The Lemon Index2017 GMC Sierra.
The 2017 GMC Sierra is better than average by owner complaints: 175 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 76, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 17 to 20 mpg combined. The best GMC Sierra year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 481 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every GMC Sierra year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 13K to 65K miles on the car (222 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 8K–64K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 30K–60K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 23K–77K miles
Recalls 6
- airbags 2026
The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
- brakes 2019
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
- brakes 2019
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Show all 6 recalls
- child seat 2017
The owner's manual for the affected vehicles may be missing instructions on how to use the tether anchorage and child restraint anchorage systems.
- airbags 2017
While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition.
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid PU/CC RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3200–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Transmission shifts or jerks hard when coming to a stop, severe transmission vibration occurs when traveling at speeds of 50 to 65 mph.
2017 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint 11364265
More owner reports
At low speed or most of the time backing up brakes do not work well at all. Need to push very hard.
NHTSA complaint 11366365
The vehicle does a hard shift from 1 to 2 second and has a shudder.
NHTSA complaint 11384766
Quick answers
Is the 2017 GMC Sierra reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 76; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Sierra year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2017 GMC Sierra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (31%), transmission & drivetrain (31%) and engine (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 GMC Sierra have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 GMC Sierra get?
17 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 GMC Sierra safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 GMC Sierra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 13,300 and 65,400 miles. The middle report was at 37,000 miles, from 222 complaints.
Does the 2017 GMC Sierra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 31% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 GMC Sierra cost in fuel a year?
About $3200 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 GMC Sierra have?
4.3L 6-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What GMC Sierra year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works