GMC

Sierra 1500

Standard Pickup Trucks · model years 1989 to 2006

Includes Sierra 1500 2WD, Sierra 1500 4WD and Sierra 1500 AWD as listed by the EPA.

See all 299 Sierra 1500 trims All GMC cars

The verdict

Best year: 1993. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 134; recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file.

Worst year: 2004. complaints: 212, about 2.4x this model's typical 89; recalls: 2, this model typically has none on file.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the GMC Sierra 1500
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Top complaints
1989	24Diesel, Gas	15	$4,800	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	23Diesel, Gas	15	$4,350	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 147 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	26Diesel, Gas	16	$4,350	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 166 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	20Diesel, Gas	15	$4,250	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 128 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
1993	21Diesel, Gas	15	$4,450	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 134 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	23Diesel, Gas	15	$4,450	0	13	VISIBILITY 33%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 33%, TIRES 13%
complaints: 13, below this model's typical 147 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file Score: 94 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	22Diesel, Gas	15	$4,450	0	3	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 67%, VISIBILITY 33%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 140 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	14Diesel, Gas	15	$4,150	0	5	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 29%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 89 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	13Diesel, Gas	15	$4,150	3	83	STEERING 26%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 16%, VISIBILITY 14%
complaints: 83, in line with this model's typical 83 recalls: 3, this model typically has none on file Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	13Diesel, Gas	15	$4,450	2	59	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23%, VISIBILITY 17%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 59, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	14Gas	15	$4,150	1	158	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 40%, SERVICE BRAKES 17%, SEATS 6%
complaints: 158, about 1.8x this model's typical 89 recalls: 1, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	10Gas	16	$3,900	1	181	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 37%, SERVICE BRAKES 19%, STRUCTURE 5%
complaints: 181, about 2.8x this model's typical 64 recalls: 1, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	11Gas	15	$4,150	2	140	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 35%, SERVICE BRAKES 24%, PARKING BRAKE 8%
complaints: 140, about 2x this model's typical 70 recalls: 2, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	10Gas	15	$4,150	1	166	SERVICE BRAKES 34%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 28%, SUSPENSION 5%
complaints: 166, about 2.6x this model's typical 64 recalls: 1, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	12Gas	15	$4,150	1	180	SERVICE BRAKES 26%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 24%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%
complaints: 180, about 2.3x this model's typical 77 recalls: 1, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	14Gas	15	$4,150	2	212	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, SERVICE BRAKES 17%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%
complaints: 212, about 2.4x this model's typical 89 recalls: 2, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	14Gas	15.5	$4,025	0	177	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, STEERING 8%
complaints: 177, about 2x this model's typical 89 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 9 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	15Gas	15	$4,150	0	145	SERVICE BRAKES 22%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 145, about 1.5x this model's typical 96 recalls: 0, this model typically has none on file deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1989: 15 to 2006: 15

Owner complaints1990: 0 to 2006: 145

How we score each year

We compare each year of the GMC Sierra 1500 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.