This technical bulletin provides a procedure to check and repair the rear shackle and/or add lube to the leaf springs to correct the noise.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 GMC Sierra suspension problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 vehicle with Service ABS and/or Traction control lights/message on, Service Power Steering System, Service Suspension System, and or Loss of communication with EBCM, SWPS, PSCM, and/or SCM. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes U0077, U0121, U0126, U0131, U0139, U0401, U0415, and/or U0428. Technician should remove the driver and passenger sill plate to gain access to the wire harness. If any open, damaged, or corroded wires should be repaired.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a lean to the left or right. Technician will need to measure fender wheel-opening heights, front and rear, to quantify vehicle lean. Fender wheel-opening heights are related to, but distinct from, trim height. The front wheel-opening height is known as P height, and the rear wheel-opening height is known as R height. Adjust and heights that are out of specification. After all adjustments are done, perform a front-end alignment and check headlight aim.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer?s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for furthe
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the steps to diagnosis and repair vehicles with various handling, vehicle dynamics concerns, noises from the suspension or underbody, or issues related to damaged suspension components. Before any in-depth diagnostics are performed, be aware that various issues could occur if the vehicle has been modified and inform the customer the conditions noted may not be covered under warranty. Technician will inspect for installed aftermarket suspension components. Also inspect for improperly adjusted torsion bars.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 GMC Sierras report a cluster of suspension and powertrain issues starting before 40,000 miles. The most critical complaint involves driver-side ball joints failing suddenly—one owner's joint separated at 39,000 miles, forcing emergency roadside repair and new alignment. That same owner and repair shops report the replacement part is on national backorder and describe it as a known defect affecting this model year at an alarming rate.
Vibration problems plague multiple owners, particularly at 70–75 mph with apparent rear-end origin. Two dealerships replaced tires, performed alignments, and balanced wheels without resolution. One owner references thousands of online complaints for 2014–2015 GM 1500 trucks with no fix identified.
Suspension noises include clunking during turns and steering-angle rubbing. One owner observed tires contacting front suspension bars at full-lock turns. Another found severe rust on suspension, brakes, and frame at just 39,100 miles—unusual for a 3-year-old truck, raising concern for towing and hauling durability.
Transmission problems involve rough 1st-to-2nd shifts and persistent gear slipping even after a new transmission and over $10,000 in repairs. One owner reports engine lifter collapse at normal maintenance intervals, attributed to active fuel management design. Engine idle shake and complete engine failure are also documented.
Same GMC Sierra suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Ball Joint Failure
Driver-side ball joint(s) separating or failing suddenly at low mileage, forcing unplanned repairs and creating immediate safety risk. Parts reported on national backorder; owner alleges known defect at high failure rate for this model year.
When: 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden ball joint failure while driving; Vehicle handling compromise; Audible failure
Repairs/costs cited: Ball joint replacement, new tire, full alignment; driver-side ball joint on national backorder per owner report
Extreme Vibration at Highway Speed
Sustained vibration, sometimes severe, primarily in 70–75 mph range but occurring at other speeds too. Appears to originate from rear suspension. Multiple dealership visits with tire replacement, alignments, and road force balancing have not resolved the issue. Owner reports thousands of complaints online for 2014–2015 GM 1500 Series trucks with no reported fix.
When: 648 miles on one vehicle; chronic issue for others reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration at 70–75 mph, sometimes at other speeds; Vibration originating from rear; Extreme vibration at times
Repairs/costs cited: Four tires replaced; multiple alignments and road force balances performed; issue recurred
Excessive Rust on Suspension and Frame
Severe corrosion on brake, suspension, and frame components observed on a 2017 model with approximately 39,100 miles, despite being only 3 years old. Owner considers it a safety hazard, especially for trucks used to haul or tow heavy loads.
When: 39,100 miles (approximately 3 years old)
Symptoms owners cite: Severe rust on suspension components; Rust on brakes; Rust on frame and spare tire area
Steering Angle Tire Rubbing on Suspension
When turning steering wheel fully left or right, tires rub against front suspension bars, producing abnormal noise. Issue observed at low speed while exiting parking lot.
When: 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal sound from driver and passenger wheels during full-angle turns; Tires rubbing on front suspension bars
Rough Transmission Shifts and Jolting
Transmission shifts harshly from first to second gear during slow parking-lot driving and normal highway speeds, and again when decelerating to a stop. Owner reports persistent gear slipping even after transmission replacement and engine repairs exceeding $10,000.
When: Chronic issue; not specified at what mileage problem began
Symptoms owners cite: Rough shifts from 1st to 2nd gear; Gear slipping, especially into second gear; Jolting during acceleration; Jolting around 10 mph when decelerating
Repairs/costs cited: New transmission installed; multiple engine repairs; total out-of-pocket repair costs exceeded $10,000
Front Suspension Clunking on Turns
Loud clunk noise from front suspension when backing up and turning the wheel, recurring when wheels are turned back forward after shifting to drive.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunk from front suspension during backing and turning; Clunk recurs when turning wheels back forward
Engine Idle Shake
Engine exhibits awkward shaking while idling after engine has been running warm. Owner reports issue is recent.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Awkward shake while idling after warm engine operation
Engine Lifter Collapse and Complete Engine Failure
Lifters collapsed, resulting in multiple bent pushrods due to active fuel management system. Engine failure occurred without warning while driving, forcing vehicle to stall on roadway. Owner alleges GM is aware of the design flaw but refuses to address it.
When: November 2023; vehicle maintained per schedule
Symptoms owners cite: Lifter collapse; Multiple bent pushrods; Complete engine stalling on roadway; Engine failure
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2017 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 suspension problem on the 2017 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 47,440 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2017/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.