2015 GMC Sierra 2500: common problems

Owners of the 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 filed 90 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 90
involving a crash: 5

What fails most often

1 Exterior lighting 29% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
3 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
5 Engine 8% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
7 Visibility 7% of all complaints
8 Steering 4% of all complaints

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

Exterior lighting: 26 complaints (29% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 11 complaints (12% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 10 complaints (11% of all).
Powertrain: 8 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine: 7 complaints (8% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 90 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

headlights and tail lights23 · 26%
loss of power / limp mode8 · 9%
smoke, burning smell, fire8 · 9%
windows, sunroof7 · 8%
warning lights, check engine6 · 7%
fuel system, fuel smell5 · 6%
steering or power steering problems5 · 6%
seat belts3 · 3%
rust, corrosion2 · 2%
stalls while driving2 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Exterior lighting	26	1
Electrical system	11	0
Fuel/propulsion system	10	0
Powertrain	8	1
Engine	7	0
Service brakes	6	2
Visibility	6	0
Steering	4	0
Air bags	3	1
Seat belts	3	0
Wheels	3	0
Fuel system	2	0
Suspension	2	1
Structure	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.

Press the pedal feels soft vehicle slightly slows then pedal pressures up and truck instantly stops pedal stays hard for a long time having same issue on 15 tahoe
Service brakes · crash · 2023-03-06 · NHTSA complaint #11510446
The powder from the airbag compartments filled the truck cap but the air bags did not deploy.
Air bags · crash · 2018-08-21 · NHTSA complaint #11121544
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 gmc sierra 2500. While the vehicle was being reversed with a trailer attached, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to operate. The contact stated that the trailer crashed into the awning of the residence. There were no injuries.
Service brakes · crash · 2017-07-13 · NHTSA complaint #11005111
The low beam projector headlights are inadequate, especially in rural areas. There is a distinctive cutoff of light, call it a line when on low beam, and beyond that line their is no illumination whatsoever as you would be used to with other lighting designs.
Exterior lighting · crash · 2016-09-15 · NHTSA complaint #10906845
The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH uphill, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle hesitated. A dealer contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with brake booster failure. The brake booster was replaced and the vehicle was repaired.
Service brakes · 2026-10-28 · NHTSA complaint #11774246
The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the defroster was activated, and there was smoke inside the vehicle before the rear glass shattered. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall.
Visibility · 2026-03-06 · NHTSA complaint #11722449
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the Fuel Pump Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Fuel system · 2025-07-10 · NHTSA complaint #11672477
The contact stated that while driving at 45-48 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a vehicle scanner and retrieved diagnostic test code P0420 that indicated an efficient operating below threshold, and the contact cleared the code.
Engine · 2024-10-16 · NHTSA complaint #11620052

When owners complained

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

20157
201619
20179
20187
20198
20205
202110
20228
20236
20244
20252
20265

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 3,812 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sierra 2500 has 59 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 90, above average.

What to check before buying

Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2015 GMC Sierra 2500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 90. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (26%), loss of power / limp mode (9%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2015 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 2015 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 2015 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.