outlook; and my 2008 Buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system.
Remedy: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2008. Owners May contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.Cadillac.com;…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 GMC Sierra:
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…
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 owners say
Air bags all 32 →
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V052000 (Air bags) The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall was serviced; but, a week later the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,398.
I start my truck one nice summer day and my "service air bag" light came on, strange I thought, since my 2008 Sierra 1500 only has 57,[redacted] miles on it. . No accident, no prior issues, not even inclement weather when the light came on. Took it to the dealer to have it diagnosed. The diagnostic cost was $132.93, and that was to just for plugging in the tech 2 scan tool and running the sir air bag diagnostic test. I was not thrilled about it. Problem turned out to be a failure of the front left air bag sensor. The dealer said "oh we have one in stock at out other location, we can get it shipped over, and it would cost $550 but we could have the truck back to you later this evening." how does one of these just fail? If its due to corrosion shouldn't GM pick up the tab on that? …
Body & structure
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that the dashboard cracked on the passenger side of the vehicle and expanded to a gaping hole. It was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
My Sierra has the same problem that many other GM vehicles have. The dash is cracking, creating loose pieces. It is cracked at the airbag. This sharp edges could impair the proper function of the airbag. In the event of an accident, I am afraid the loose dash pieces could post a danger to the vehicles occupants.
Electrical system
Purchased my 2008 GMC Sierra truck in November 2015 after having for only 5 months driver side door lock will only lock or unlock sometime, making it unsafe if you needed to exit quickly due to accident or fire. Seen many other post about same problem. Should be a recall on this.
All four door locks were intermittently inoperative & only able to function manually from the inside. Taken to dealer and diagnosed as internal failure in door lock assemblies/actuators. All four door lock assemblies were replaced at a customer cost of $900+. This is my second GMC vehicle that has had the same problem and after searching the internet this seems to be a fairly common problem. Even the dealership mechanic mentioned surprise that it has not been recalled or GMC has not been forced to fix the problem considering how often he had personally diagnosed & fixed this same problem. This is definitely a safety issue as the customer is unable to rely on the door lock system or lock/unlock the doors as usual. Multiple times, my vehicle sat at the airport for days unlocked because of this failure. …
2008 GMC Sierra 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 a good car?
Based on 86 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Sierra rates average: 23% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sierra 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 2008 GMC Sierra?
The air bags — 32 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › sensor/control module. Next are the body & structure (18) and electrical system (17).
How many recalls does the 2008 GMC Sierra have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 GMC Sierra, the most recent from June 4, 2010 (electrical system). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full GMC Sierra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 GMC Sierra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 32% 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.