2026 GMC Sierra 1500

The verdict

1 thing going for it, 2 to watch.

Cons

Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.

Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls

At least one recall is serious enough that owners are told to park away from buildings. Treat this as urgent.

Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls

Pros

Earned a strong overall government crash-test rating.

Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings

Neutral

No verified owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA. For low-volume models this can reflect fewer cars on the road rather than flawless reliability.

Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints

Take this with you:

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★★★★★Crash-test safety

0Safety recalls

0Owner complaints

0% involved a crash or fire

—Combined MPG

ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.

Safety Recalls

Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.

What is a recall, really?

A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Campaign 26V114000

What's wrong: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”

The danger: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

NHTSA Campaign 26V289000

What's wrong: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

The danger: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours

Where Owners Report Problems

Where owners report the most trouble — based on 0 complaints. Tap a part to read the real reports.

Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.

Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?

Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.

No owner complaints on file for this vehicle. That's a good sign.

Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours

Crash-Test Safety Ratings

Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.

How to read these stars

These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.