Best GMC Sierra 1500 Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best GMC Sierra 1500 years to buy are 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2016 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Skip these years
Full failure breakdown: GMC Sierra 1500 years to avoid →
Every GMC Sierra 1500 year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 90 | 1 | OK |
| 2024 | 312 | 1 | AVOID |
| 2023 | 409 | 3 | AVOID |
| 2022 | 531 | 6 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 513 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 436 | 12 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 601 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 293 | 7 | OK |
| 2017 | 425 | 5 | OK |
| 2016 | 44 | 7 | BEST |
| 2015 | 809 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 856 | 9 | OK |
| 2013 | 167 | 3 | BEST |
| 2012 | 48 | 3 | BEST |
| 2011 | 365 | 5 | OK |
| 2010 | 0 | 4 | OK |
| 2009 | 280 | 4 | BEST |
| 2008 | 0 | 2 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the GMC Sierra 1500?
2009, 2012, 2013 and 2016 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any GMC Sierra 1500 model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years should I avoid?
2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. The full breakdown is on our GMC Sierra 1500 years-to-avoid page.
Is a used GMC Sierra 1500 a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 6,179 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst GMC Sierra 1500 years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best GMC Sierra 1500 year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact GMC Sierra 1500 you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).