2009 GMC Sierra: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 37 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (23% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“2009 gmc sierra. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for repairs related to takata airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the airbag light illuminated. The dealer stated the airbag recall had already been perfomed on the vehicle. The consumer paid to have the airbag sensor repaired.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2022
“The contact called on behalf of a GM dealer where he is employed. He stated that a customer had dropped off his 2009 GMC Sierra to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags). As the vehicle sat on the dealer lot with the engine off, the contact witnessed both the passenger and driver side air bags deploy without incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 68,895.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2021
“The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number - 09184C (Material Over Sensing and Diagnostic Module Retaining Moisture) . The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed as a corroded air bag control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 GMC SIERRA. The contact stated that the "Service airbag notification" warning light had illuminated onthe instrument panel. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000(AIRBAGS); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The failure was unknown. Vin tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the service traction control and the stabilizer track control warning lights illuminated. In addition when driving over 50 mph, the engine made a clinking noise and then stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,844. Updated 02/19/16*lj; updated 05/02/18*jb”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2015
“The spring on the spare tire holder broke and I found it on the ground. The spring itself is not available and I had to have the dealer replace the entire assembly at a cost of nearly $300. Had this tire come loose during high speed travel it could have caused loss of control. I guess I'm lucky I found the spring and the problem.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc sierra. When the vehicle was started, the doors automatically locked as designed. When the vehicle was placed in the park position, the doors failed to unlock. The contact had to manually unlock the vehicle. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side door actuators needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000. Updated 1/21/16 *ss *cn”Owner report · Structure · May 2015
“I got out of my truck, had left the keys in the ignition, walked over to get something off the ground and heard the horn blow. I walked back over to the truck to get back in and it was locked. I called on star and they couldn't unlock it so they had to send a lock-out service to unlock the truck. This has happened at least five times in the past three years, three in which on star had unlocked it. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the front driver side door handle fractured. The contact stated that the door had to be opened from the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed that the part came in one piece and the entire part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 4/20/15*cn”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Feb 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sierra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2009 GMC Sierra reliable?
NHTSA has 37 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2009 GMC Sierra. The most complained-about area is air bags (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2009 GMC Sierra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 42,000 miles or less.
Does the 2009 GMC Sierra have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.