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ProblemsByVinFile / 2009-GMC-SIERRANHTSA data synced 5 days ago
GMC
2009 GMC Sierra problems
The 2009 GMC Sierra has 278 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2009 GMC Sierra has 278 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 130 complaints, typically surfacing around 85,770 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2009 Sierra?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Electrical system: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 40,000–73,000 mi
Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
1 recall campaign on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2009 GMC Sierra? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
airbags — 130 owner reports
· tends to show around 85,770 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
electrical — 28 owner reports
· tends to show around 60,879 mi · ~$850 to fix
body — 22 owner reports
· tends to show around 69,415 mi · ~$1,500 to fix
engine — 13 owner reports
· tends to show around 91,609 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 85,770 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2009 Sierra· airbags
General Published an article about the Takata Airbag recall stating that the dashboard would be inspected prior to doing the recall work and if already cracked or damaged the dashboard would not be replaced. My dash board is like new with no damage or cracks. The dealer told me…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 GMC sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of…
Dash is cracking everywhere. It look piss poor for $35000 truck. It's started with a small crack. I tried to bond it together. Then eventually it spread leaving large holes and cracks. *tr
At around 4,000 miles the front brakes squealed often, mostly when it had been sitting for a while. (brake pads had a lot of meat left). At around 10,000 miles the brakes started grabbing while driving. I played with the e-brake some since this is the most common culprit, and…
Had a problem with your 2009 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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)
It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Fix: 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.
Common questions
Is the 2009 GMC Sierra reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 278 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 GMC Sierra is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 GMC Sierra?
The 2009 GMC Sierra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 28 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 40,000–73,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2009 GMC Sierra?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 130 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,770 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2009 GMC Sierra a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 278 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 85,770 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 GMC Sierra?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 130 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,770 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 85,770 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my GMC Sierra has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 GMC Sierra?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 278 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/GMC/Sierra.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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