GMC Sierra 1500 best and worst years

Each year is compared with the typical (middle) complaint count of the half-ton trucks we cover from the same model year, using owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Comparing within a year is fairer than one overall ranking, because older trucks have had more time to collect complaints.

Fewest complaints for their age

201648 complaints vs. 799 typical
2013167 complaints vs. 266 typical
2010217 complaints vs. 321 typical
2017429 complaints vs. 633 typical
2012152 complaints vs. 220 typical

Most complaints for their age

2024364 complaints vs. 226 typical
2023485 complaints vs. 384 typical
202665 complaints vs. 65 typical
2022588 complaints vs. 588 typical
2021577 complaints vs. 577 typical

Every year

Year	Complaints	Typical that year	Compared
2009	280	302	About average
2010	217	321	Below average
2011	366	502	Below average
2012	152	220	Below average
2013	167	266	Below average
2014	859	1,110	About average
2015	817	1,003	About average
2016	48	799	Below average
2017	429	633	Below average
2018	304	412	Below average
2019	647	647	About average
2020	468	468	About average
2021	577	577	About average
2022	588	588	About average
2023	485	384	Above average
2024	364	226	Above average
2025	116	125	About average
2026	65	65	About average

Years not listed are too new to compare fairly, have too few trucks to compare against, or NHTSA lumps them in with other trucks. ⚠ marks years with a well-known costly problem that complaint counts alone don't show.

Read this before deciding. Complaint counts aren't reliability scores. Best-selling trucks collect more complaints simply because more are on the road, and one widely reported problem (or a recall) can drive a year's numbers. The condition and history of the specific truck you're looking at matter more than its year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and bring our inspection checklist.