GMC Sierra 3500 Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 85 of the 726 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009–2024 GMC Sierra 3500 (11.7%) name the engine, below the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst year is 2011.
Engine complaints
85
Filed with NHTSA, 2009–2024 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
11.7%
of 726 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
GMC Sierra 3500 engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 | 11.9% | 0 | — | 84 |
| 2010 | 3 | 8.3% | 0 | — | 142 |
| 2011WORST | 9 | 14.3% | 1 | — | 186 |
| 2012 | 9 | 23.7% | 2 | — | 117 |
| 2013 | 5 | 9.4% | 0 | — | 126 |
| 2014 | 9 | 8.3% | 2 | — | 208 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7.9% | 0 | — | 204 |
| 2016 | 5 | 20% | 0 | — | 181 |
| 2017 | 6 | 8.1% | 0 | 21V49600019V328000 | 173 |
| 2018 | 1 | 7.1% | 0 | 21V49600019V328000 | 215 |
| 2019 | 3 | 23.1% | 0 | 21V49600019V328000 | 207 |
| 2020 | 5 | 11.1% | 1 | — | 285 |
| 2021 | 3 | 15% | 0 | — | 254 |
| 2022 | 3 | 9.7% | 0 | — | 252 |
| 2023 | 4 | 14.3% | 2 | — | 201 |
| 2024 | 8 | 17% | 1 | — | 176 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common GMC Sierra 3500 engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 85 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
GMC Sierra 3500 years to avoid for the engine
2011 GMC Sierra 3500
9 engine complaints (14.3% of the year's 63). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the GMC Sierra 3500 years to avoid.
GMC Sierra 3500 engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any GMC Sierra 3500 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 21V496000 · 2021-07-01 · 2017–2019 models
An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
- 19V328000 · 2019-04-25 · 2017–2019 models
The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 9 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500, 14.3% of all 63 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (3 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which GMC Sierra 3500 years have the most engine complaints?
2011 (9), 2012 (9) and 2014 (9), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common GMC Sierra 3500 engine problems?
In the 85 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (18.8%), misfire or check-engine light (18.8%) and loss of power or limp mode (11.8%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each GMC Sierra 3500 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration