GMC Sierra: Is Yours a Lemon?

The GMC Sierra is General Motor’s deluxe alternative to the Chevrolet Silverado. People looking for a more luxurious experience can choose to buy the Sierra to get all the utility of the Silverado with additional benefits like all-leather seats and more high-tech dashboard controls. Under the hood, though, Sierra and Silverado trucks remain identical.

Of course, owners will pay more for the Sierra name to unlock the deluxe features these trucks offer. That makes it all the more frustrating when one of these trucks experiences dangerous problems due to a manufacturing defect. If you own a GMC Sierra and it’s constantly in the shop for mechanical issues, you may be able to file a lemon claim under California law.

That’s when you should contact the experts at Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys. If you’re concerned that your truck might be a lemon, contact our Ventura, California office at 866-761-2317 or send an email to discuss your situation. We’ve helped hundreds of truck owners just like you fight for compensation after buying defective vehicles from GM.

History of GMC Sierra Recalls

The GMC Sierra has faced a number of recalls in just the past few years. According to California warranty laws, if your truck has been recalled and the problem came back, it may be considered a lemon. Here are some examples of recalls the manufacturer has performed that could put you in danger if the problem returns.

2022 Recalls

While the 2022 model is still quite new, it’s already been recalled once:

• Inoperative Sport Bar Brake Lights (242 trucks affected): The accessory sport bar may block the truck’s brake lights, and its built-in brake lights may not work, causing accidents if cars behind the truck are unaware that it’s slowing down.

2021 Recalls

Some of the most dangerous recalls for 2021 include:

• Unsecured Front Seat Belts (624,216 trucks affected): GM recalled 2019-2021 year model GMC Sierra 1500s and 2021 2500 and 3500s due to unsecured front-row center seat belt brackets. People sitting in that seat may not be adequately secured in the event of a crash, leading to severe injuries, including ejection from the vehicle.
• Possible Sudden Tire Air Loss (7,516 trucks affected): Tires in 2020-2021 1500s may have been overcured, causing sudden air loss or even tread loss. This issue could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle due to the sudden lack of balance and crash.

2020 Sierra Recalls

In addition to both recalls above, the 2020 model has been recalled due to:

• Brake Caliper Bolt Failures (20,352 trucks affected): Untreated bolts used to attach 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 brake calipers may fail under normal load. Should these bolts fail, the brakes may not work, or the calipers may interfere with the wheels, potentially leading to crashes.
• Faulty Alternator Connection Fire Risk (350,371 trucks affected): The connection between the battery and the alternator in specific 2019-2020 Sierra 1500s may be faulty. A poor connection could cause problems like engine stalls or electrical arcing, putting drivers at risk of crashes and engine fires.
• Seat Belt Fire Risk (556,399 trucks affected): GM recalled more than half a million 2019-2020 Sierras and Silverados across the 1500, 2500, and 3500 lines due to issues with the seat belt pretensioners. These pretensioners may release scalding gas that could ignite the truck carpet, leading to fires.

2019 Sierra Recalls

In 2019, the Sierra line was revamped, leading to a number of unexpected problems. Beyond several of the above recalls, the trucks were also recalled for issues like:

• Loss of Electronic Brake Systems (148,055 trucks affected): GM recalled many 2019 1500s due to a faulty software update that added an error to the electronic brake control module, potentially disabling it. This could lead to trucks without electronic brake assist, making stopping before an accident more difficult.
• Electronic Brake Control Module Failure (463,995 trucks affected): In a related recall, GM notified nearly half a million 2019 GM vehicle owners that a faulty software update may have disabled both the electronic stability control and antilock brake systems on their vehicles, making crashes harder to avoid.

2018 Sierra Recalls

Before the 2019 revamp, Sierras still had safety issues, such as:

• Unintended Braking Software Glitch (652,967 trucks affected): Yet another software error brake recall was issued for certain 2014-2018 Sierra 1500s. This was prompted by failing wheel-speed sensors that may cause the electronic brake control module to activate the driveline-protection system, brake just one wheel, and cause accidents when the truck unexpectedly pulls to one side.

Is Your GMC Sierra a Lemon?

Many trucks produced by GM, including Sierras and Silverados, experience problems that qualify them as lemons. According to California warranty legislation, a lemon is defined as any consumer vehicle under warranty that:

• Has a defect that could cause serious injury or death and it hasn’t been fixed after two repairs by the manufacturer, OR;
• Has a fault that isn’t life-threatening but has not been repaired after four attempts by the manufacturer, OR;
• Has been in the shop for repairs for manufacturing issues for 30 days or more within the first 18,000 miles or 18 months of ownership.

If your truck meets any of these criteria, you may have grounds to file a lemon law claim. Successful lemon claims can lead to monetary compensation or even having your vehicle repurchased, and your money returned.

Get Help with Your Defective GMC Sierra Truck

If you own a Sierra 1500, 2500, or 3500 that just doesn’t seem to work, it’s time to get help. You can pursue legal action to receive compensation for your truck’s defects and time at the mechanic.

Call Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys to learn more about your options if your GM truck seems defective. Our experienced Southern California lemon law attorneys can explain your options and determine whether your vehicle qualifies as a lemon in California. You can schedule your free consultation by calling our Ventura office at 866-761-2317 or completing this online form.