2007 GMC Sierra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brake problems, particularly steel brake lines that corrode and leak or burst, and about airbag concerns - both recalled Takata inflators and the warning light coming on. Dashboard cracking around the passenger airbag is also a recurring theme, along with occasional electrical faults such as heater blower wiring and underhood harness chafing. Reports come in across a wide mileage range, from under 30,000 miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines leaking or bursting

   • 12 complaints (20%)
   • median 66,643 mi at 7.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2016

   Complaints describe brake lines rusting through and either leaking fluid onto the ground or bursting outright, leaving the pedal going to the floor. Several owners say they used the parking brake or downshifted to stop, and some report low-speed collisions. According to the complaints, dealers typically diagnosed corroded lines and quoted replacement of all the metal lines; in some cases the work was done at the owner's expense. Reported from roughly 24,000 to 174,000 miles, with several complaints under 65,000 miles; a few owners note the truck was garaged or driven in mild climates.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the metal brake lines along the frame and at the firewall for rust, and ask whether any lines have been replaced. A bulletin notes pre-formed replacement lines are available for these trucks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Noticed a puddle of fluid on the garage floor. Investigated and found it to be brake fluid. The entire reservoir emptied on the floor after a day. I had a hole in one of the brake lines under the drivers side. Looking under the truck all the line were terribly corroded and could break at any time . Taking it to my mechanic next week to replace all the lines. 9/1/2015”

   NHTSA complaint #10761851, filed 2015-09, 98,000 miles

   “I have a 2007 Gmc truck with 20,000 miles on it . Always garaged . The frame is rusted on every edge of the metal . Holes - mounts -etc. I traded a 1991 in on this truck , that looked like new , compared to this truck. The frame on this truck , looks to be several years old . Even the brake lines are rusted . I thought I was getting a like new truck . I was mistaken !”

   NHTSA complaint #10345258, filed 2010-07, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and no deployment in a crash

   • 12 complaints (20%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe the airbag warning light staying on, and some report that airbags did not deploy in a collision. One complaint ties the light to a seat-position sensor wire that breaks when the seat is slid fully back. Others write about the Takata inflator recall, saying parts were unavailable or that a dealer warned dashboard removal during the repair could crack the dash. Reported from about 15,000 miles up to 130,000 miles, spread across model years and mostly at low to moderate mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the Takata airbag recalls were completed and confirm the airbag warning light goes out after startup. Check that the under-seat connector is intact and the light does not come on when the seat is moved.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A driver turned left into me as I was going through a green lighted intersection. He thought he could make it. I was the only person in my vehicle, so I understand that the passenger air bag would not deploy. What I don't understand is that the drivers air bag did not deploy. The impact totaled my truck. The contact was on the front passenger side, so maybe that is why. Just thought I would report this in case there is a problem with GM air bags.”

   NHTSA complaint #10588451, filed 2014-05, 97,000 miles

   “2007 GMC SIERRA- Consumers writing in about the recall notice and repair of the Takata airbag. Consumer stated I made an appointment with the dealer. After waiting in a long line to check in. the serviceman told me that to replace the airbag they would have to remove the dashboard and it most likely will crack during the procedure and the replacement cost is at my expense. He also said that he is not aware of any problem resulting if I choose not to have it replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11527324, filed 2023-06
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard around the passenger airbag

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 8.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2023

   Complaints describe large cracks and gaps in the dashboard, often radiating from the passenger airbag area and sometimes separating completely. Owners say the cracked plastic has cut their hands and worry that fragments could become projectiles if the airbag deploys. According to the complaints, dealers offered a discount on a replacement dash rather than a repair. Mostly reported between roughly 95,000 and 130,000 miles, with several owners noting the truck was garage kept or used a sunshade.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash near the windshield and around the passenger airbag cover for cracks or separation, and run a hand over the edges carefully.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The front dash on our truck cracked. It is a very large crack and I am concerned about the safety of my family since the airbag is located inside the dash. There should be a recall since all that is offered is a discount on the exact same dash that will do the exact same thing. Please force Gmc into a recall!”

   NHTSA complaint #10762560, filed 2015-09, 95,000 miles

   “My dash has large gaps/cracks in the dashboard. These range from the windshield all the way the front piece of trip. The dash is completely separated. Right in the center of the dash, around the airbags, and the other smaller parts or the dash are cracked too. I use a sun shield, so that is not the case. My daughter and I have both cut our hands on the dash. She was so surprised when she got in the truck that she asked if I had a wreck, and then ran her hand over the dash and cut her palm ad two fingers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10836290, filed 2016-02, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: heater blower wiring and harness chafing

   Mentioned in 4 of 52 sampled complaints

   Owners report heater blower motors that run with the switch off or stop blowing heat, with one dealer finding overheated wiring and a harness that needed replacement. Another complaint describes wiring worn through where it rubbed against the frame, leading to a fire under the hood. A separate complaint mentions smoke from the vents with the air conditioning on. Reported from about 74,600 to 95,300 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 10V240000Recall 08V4410004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the blower at every speed setting and confirm it stops with the switch off; have the underhood wiring inspected for chafing, and ask whether the heated washer fluid recalls were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Heater motor continues to run after the switch is turned off, the blower only works randomly. I understand there is a recall for this issue but my VIN is not included. This seems to be a problem in a number of different GM vehicles. There is a chance of electrical fire with the being able to run with the switch off also the report would not pull a list of parts nor would it permit me to type in the parts: heater motor blower resistor, and wiring connectors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10492033, filed 2013-01, 95,263 miles

   “As truck was started after routine maintenance and being pull out of garage on11/10/15 there was a fire under the front of truck. When the fire was extinguished, the mechanic saw that the wiring was exposed due to continuous scraping against truck frame.”

   NHTSA complaint #10850520, filed 2016-03, 82,451 miles

Buying note. Brake line condition is the item most worth checking on this model year, since owners report corrosion-related leaks at fairly low mileage. Also confirm the airbag recalls were completed and inspect the dashboard and steering for the problems described above.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.