"How reliable is the 2008 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"Based on 438 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Gmc Sierra 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 75000 miles. The most common issue is Air Bags."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Gmc Sierra 1500 is Air Bags, accounting for a significant portion of the 438 total complaints filed."

2008 Gmc Sierra 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 438 complaints

438

Total Complaints

75,000mi

Median Mileage

Air Bags

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,000 25th Percentile

75,000 Median Mileage

120,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags

240

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Latches/Locks/Linkages

Body

Engine

Seat Belts

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Structure

Tires

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD IN HIS GARAGE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT CA..."

"WHILE DRIVING A BRAND NEW 2008 GMC SIERRA, 4 DOOR, 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITH ONLY 872 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH, THE STEERING KNUCKLE HOLDING THE TIE ROD BROKE ON DRIVERS FRONT SIDE. THE DRIVER IMPACTED A PULL CAMPER TRAILER EXPLODING THE TIRE UPON IMPACT WITH THE CAMPER. TH..."

"RODENT PROBLEM CAUSING A MAJOR GAS LEAK DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE, 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THIS IS THE EXPLANATION FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FOX CHEVY IN LAUREL MD. THERE SOLUTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE PLASTIC FITTING THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY EATEN BY A RODENT. WHICH LEADS TO MY CONCE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Air Bags 240 complaints

25th: 47,999 mi Median: 85,867 mi 75th: 125,927 mi

Unknown Or Other 41 complaints

25th: 50,000 mi Median: 89,000 mi 75th: 119,340 mi

Electrical System 29 complaints

25th: 40,335 mi Median: 57,880 mi 75th: 125,500 mi

Latches/Locks/Linkages 23 complaints

25th: 27,500 mi Median: 38,000 mi 75th: 64,698 mi

Body 19 complaints

25th: 42,000 mi Median: 80,861 mi 75th: 107,500 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 69 CA: 35 FL: 28 LA: 22 MI: 19 VA: 13 KY: 13 NC: 13 OH: 12 NY: 12

Who Files Complaints?

2.7%

Original Owners

97.3%

Second+ Owners

Gmc Sierra 1500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	100	80,000	Steering	0
1998	68	80,500	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
1999	182	108,894	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	10
2000	215	93,000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	15
2001	171	98,000	Service Brakes	14
2002	192	76,741	Service Brakes	20
2003	210	72,075	Service Brakes	15
2004	253	57,192	Instrument Cluster/Panel	12
2005	218	73,150	Electrical System	6
2006	182	54,400	Service Brakes	12
2007	310	67,500	Air Bags	11
2009	278	65,114	Air Bags	5
2010	215	60,000	Air Bags	1
2011	362	56,000	Air Bags	9
2012	143	60,000	Air Bags	7
2013	147	72,000	Unknown Or Other	2
2014	1020	58,500	Steering	39
2015	914	46,000	Service Brakes	29
2016	436	47,417	Service Brakes	14
2017	465	38,900	Power Train	22
2018	405	33,000	Power Train	16
2019	783	10,000	Engine	19
2020	604	15,700	Engine	15
2021	617	43,500	Engine	7
2022	617	39,000	Engine	8
2023	470	20,000	Engine	9
2024	365	15,400	Engine	5
2025	109	16,500	Engine	7
2026	50	-	Engine	0

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28