2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year cluster in two places: the passenger-side air bag inflator recall, which many owners describe as still unfinished years after notice, and a set of wear-and-age problems that show up at higher mileage — corroded brake lines, oil consumption, dashboard cracking and occasional no-start or stalling. The air bag items come from owners across a wide mileage range, while brake-line and engine complaints tend to appear from roughly 60,000 miles upward.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag inflator recall not completed

   • 127 complaints (48%)
   • median 106,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe receiving recall notices for the passenger-side air bag inflator and then waiting, in some cases for years, because parts were described as unavailable. Some say the dealer could not schedule the work or gave no date; others report an air bag warning light after inflator service, or a passenger-side warning light that no longer comes on with someone seated. A few describe side or driver air bags deploying without an impact, or failing to deploy in a crash, and say they were told a sensor or module needed replacement. Reported from under 20,000 miles to well past 200,000 miles, with many complaints filed years after the recall notice.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V0520002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the recall completion record for the passenger air bag inflator, and confirm the air bag warning light behaves correctly — it should come on with the key and go out, and the passenger light should read correctly with someone seated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Gmc sierra that I filed a complaint about before because the airbags deployed when I hit a small pothole. After Gmc fixed vehicle they assured me it was safe to drive because they fixed the overly sensitive sensor. I was driving the vehicle home in september of 2010 and the side air bags deployed again. I still have vehicle while Gmc decides what they should do to fix the problem . Really? I hope they realize why they needed a bailout.”

   NHTSA complaint #10376735, filed 2011-01, 58,000 miles

   “Takata recall parts still not available to fix my truck dealer has not offered another means of transportation to me. I have 2 children that ride in my truck daily since it is my only transportation to work and taking them to school, sports activities, store etc. And all other places I have to have a vehicle to get to. I do not feel safe driving my truck with a huge safety issue thats been recalled for over a year now. Especially with having my 2 children in the vehicle 75 %of the time . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11103545, filed 2018-06, 230,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted brake lines and sudden loss of brakes

   • 23 complaints (9%)
   • median 64,540 mi at 8.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2019

   Owners describe the brake pedal going close to the floor or brake pressure disappearing while driving, often at low speed, and finding fluid loss. Repair shops reportedly traced this to rusted-through hard brake lines, in some cases with other weakened sections nearby, and replaced the lines; several owners were told the repair was not covered. Others describe ABS sensors activating during low-speed stops and lengthening stopping distance. Mostly reported between about 53,000 and 150,000 miles, often on trucks used in road-salt areas.

   What to check: Have the hard brake lines along the frame checked for rust and pitting before buying, and ask whether any lines or the ABS sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake lines failed on my 2007 Gmc 1500 and my 2007 Gmc 2500. It appears to be a common problem with Gmc vehicles from 2003 to 2009. Why wasn't these vehicles recalled for this. I was told that Gmc was offering a discounted price for failed brake lines, but the dealer charged me full price. $1,667.00. The discounted price was supposed to be $500.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #11025151, filed 2017-09, 100,000 miles

   “While driving the vehicle at a rate of 20 MPH and started stopping and notice the brakes where going out. I had then lost brake pressure altogether. Used the parking brake to get stopped after putting the vehicle into neutral. I had the truck towed to my local independent mechanic and he checked the vehicle and found all the brake lines to be rusted out, and had lost all brake fluid. Upon finding this he found the majority of the undercarriage to have severe rust damage an several parts also.”

   NHTSA complaint #10483887, filed 2012-11, 64,540 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Oil consumption and low-oil engine noise

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 74,925 mi at 6.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe having to add oil between changes, sometimes around a quart every 1,000-2,000 miles, and hearing tapping or knocking at start-up that fades once warm. Several say dealers told them oil use of that amount was normal for the engine; others report low-oil messages, then metal debris in the oil pan or a loss of power. Reported from about 50,000 to 140,000 miles, with start-up noise noted most in cold conditions.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition, ask how often oil is added between changes, and listen for start-up tapping on a cold engine.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and started to hear a knocking sound. Message center said low oil, so I added more oil over the weekend until I could get it into the shop. Monday morning on my way to work I heard something shoot through something under the hood and the truck went dead. There was a pool of oil under the truck and metal shavings were found in my oil pan.”

   NHTSA complaint #11166292, filed 2019-01, 137,000 miles

   “I own a 2007 Gmc SIERRA 1500 crew cab. I have some issues when I start my truck in the mornings, I get a tapping noise as if there are lifters stuck or not getting sufficient oil. I have always used the recommended AC oil filters that I purchase from the local dealership parts center so I know that the filter is not the problem. I am a mechanic so I know what an engine is supposed to sound like. The noise will continue until the engine warms up which is approximately 10-15 minutes and is very annoying. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10441175, filed 2011-12, 55,554 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cracking around the air bag

   • 26 complaints (10%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2022

   Owners report cracks spreading across the dashboard, often starting near the passenger air bag or the instrument cluster, with pieces of plastic breaking off and falling toward the floorboards and pedals. Some describe replacing the dashboard more than once and say they were told it was outside warranty coverage. Reported from roughly 75,000 to 220,000 miles, typically on older trucks exposed to sun.

   What to check: Look closely at the top of the dashboard near the passenger air bag and the cluster for cracks or missing pieces, and ask whether the dash has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My dashboard is cracking around my passenger side air bag and also around my cluster readout. It appears very brittle and I'm worried it is going to send plastic everywhere if I am ever in a situation where my air bag is deployed”

   NHTSA complaint #11165400, filed 2019-01, 114,157 miles

   “There are cracks on the dashboard connected to the airbag. I'm concerned this may be a safety hazard that could send shrapnel if airbags deploy like the recent takata recall. It started with one small crack and has developed into three across the dashboard. The largest around ten inches long. This seems to be a prevalent issue with this and similar GM makes and models but I did not find a recall or service bulletin on the issue. I contacted Gmc and they do not offer any assistance outside of warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10762351, filed 2015-09, 100,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-crank, stalling and electrical dropouts

   • 23 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe random no-crank or no-start conditions, stalling at road speed with loss of power steering and ABS, and flickering gauges, cycling door locks and warning lights. Some found that jiggling the key in the ignition restarted the truck, and others report a hard-to-turn key or a stuck key. Spread from about 40,000 to 230,000 miles, with several complaints filed after long-term use.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch or lock cylinder, battery cables or body grounds have been serviced, and test that the truck starts repeatedly from cold and warm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck randomly doesnt start. No crank no start became more frequent and has now died at hwy speeds 3-4 times. Resulting in no power steering,no ABS, airbags become deactivated in a stall situation to my knowledge. Making it very hard to control the truck in order to get it off the hwy/roadway. Stabilitrak light, tire pressure light, traction control light all stay on and the most recent light is now the ABS light. Now it's to a the point of hardly starting at all. The key has recently became very hard to turn as well. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11103595, filed 2018-06, 180,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Gmc 1500. The contact stated while driving the vehicle lost all electrical power without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 127,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10593659, filed 2014-05, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Check the recall status of the passenger air bag inflator first, then have the brake lines inspected for rust and confirm oil consumption habits with the seller. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the undercarriage, dashboard and electrical starting behavior covers the areas owners report most for this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.