This Preliminary Information communication provides steps the technician will uses to diagnose and repair vehicles that have low oil pressure after an oil change with the engine Regular Production Option Code L20, L77, L94, L96, L99, L9H, LC8, LC9, LH9, LMF, LMG, LY6, or LZ1. Vehicle may have Service Engine Soon lamp with Diagnostic Trouble Code P0521 or Low Oil Pressure message on the instrument panel. Dealer will need to determine if bulletin 10-06-01-008 was completed. If the bulletin was performed inspect the left rocker cover. Dealer will insure the left rocker can hold water without leaking. If leaks are found apply room temperature vulcanization silicone to the rocker cover if possibl
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 GMC Sierra engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE A COLD ENGINE TICK NOISE FOR 50 SECONDS AT START UP. TECHNICIAN DETERMINES IF THE TICK NOISE IS POSSIBLY COMING FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AS THIS NOISE COULD EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR AN ENGINE TICK NOISE. IF YOUR SI DIAGNOSIS DOES NOT ISOLATE THE CAUSE OF THIS CONCERN, THIS CONCERN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A VEHICLE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ECM CALIBRATION AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS SHOULD BE PERFORMED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information to technicians regarding intake manifold inspection/replacement after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CADILLAC/CHEVROLET/GMC: ON SOME VEHICLES AND/OR TRUCKS, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE AND/OR SES LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE. MODEL 2007-13 CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON, CTS-V, ESCALADE, AVALANCHE, CAMARO SS, COLORADO, CORVETTE, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2009 GMC Sierra 1500s with the 5.3L V8 AFM engine consistently report valve lifter collapse or failure as the dominant complaint. The problem hits without warning—no advance dashboard signals—and manifests as loud ticking, knocking, or rattling from the engine, often with the check engine light and misfire codes (commonly P0304 for cylinder #4). Vehicles enter limp mode or lose power entirely, sometimes while driving at highway speeds. One owner experienced the exact same failure twice: on the original engine and again on a replacement engine installed by a Chevrolet dealership.
Excessive oil consumption is endemic to this engine family. Owners report burning 4 to 6 quarts between oil changes, with one master technician unable to improve consumption below 1 quart per 1,900 miles even with shortened service intervals and additives. Low oil pressure warnings accompany the burning, and one owner's attempt to replace the oil pressure release valve saw the problem immediately recur.
Repair costs are steep—$3,000 to $5,000+ for lifter or engine replacement. Multiple owners state GM is aware of the defect but refuses to recall or warranty it, instead calling it a customer responsibility. Dealers sometimes refuse to touch the vehicle unless it's completely immobilized. Owners describe this as a pervasive engineering failure in the 2008–2012 generation of AFM-equipped GM engines.
Same GMC Sierra engine reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Valve Lifter Failure (AFM-related)
Valve lifter collapse or failure in one or more cylinders, often associated with the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system. This is the primary defect owners report, occurring across multiple cylinders (most commonly #4 and #7) and sometimes requiring complete engine replacement.
When: Occurs at various mileages from as low as 100 miles to 129,000+ miles; most commonly reported between 50,000–100,000 miles. One vehicle experienced failure on both original and replacement engine.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud ticking, knocking, or rattling noise from engine; Check engine light illumination; Cylinder misfire (often P0304 for cylinder #4); Engine hesitation under acceleration; Vehicle entering limp mode or reduced power; Rough engine idle and running; Loss of acceleration
Codes mentioned: P0304 (cylinder #4 misfire), Low oil pressure warning codes (cylinder compression loss)
Repairs/costs cited: Lifter replacement; in severe cases, full engine replacement. One owner reported $3,000 spent on repair with GM parts, only to have the same failure recur. Dealers sometimes refuse repair unless vehicle is completely inoperable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM acknowledged awareness of the problem in at least one case but stated it was due to faulty parts and owner responsibility. No recalls, TSBs, or warranty programs mentioned; manufacturer offered no assistance in multiple complaints.
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine burns or loses oil at abnormally high rates, typical of AFM-equipped 5.3L V8s. Owners report consuming 4–6 quarts between oil changes or 1 quart per 1,900 miles at best with shortened intervals and additives.
When: Begins as early as 80,000 miles; symptom present across multiple vehicles in cluster.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination indicating low oil pressure; Gray or white smoke from exhaust; Engine smell of burning oil; Raw gasoline smell and incomplete combustion
Codes mentioned: Low oil pressure warning lamp
Repairs/costs cited: Requires frequent oil changes and monitoring. One master technician owner reports shortened service intervals and additive use as mitigation but states the inherent design is poor.
Oil Pressure Sensor or Valve Malfunction
Low oil pressure warning lamp illumination due to oil pressure release valve or sensor issues. Includes instances where sensor replacement does not resolve the warning, indicating a valve or pressure regulation problem.
When: Reported around 99,900 miles in one case; starting at 100,000 miles in another.
Symptoms owners cite: Low oil pressure warning lamp or 'Stop Engine' indicator; Warning lamp recurs after repair; Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Low oil pressure diagnostic alerts
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pressure release valve replacement attempted but failure recurred in at least one case. Sensor replacement ineffective in another case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of recurrence but offered no response.
Engine Power Loss and Reduced Acceleration (Limp Mode)
Vehicle enters reduced-power or limp mode, limiting acceleration and drivability. Often triggered by AFM system malfunction or misfire detection.
When: Reported across mileages from 12,300 to highway driving conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Vehicle unable to accelerate beyond 25 MPH; Independent deceleration without driver input; Vehicle requires restart to restore partial power
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes (P0304 mentioned), Low engine warning codes
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved sensor replacement (KI sensor); in others, dealer unable to replicate or diagnose root cause. Repairs ranged from $800 for sensor work to full engine replacement in severe cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered no assistance in cases where contacted.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2009 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2009 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 56,000 and 129,000 miles, with the median around 87,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 56,000; a quarter make it past 129,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.