Is the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 a bad year?
744 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sierra 1500 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 are in line with other Sierra 1500 years. Steering, brakes, electrical system and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Sierra 1500 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 68,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 156 (21%) | 47k–87k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 144 (19%) | 57k–103k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 129 (17%) | 44k–86k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 56 (8%) | 56k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 70 (9%) | 40k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 69 (9%) | 36k–108k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 31 (4%) | 31k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 26 (3%) | 34k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 24 (3%) | 5k–77k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Seat belts | 19 (3%) | 27k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 148 (20%) | 1k–39k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (3%) | 28k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 16 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 68,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 744 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 17 say the car was towed.
18 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Radiator leak. Took truck to shop to find out why fluid leaking under truck. Upon inspection they found that the radiator had fractured.
Vehicle radiator has leak at 86k miles. There is known issue w/radiator and thermostat in this truck leading to TSB 15829 .
On making a turn at low speed, my engine has cut out completely. I had full loss of acceleration, power steering ,ac, radio.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 68,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500: 9
The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate. A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system. Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The vehicles may have a temporary loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist, especially during low-speed turning maneuvers. If EPS assist is lost and then returns, the driver might lose temporary control of the steering wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
While entering the vehicle, the seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned such that the driver slides over it. This movement may result in the fatigue and separation of the cable. If the tensioner cable separates, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, and 2015 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado HD; and GMC Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL, equipped with a 4.3L engine or 5.3L engine. The overheated exhaust components may melt nearby plastic parts and may result in an engine fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from GMC: 926
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Engine related shudder
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Delayed engagement into drive, shudder at a launch, or the transmission is slipping when shifting into 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gears
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Neighbouring years
2013 Sierra 1500: 116 complaints, keep it · 2015 Sierra 1500: 720 complaints, keep it.
Every GMC Sierra 1500 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sierra 1500 years side by side
Other GMC models: GMC Acadia · GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Terrain · GMC Yukon · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 a bad year?
744 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sierra 1500 years. At 68,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (156), brakes (144), electrical system (129), stability control (56), engine (70).
How many recalls does the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 21V-245), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-761), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-645), Equipment (NHTSA 18V-267) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.