2008 GMC Sierra 2500: common problems

Owners of the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 filed 63 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 63
involving a crash: 4

What fails most often

1 Air bags 62% of all complaints
2 Engine 6% of all complaints
3 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
6 Structure 5% of all complaints
7 Equipment 3% of all complaints
8 Seat belts 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 39 complaints (62% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine: 4 complaints (6% of all).
Fuel system: 4 complaints (6% of all).
Electrical system: 3 complaints (5% of all).
Powertrain: 3 complaints (5% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 63 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine3 · 5%
airbag warning light2 · 3%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 3%
seat belts2 · 3%
vibration2 · 3%
airbags did not deploy1 · 2%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 2%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 2%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 2%
loss of power / limp mode1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Air bags	39	2
Engine	4	0
Fuel system	4	0
Electrical system	3	0
Powertrain	3	0
Structure	3	0
Equipment	2	0
Seat belts	2	2
Steering	2	2
Engine and cooling	1	0
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0
Service brakes	1	0
Tires	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Neither passenger nor driver airbag deployed and seat belts did not lock up, injuring the driver. No warning lights indicating an airbag problem appeared prior to crash. The vehicle is now impounded at towing company yard pending insurance investigation.
Air bags · crash · 2024-09-24 · NHTSA complaint #11616145
Steering column seperated at the tilt column pivot joint. Total steering lost. The collapsible column section allowed the pivot joint retention to dissengage also slide toward engine compartment.
Steering · crash · 2020-11-24 · NHTSA complaint #11376239
Driving around a corner when the steering locked its self in position causing the truck to not turn, almost as if when you shut the vehicle off and turn the wheel it locks in position. This caused the vehicle to leave the road and hit a tree. The driver side airbag did not deploy. The passenger side airbag did deploy.
Air bags · crash · 2018-08-18 · NHTSA complaint #11120781
During the crash, the seatbelt failed to secure the driver and a neck injury was sustained. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Seat belts · crash · 2016-05-11 · NHTSA complaint #10864312
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while researching the history of the vehicle it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale.
Electrical system · 2025-04-23 · NHTSA complaint #11656262
It is now cracked in other places and rattles constantly while in motion. I feel this is a safety hazard. I've yet to see a gmc/chevy from 2007.5-14 that this is not a problem. It seems that the dash pieces could cause serious injury/death if not fixed.
Air bags · 2021-01-04 · NHTSA complaint #11386524
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to wilkinson automotive (3335 nc-87 south, sanford, [ZIP]) where it was diagnosed that the fuel filter needed to be replaced.
Engine · 2020-08-13 · NHTSA complaint #11349080
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra 2500. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, it seized without warning. An independent mechanic was contacted and drove to the contact's residence; however, the vehicle had to be towed to the mechanic's shop. The cause of the failure could not be determined.
Electrical system · 2019-09-25 · NHTSA complaint #11258168

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20071
20081
20091
20101
20114
20121
20131
20141
20153
201626
201710
20183
20194
20202
20211
20241
20251
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 4,699 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sierra 2500 has 59 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 63, about average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, fuel system. Total complaints: 63. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (5%), airbag warning light (3%), fuel system, fuel smell (3%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2008 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.