Model year report

2009 GMC Sierra 2500: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500

On the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, with 6 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 40,000 miles. Overall it scores 64 out of 100, high risk for a 2009.

High risk for a 2009 — 250th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. 38 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

The failures owners actually file about

Owners have reported 17 named failure modes on the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500, and the three most-reported carry 34% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.

Other electrical problem leads with 6 reports and about 0.2 per 1,000 vehicles.

Other body or interior problem follows with 4 reports, median 25,000 miles.

Other brake problem follows with 3 reports, median 75,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (7), body (5) and brakes (5).

At what mileage it happens

34 of the reports on the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 40,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 59% by 50,000 miles, 88% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.

38% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.

Median

Other electrical problem

65k
Other body or interior problem

26k
Other brake problem

74k
Instrument cluster or gauge failure

83k
Loss of braking

14k
Other engine problem

40k
Other fuel system problem

128k
Other driver assistance problem

125k
Complete transmission failure

70k
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure

20k
Seat belt or retractor failure

10
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure

8k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 17. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 39.6k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

How bad it is when it goes

Across the named modes, 1 mentions a crash. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.55, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800 and instrument cluster or gauge failure at $350–$1,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

8% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other electrical problem	electrical	6	5	—	65k	—	0.2	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Other body or interior problem	body	4	4	—	26k	—	0.1	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Other brake problem	brakes	3	3	—	74k	—	0.1	$300–$1,800	High
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	2	2	—	83k	—	0.1	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Loss of braking	brakes	2	2	—	14k	—	0.1	$400–$3,000	Critical
Other engine problem	engine	2	2	—	40k	—	0.1	$300–$4,000	High
Other fuel system problem	fuel	2	1	—	128k	—	0.1	$300–$2,200	High
Other driver assistance problem	adas	2	2	—	125k	—	0.1	$250–$1,800	High
Complete transmission failure	transmission	1	1	—	70k	—	0.0	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	1	1	—	20k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	High
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	1	1	—	10	—	0.0	$200–$900	High
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	1	1	—	8k	—	0.0	$400–$2,200	High
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	1	1	—	12k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Rust or structural corrosion	body	1	1	—	29k	—	0.0	$500–$6,000	High
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	1	1	—	40k	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	High
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	1	1	—	26k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	High
Other speed control problem	adas	1	1	—	70k	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	Critical
Unclassified problem	other	6	4	—	78k	—	0.2	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 draws about 1.3 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 79th percentile of complaint rates among 2009 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 30,014 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2009 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Recalls on the 2009 model year

NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500, affecting an estimated 53,555 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module and equipment. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.

21V053000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

692,526 vehicles 2021-02-05

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade…
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.

21V052000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

557,023 vehicles 2021-02-05

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is…
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

21V050000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

2,641,272 vehicles 2021-02-05

Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is…
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

18V267000

EQUIPMENT

6,154 vehicles 2018-04-26

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough…
Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

14V407000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

9,371 vehicles 2014-07-02

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
Consequence: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2009 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2009 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Better and worse years of the same car

High risk for a 2009 — 250th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.

Across the 27 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2007 comes out best at 63 and 2025 worst at 81, with 2009 itself at 64.

No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2009, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.

Within the 2007–2010 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 63 and 2008 the weakest at 65.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2007-2010 generation, 2007 GMC Sierra 2500 scores best at 63 and 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 worst at 65.

Where these figures stop being useful

38 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 38 reports, 34 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 89% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500?

The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (6 reports, median 65,000 miles), other body or interior problem (4 reports, median 25,000 miles) and other brake problem (3 reports, median 75,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

Is the 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?

It scores 64 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 250th riskiest of the 295 2009 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2009 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the GMC Sierra 2500 is best?

Within the 2007–2010 generation, 2007 scores best at 63 out of 100 and 2008 worst at 65. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed