2015 GMC Sierra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe low-beam and projector headlights that light the road poorly at night, with a short reach and weak side coverage. Other frequent topics are headlight beam pattern and aim problems, unexpected neutral shifts in the transmission, and power steering assist warnings. Where mileage is recorded, most headlight complaints come from vehicles with under about 8,000 miles.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Dim low beams and projector headlights at night

   • 29 complaints (55%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Owners describe low-beam and projector headlights that light the road poorly at night, with a short reach of about 40 to 50 feet in some complaints and weak side coverage in others. Some complaints say the light is worse in rain or on wet roads, and others say the high beams add little. Dealers reportedly could not diagnose or repair the problem, and some dealers or the manufacturer said the lights work as designed. Some owners say a dealer service bulletin procedure improved the light somewhat but not enough. Most recorded mileage is under about 8,000 miles, with some between about 12,000 and 13,250 miles, and complaints were filed mostly in 2015 and 2016, often describing night or wet-road driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether a dealer has checked the headlight service bulletin for poor performance in dark rural areas, and request the findings in writing. On a dark road, check how far the low beams reach ahead and to the sides, and compare with a similar vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The projector headlights are inadequate on a level road, and are dangerous on rolling terrain roads and curves. They could be possibly designed for stationary use in a perfect enviorment but not for moving vehicles, I cannot safely drive this vehicle at night, I fear not only for myself but for other people on and near the path of this vehicle. My mind is clear, there are many blowing the whistle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10860170, filed 2016-04, 200 miles

   “Headlight performance is very poor with weak yellow beam both on low and high beams. Difficulty seeing during night driving, especially at highway speeds in dark areas, is very hazardous, even worse during rain. I am concerned about my safety and that of my family while driving this truck at night. The projector-style headlamps on the vehicle were dim with a yellow color and provided inadequate front and side illumination. The headlight aim was raised, which resulted in little improvement.”

   NHTSA complaint #10850161, filed 2016-03, 37 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Sharp light cutoff and headlight aim problems

   • 20 complaints (38%)
   • median 865 mi at 0.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Owners describe a sharp horizontal cutoff line that hides the tops of small rises, roadside objects and road signs, and high beams that point too high or off to the sides. Some owners say dealer adjustments moved the problem, such as high beams pointing into the air when the low beams were set to light the road. Dealers reportedly said the headlights cannot be adjusted sideways, and some owners say a dealer compared the truck with another truck. Where mileage is recorded it runs from very low to about 3,000 miles, and the complaints were filed in 2015 and 2016.

   What to check: Check whether the low and high beams are aimed level on flat ground and whether the cutoff line is even when the truck is parked. Ask the dealer to record the aim settings before and after any adjustment.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlight design is terrible. I get at best 40ft. Of light projection on low. When the high beams are engaged I get no further projection but I get a higher projection. It does a great job lighting the tops of the trees but that's about all. Unbelievable safety hazard while driving in rural southwest florida.”

   NHTSA complaint #10845894, filed 2016-03

   “The head lights on this truck are very bad. I spent 45,000 dollars on somthing that should not be a problem. On high beams the drivers side head light goes almost straight out from the truck. On the passengers side the high beam light goes out to left . It 's like the right side light is going to middle of truck. You can really see it on a dark road with road banks or trees on both sides of the road.I took to dealer and they checked it out with another truck. Big deal! That tells me that both trucks are doing the same thing.( dahaaa). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10825769, filed 2016-02
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist warnings and wheel shake

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 7,500 mi at 1.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners describe electric power steering assist failing while driving, with the wheel becoming hard to turn and a power steering warning shown, including at about 35 mph. Other complaints describe a noise from the steering wheel with the vehicle veering to the left, and a shake felt through the steering wheel at highway speed. Some owners say the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and an owner says the dealer and manufacturer said the vehicle was not covered by a related steering recall. Recorded mileage ranges from under 1,000 to about 132,000 miles, and complaints were filed between 2015 and 2024, with the higher-mileage complaints filed in 2023 and 2024.

   Recall 14V7190001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recall (14V719000) applies to the vehicle and whether that repair was completed, using the VIN. On a test drive, check for a power steering warning message or sudden heaviness at low speed, and for shake through the wheel at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle shakes at highway speed. I can feel it in the steering wheel, and seat. Visually I can see the bed of the truck shake. The issue has not gone away.”

   NHTSA complaint #10849897, filed 2016-03, 7,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11578502, filed 2024-03, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected neutral shifts, hesitation, rolling in park

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 5,250 mi at 0.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners describe the transmission shifting into neutral while driving without driver input, sometimes with the accelerator losing response. Other complaints describe hesitation or vibration when gears shift at 40 to 50 mph, and a 6-speed automatic that dropped into neutral after a downshift and would not go above about 20 mph. A dealer changed the gear ratio and adjusted the rear end for a shift complaint, but the problem reportedly returned. A complaint describes the vehicle coasting backward while parked. Recorded mileage ranges from about 250 to about 20,900 miles, and the complaints were filed in 2015.

   Recall 14V3740002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transfer case recall (14V374000) has been checked for the vehicle, since that recall describes an unintended shift to neutral. On a test drive, confirm that the vehicle stays in gear and holds in park on a slope.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle randomly and repeatedly shifts into neutral from drive, witout any input from driver, during normal driving conditions. Vehicle randomly and repeatedly loses accelerator pedal control and functionality during normal driving conditions.”

   NHTSA complaint #10766547, filed 2015-09, 20,865 miles

   “2015 Gmc Sierra. While the vehicle was parked, it began to coast backwards and collided into the side of a building without warning. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. After the crash, the gear shifter remained in park. The vehicle was not diagnosed, but was currently being repaired for damages sustained from the crash. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v374000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10767492, filed 2015-09, 8,000 miles

Buying note. Headlight complaints are the most common for this model year, so test the low and high beams on a dark road before buying and ask whether the headlight service bulletin was applied. Also ask whether the power steering and transfer case recalls have been completed, and whether any park-hold service bulletin applies if the transmission has shifted unexpectedly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 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.