2008 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about air bag recalls and air bag warning lights, with many complaints also describing a cracked dashboard around the passenger air bag. A second common theme is power door lock and door actuator failure on multiple doors, and some owners report engine oil consumption or collapsed lifters at higher mileage. The sample spans low-mileage trucks to vehicles past 200,000 miles, so most reports reflect wear over many years rather than a single failure point.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag recall not completed / parts unavailable

   • 224 complaints (59%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Many complaints describe receiving a Takata air bag recall notice but being told by the dealer that remedy parts were still unavailable, sometimes years after the notice. Some owners report the air bag warning light coming on while waiting, and others describe air bags deploying without an impact, including the passenger side blowing out the windshield. Complaints also mention water in the air bag control unit or modules under the seats being diagnosed as the cause of unexpected deployment. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to over 200,000, and often years after the recall notice.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Ask for written proof that the air bag inflator recalls (21V050000 and 21V052000) have been completed, and check that the air bag warning light goes out after start-up. Look for signs of water intrusion near the air bag modules under the front seats.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I bought the truck new this type air bag is installed in myyear and model truck hve never had an accident the more I hear about vehicles involved in crashes and the injurys that have accerd worrys me why has Gmc not had arecall on them.”

   NHTSA complaint #10949253, filed 2017-02, 56,000 miles

   “Takata recall: in july 2016 I received a letter from Gmc ref. Gm recall 49152 which stated that I would be notified when parts are available to remedy your vehicle. I never received anything and in the meantime the airbag light came on. In the summer of this year I called the local dealership and they set up an appointment to replace the airbag because of the recall. I had to cancel that appointment because I could not make it to the appointment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11051218, filed 2017-11, 145,000 miles
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door locks and door actuators fail

   • 31 complaints (8%)
   • median 41,150 mi at 4.1 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2021

   Complaints describe power door locks and door actuators failing one door at a time until several or all doors no longer lock or unlock by remote or the interior switch. Some owners report doors that cannot be opened from the outside or inside, and rear crew cab doors that passengers could not exit. Dealers quoted per-door repair costs, and some owners said the failures were not covered under warranty. Often reported under 60,000 miles, with some failures appearing within the first 35,000 miles.

   What to check: Cycle the locks on every door with the remote and the interior switch, and try opening each door from both inside and outside handles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All four power door lock actuators have failed. First three failed before reaching 30000 miles. Dealer advised they were not covered under warranty. I argued with them, by the time my truck had 50000 miles all four had failed and was told that the warranty expired at 36000 miles. This is a safety hazard and GM refuses to acknowledge the millions of vehicles affected by this issue. Gm wants $300 per door to repair. I shouldn't have to pay them $1200 for something I paid for with the price of the truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #10949556, filed 2017-02, 21,000 miles

   “Passenger automatic door lock quit working first. After 6 months or so the drivers side door lock quit working also. Then within months after the drivers door lock failing both rear door locks quit working within a month of each other. Now none of the doors lock automatically or when the lock button is pushed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10548572, filed 2013-10, 57,880 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Cracked dashboard around passenger air bag

   • 52 complaints (14%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe cracks forming in the dashboard, most often at the passenger air bag area and sometimes over the instrument cluster, with cracks that spread over time. Many say the cracks appeared while the truck was parked or in motion and are concerned about plastic fragments if the air bag deploys. Complaints note the dealer had no remedy for the cracked panel. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 130,000 miles, often on trucks several years old.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dashboard, especially above the passenger air bag and the instrument cluster, for cracks or repairs, and ask whether the dash has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At approximately 48,000 miles driving on a paved road, my dash on the passenger side where the air bag is located, cracked. The crack continues to increase in size. I would think it would effect operation of air bag. With as many complaints that are posted to this, I cannot believe its not under investigation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10785188, filed 2015-10, 47,997 miles

   “My dashboard has several cracks exposing the electrical components within the dash. These cracks are in various places across the entire dash. I purchased this vehicle brand new and it is currently in excellent condition (with the exception of the dash) I am concerned that if the air bag were to be deployed the plastic dashboard would explode and expose my passengers or myself to additional hazards within the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10903689, filed 2016-09, 131,879 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption and lifter failure

   • 14 complaints (4%)
   • median 106,500 mi at 9.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Owners of the 5.3L V8 describe using several quarts of oil between changes with no large visible leak. Others report a collapsed or failed Active Fuel Management lifter, sometimes with rough idle and traction control or stability warning lights, and dealers quoted costs to replace lifters, the camshaft or the engine. Typically reported between about 90,000 and 200,000 miles.

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, ask about oil added between changes, and listen for lifter tick at idle on the 5.3L V8.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving from lufkin to hemphill at 70 MPH. Something blew up, I thought something hit me. Engine died, brakes started, emergency lights came on, and seatbelt locked down, truck stopped, I got out to see what hit me. Nothing! When I got back in the truck a white powder (not smoke) was coming out of the seat belt on drivers side. When seat belt locked down I had to back seat up to get out of the belt. I was lucky that I did not hit someone.”

   NHTSA complaint #11408218, filed 2021-04, 169,393 miles

   “Collapsed afm lifter at 108000 miles. I was driving down the highway and all of the sudden my check engine light came on, service traction control and service stabilitrak. My engine was idling rough at low RPM. Took vehicle to the dealership and was told that it had a collapsed lifter on the #6 cylinder. I have always had the oil changed regularly at the dealership. Was told it would be 4800 to replace all the lifters, 5300 if the cam was bad also and 7300 for a new engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #10876035, filed 2016-06, 108,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, confirm the air bag inflator recalls have been completed in writing and check the dashboard, door locks and seat belts during a test drive. On the 5.3L V8, check oil level and service records, since owners report oil use and lifter repairs at higher mileage.

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.