2015 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe headlights that are too dim for rural or unlit roads, frequently at low mileage. A second cluster of complaints involves the diesel fuel system, where the truck loses power or stalls without warning, mostly at higher mileage. Electrical and visibility complaints often describe smoke or glass cracking at the rear window when the defroster is used.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Dim low-beam headlights

   • 24 complaints (27%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe the factory low-beam projector headlights as too dim for rural roads, unlit areas and bad weather, saying the beam cuts off sharply and leaves little light to the sides or beyond. Some report the dealer replaced bulbs or a headlight assembly and recalibrated the lights, with owners describing the change as small. Several say the dealer could not reproduce the concern or called the lights normal for the design. Mostly reported at very low mileage, often under 30,000 miles and sometimes within the first few thousand miles.

   What to check: Drive the truck on an unlit road at night before buying, and ask whether any headlight bulb replacement or aim adjustment has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The headlights on the Gmc 2500 hd are not bright enough. The lights are not able light roads without street lights, makes it very dangerous. Fuel filter has been replaced twice and my truck only has 12,000 miles on it. When I asked with the life of a fuel filter should be I was told by the Gmc dealership at least 15,000 miles. It is possible there is a malfunction within the senor for the fuel filter.”

   NHTSA complaint #10822872, filed 2016-01, 1,000 miles

   “The projector headlights that are installed in this vehicle from the factory do not provide adequate visibility at night. I am unable to see more that 15 feet in front of this vehicle from a safety perspective. I have returned the vehicle to the dealer multiple times for repair. They changed the bulbs but stated they are working within design specifications and said that GM had used a new type of lighting system in 2015 but realized it is was not adequate and redesigned in later model year. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11164116, filed 2018-12, 16,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel pump failure and sudden power loss

   • 11 complaints (12%)
   • median 118,273 mi at 6.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners of diesel trucks describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes shortly after a change-fuel-filter message, leaving them without power steering or power brakes. Complaints say dealers or independent shops diagnosed the fuel injection pump and found debris through the fuel system, requiring replacement of the pump, injectors, lines and a tank flush. Repair costs reported by owners run into the thousands. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often during highway driving.

   What to check: On a diesel, ask for fuel filter service records and whether the injection pump or fuel system has been replaced; a pre-purchase inspection by a diesel specialist is worth it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle's engine stopped running while I was driving on a very busy road. I lost power steering, power brakes, everything. Other motorists were swerving to avoid me. I had the truck towed to a GM dealer, and they diagnosed the problem as the fuel injector pump. I researched this online, and found that this is a common issue! This should be a major safety concern since it's causing vehicles to simply stop running at any given speed on any given highway!”

   NHTSA complaint #11021712, filed 2017-09, 105,712 miles

   “2015 Gmc SIERRA 2500 duramax driving east with the flow of traffic on 80 reaching the summit towards tahoe. We suddenly experience at change fuel filter warning which only lasted approximately 20 seconds before the message then read derating . Upon this second notification we immediately lost power to the engine which resulted in reduced braking capability and steering at literally the top of the mountain. We were traveling in snowy conditions with many semi trucks around us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395505, filed 2021-02, 118,273 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Rear window smoke and glass cracking with defroster

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe smoke and a burning smell from the rear window after switching on the rear defroster, sometimes shortly after a remote start, followed by the rear glass cracking or shattering. Complaints state that dealers told them the vehicle was not covered by a recall, and in some cases the rear defroster grid or window assembly needed replacement. Reported from low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, typically in cold weather when the defroster is used.

   What to check: Run the rear defroster briefly and look for smoke, a burning smell or damaged grid lines, and ask whether the window or defroster has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After starting the vehicle, I turned on the rear defrost button and within a few minutes the rear window started producing smoke inside the vehicle. I turned the truck off immediately and then approximately 30 seconds later, the rear window on the passenger side shattered. There is a recall that was issued for this exact problem but when i contacted the dealership, I was informed that the recall applied to Canadian vehicle models only and that there was no recall issued in the U.S. for this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11725053, filed 2026-03

   “The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH with the rear defroster activated, there was smoke coming from the window before the window cracked. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who determined that the rear defroster needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall or warranty coverage for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11493456, filed 2022-11, 131,000 miles

Buying note. Check the headlights on an unlit road at night, confirm rear-defroster and window condition, and on diesel trucks review fuel system service history closely. Also verify that any open safety recalls for this model year have been completed.

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.