2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical problems — dead or weak batteries causing no-start conditions, audio and warning-chime failures, and infotainment module faults — plus a notable cluster of transmission complaints, often at higher mileage. A separate group of complaints concerns the integrated trailer brake system cutting out while towing, and a number describe the power tailgate opening on its own.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh shifting and valve body faults

   • 30 complaints (28%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 1.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe shuddering or vibration between roughly 25 and 55 mph, harsh or erratic downshifts, loud clunks, and occasional loss of power or limp mode with a check engine light. Dealers have diagnosed valve body faults and, in some cases, transmission cooler or radiator leaks mixing coolant into the transmission; several owners report parts on backorder or no repair completed. Mostly between about 20,000 and 70,000 miles; some under 10,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, note any shudder or hesitation in the 25-55 mph range, and check transmission fluid color and level for contamination or leaks; ask for service records on the valve body.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While towing my fifth-wheel trailer, I was descending a hill (I had my tow/haul switch engaged) when I noticed an issue with my vehicle. Upon reaching the bottom of the hill and beginning to decelerate, when applying gas to continue up the hill the vehicle shuddered noticeably. A warning light briefly illuminated on the dashboard and then turned off shortly afterward. Although the warning light went away, the vehicle continued to exhibit a slight vibration, particularly between approximately 25 and 50 mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11752346, filed 2026-07

   “The transmission made a loud noise, resulting in a sudden decrease in speed while driving in traffic. Felt similar to being rear ended in a collision. The lights came on in my dashboard including the check engine light. Tried driving the vehicle and it would shift erraticaly rendering un-driveable. Had to be towed to my GMC dealership for service. The initial diagnosis is an issue with the valve body . a quick search on the internet presented several other users with this issue in this model truck with this transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11711040, filed 2026-01
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine power loss, rough idle and emissions-related faults

   • 15 complaints (14%)
   • median 29,260 mi at 1.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe sudden loss of power or stalling, rough idling with fluctuating RPM, repeated check engine lights for sensor and injector codes, and occasionally smoke or oil/coolant mixing. Dealers have cleaned or replaced sensors, replaced fuel pump modules, and in one account updated engine control software. From a few thousand up to about 70,000 miles, with several reports while towing or on inclines.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Scan for stored engine and fuel-system codes, check for coolant or oil contamination, and ask whether any related diagnostic bulletin work has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Constantly having to clean the map Senor to be able to drive pickup without service emissions alerting me to clean the map Senor or my truck goes in limp mode. This can’t be normal to have to clean this so much. My truck is fairly new and should not be having these issues. Put a scanner on my GMC and the code says P122D. I got on YouTube and I found MANY people complaining about my exact problem for quite some time!”

   NHTSA complaint #11707394, filed 2025-12

   “Oil cooler blew and mixed oil in coolant reservoir. Possibly causes overheating and engine seizure. This has been confirmed with a certified GM service center. The service center inspected fixed it then within 5 miles had to be returned to the dealer because it happened again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11724478, filed 2026-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and electrical no-start / warning-light faults

   • 18 complaints (17%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 0.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the truck failing to start, sometimes repeatedly, with multiple warning lights flashing; dealers diagnose low voltage or failed batteries and replace one or both underhood batteries. Some owners report the problem coming back after replacement, and a few tie a battery drain to interfering with other systems. Others describe audio and warning chimes going silent, or radio module faults that disable hands-free calling and alerts. Spread from near-new to about 40,000 miles, with several around 5,000-25,000 miles.

   Recall 24V8940002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system load-tested, and check for any stored low-voltage or module communication codes. Ask whether radio or audio-related bulletins have already been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “IOK Radio Module failing. Would happen 10 times in less than 5 miles. Vehicle has been seen 3 times before diagnosing as IOK Radio Module failure. Inhibits hands free calling, total loss of all audio including safety chimes, dropped emergency call capability, multiple software updates have failed to resolve it. Vehicle is still under warranty. Serviced at Garrett Motors in Coolidge, AZ”

   NHTSA complaint #11734423, filed 2026-04

   “IOK Radio Module failure. Inhibits hands free calling, total loss of all audio including safety chimes, dropped emergency call capability, multiple software updates have failed to resolve it. Vehicle is still under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11734424, filed 2026-04
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Power tailgate opens on its own

   • 14 complaints (13%)
   • median 2,900 mi at 0.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the power tailgate unlatching spontaneously while parked and, in some accounts, while driving, in one case with cargo spilling onto the road and in another with the gate hitting the trailer tongue. Some complaints name a related tailgate latch recall; dealers in some cases could not duplicate the problem. Reported from a few thousand up to about 20,000 miles, several in wet conditions or after rain.

   Recall 24V894000Recall 24V0600001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm whether the tailgate latch recall has been performed for this VIN, and ask whether the release switch or water intrusion has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove from California to ohio after I bought the truck, I noticed that when stopping to get gas my tailgate was open without me touching it. I drove with cameras showing the truck bed to see what happened and I watched it do it again while driving the vehicle, it just opened on its own while driving. The incident happened again once I was back in ohio when I had my trailor hooked up and it cause the tailgate to collide with the trailor tongue and dented the whole top of the tailgate.3”

   NHTSA complaint #11600504, filed 2024-07

   “The tailgate opens unexpectedly, it can be inspected but it is in for repairs on 6/15/26. There was luggage in the back and it could have fallen out on the freeway. The problem has not been repeated by the dealer, but it has occurred several times in the past. The vehicle had not been inspected by others. There was no warning that the tailgate opened. They start to occur randomly several months ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #11744033, filed 2026-06
5. 5
   Brakes

   Trailer brake system drops out while towing

   • 17 complaints (16%)
   • median 1,001 mi at 0.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners towing travel trailers and fifth wheels describe the integrated trailer brake controller disabling itself, with a dash message, so the trailer provides no braking. Some report it happens repeatedly on the same trip; dealers have replaced the trailer brake control module in at least one case and, in others, pointed to trailer-side solar charging or the trailer manufacturer as the cause. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000) up to about 8,000 miles, typically while towing.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: If you tow, hook up a trailer and verify the controller stays engaged on a test drive, and ask whether any trailer-brake diagnostic bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problem #1: Trailer brakes failed while pulling 40' fifth wheel trailer. Was driving at about 50MPH on a 55MPH road and was approaching a stop light. I went to apply my truck and trailer brakes simultaneously and quickly found out I had lost my trailer brake. This happened another two times within the next 10 mile trip to my house. I immediately disconnected my trailer and took my truck to the shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11684267, filed 2025-09

   “While towing our RV trailer the trailer brakes become disabled. This is a known problem to GM and they have a TSB (23-NA-113) Information on Trailer Brake Disabled or DTC Stored This is a know problem and GM solution seems to cast the blame on the trailer manufacture.”

   NHTSA complaint #11537222, filed 2023-08

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should include battery and charging-system testing, a scan for stored electrical and transmission codes, and a scan for engine and fuel-system codes. If you plan to tow, verify the trailer brake controller and tailgate recall status before buying.

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.