The vehicle is available for inspection - 35,000 approximate miles with a ebcm module repair needed in order to repair it to a level that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards of at minimum s5.3 no.126 & s5.1 no. 135 - I believe this vehicle should have been/should be included in the original and/or expanded recall n192268091. The vehicles electronic brake assist is not working causing…
2019 GMC Sierra electrical problems
moderate 69 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
69
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 69 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 21 model years of GMC Sierra in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 GMC Sierra electrical system generates consistent complaints about brake system malfunctions—loss of braking power, soft pedals, and extended stopping distances appear repeatedly, sometimes after dealership recall service. Engine stalling at traffic lights and during highway driving happens across multiple mileage ranges, often linked to fuel pump issues (code P129F cited) and wire harness chafing. Owners report wiring harness damage near suspension components causing short circuits.
Infotainment failures dominate the electrical narrative: blue screens with "Service Rear Camera" messages, spontaneous reboots, phantom warning alerts (false trailer disconnects, lane-keep errors), and temperature-dependent glitches below 20°F. Software updates provide temporary relief; dealerships acknowledge these are widespread but cannot resolve them permanently.
Rear window water intrusion and a smoking rear defogger connector pose fire risks—the defogger issue exists under Canadian recall but lacks a U.S. recall despite owner awareness. Owners also report alternator failures causing voltage sag, door locks that fail electrically, and complete engine stalls with battery drainage persisting after the truck is shut off.
Several narratives describe vehicle fires or near-fire conditions from electrical hazards. One owner's truck caught fire while parked at only 4,015 miles; another experienced an explosion under the hood at 49,653 miles. Owners frequently cite spending $2,500+ on electronic repairs and note that TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) exist for known issues but are not covered under warranty.
Same GMC Sierra electrical reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling and loss of power while driving
Vehicle loses power and stalls during normal operation, often at traffic lights or while moving, sometimes unable to restart. Owners report multiple restart attempts, multiple instances over time, and occasional towing required.
When: At various mileages; narratives cite 26,000 miles, 51,799 miles, 103,000 miles, and instances throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at traffic lights or during acceleration; Vehicle will not restart or requires multiple restart attempts; Check engine light may or may not illuminate; Loss of electrical power or electrical systems malfunction; Dashboard warning lights illuminate during failure; Vehicle maintained electrical power but lost engine power
Codes mentioned: P129F (Fuel pump or fuel pump power control module), Check engine light (no stored codes sometimes present)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump and fuel pump power control module replacement (~$1,325); battery replacement; wiring harness chafing repair; multiple repair attempts with recurring failure in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 21-NA-149 (Engine Wire Harness Chafing); GM technical support recommended fuel pump and module replacement; NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 mentioned but some VINs not included
Rear window water leaks
Water intrusion around rear sliding glass window frame, affecting rear seats and carpet. TSB issued but repairs not covered under warranty. Owners express concern over mold growth and electrical short/fire hazard from moisture.
When: Early ownership; one narrative reports issue in first week of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks visible around exterior frame of rear sliding glass; Wet rear seats and carpet; Moisture inside cabin; Potential for mold growth; Fire hazard from electrical short
Repairs/costs cited: Full window replacement estimated at $1,300; patchwork caulk repair estimated at $600 with no guarantees; TSB 18-NA-383 issued
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-NA-383 issued; issue known but not covered under warranty; no recall issued in U.S. (Canada has recall for similar issue)
Rear defogger connector smoking and sizzling
Connection point on passenger-side rear glass defogger harness smokes and sizzles when defogger is activated. Owners report fire hazard and automatic activation of defogger with remote start in cold weather.
When: Timing not specified; Canada has existing recall for this issue
Symptoms owners cite: Connector smokes and sizzles when rear defogger is on; Sizzling sound while driving; Smoke emission from connector near rear passenger seat; Defogger activates automatically with heated mirrors when remote started; Fire hazard risk
Repairs/costs cited: None provided; owner unable to use remote start, mirror defogger, or rear glass defogger
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue in Canada with recall; no U.S. recall issued; GM aware but no notification or recall in United States
Brake system failure and loss of braking power
Brake system fails during operation, resulting in reduced braking ability, soft pedal, extended stopping distance, or complete loss of brakes. Multiple warning lights illuminate. Some instances follow brake system recalls.
When: Various mileages cited: 750 miles, 6,000 miles, 50,800 miles, and throughout ownership; some instances occur days after recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes soft or extends to floorboard; Loss of braking power during highway driving; Extended stopping distances required; Excessive force needed to stop vehicle; Brake lights smoking; Brake system failure warning light illuminates; Service ESC and service brake assist lights; Speed limiter activates (43-62 MPH top speed warnings); Failure sometimes recurs after dealer repair
Codes mentioned: P25A2, C05B0, Brake system failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report $600-$1,300+ costs; EBCM module repair identified; brake control updates; recalibration attempted; multiple dealers unable to resolve
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V288000 (Electrical System) and 25V274000 mentioned; some VINs not included in recalls; GM referred contact to NHTSA Hotline; brake control and ESC software updates attempted
Infotainment and instrument cluster display failures
Infotainment screens turn blue, go black, flash, reboot, or become unresponsive. Instrument cluster shows false warning messages and errors, especially in cold weather. Screen independently changes modes or activates functions.
When: Early ownership through later mileage; cold weather exacerbates issues below 20°F
Symptoms owners cite: Blue screen with 'Service Rear Camera' or 'Service Rear Backup System' message; Screen flashes, reboots, or turns black intermittently; Screen independently switches camera views or modes; Volume increases to maximum independently and cannot be manually reduced; Phone feature randomly makes calls to stored numbers; Trailer disconnection warnings appear when no trailer connected; Lane departure and pedestrian sensor alerts flashing; Emergency codes display requiring constant clearing; Trailer checklists and false alerts display
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates attempted; computer system updates completed; new modules ordered (3-week lead time); dealers unable to determine permanent fix; owners report >$2,500 spent on electronic component repairs and >$900 on software updates
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Computer system and software updates; GM engineers aware of common issue on 2019 Sierra and Silverado 1500 but unable to find solution
Backup camera system failures
Rear backup camera displays blue screen, goes black, or shows 'Service Rear Backup System' message. Features work intermittently and do not display all views. One narrative reports excessive brightness at night making camera unusable.
When: Early mileage; one narrative at 1,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Blue screen with 'Service Rear Backup System' message; Camera intermittently fails to display all rear views; Screen turns black; Excessive brightness at night rendering camera unusable; Glare prevents visibility of rear area; Rain at night makes camera completely ineffective
Repairs/costs cited: New module installation needed for rear seat area; dealers unable to confirm exact module placement; module ordered with 3-week delivery time
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Module replacement diagnosed; owner stated manufacturer made aware at 1,800 miles
Engine misfire, valve lifter failure, and camshaft wear
Cylinder misfires, valve lifter failures, and camshaft wear cause engine performance degradation and mechanical failure. Owners report ticking noises, engine vibration, and power loss. Known AFM (Active Fuel Management) lifter and camshaft issues on 5.3L V8 engines.
When: Various mileages: 49,653 miles (fire incident), 65,000 miles, 88,000 miles, and early ownership through 110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cylinder misfire codes (e.g., P0308 for cylinder 8); Engine ticking or tapping noise; Abnormal engine sound from rear of vehicle; Vehicle jerks forward; Excessive engine vibration; Check engine light illuminates; ESC warning light on; Engine backfiring; Exhaust fumes inside cabin; Performance noticeably affected; Reduced power mode; Complete engine failure
Codes mentioned: P0308 (Cylinder 8 misfire), Check engine light codes
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and fuel injectors replaced; ignition coil verified; owners cite lifter and camshaft replacement needs; one owner reports lifter failure and bent rod requiring engine rebuild; another required complete new engine
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin referenced for valve lifter and camshaft issues; warranty coverage varies; powertrain warranty expiration before symptoms emerge in some cases
Alternator and battery charging system failure
Alternator fails to charge battery properly, resulting in battery voltage dropping to critical levels. Vehicle displays battery saver alerts and loss of power. Multiple battery replacements may be needed.
When: Various mileages: 43,742 miles, 103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery saver alert on instrument cluster; Battery voltage reading at 9V on 12V system; Loss of automotive power while electrical systems remain powered; Check engine light illuminates; Multiple warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement; battery replacement; battery fuse replacement; ground cable replacement; repairs may recur
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V888000 (Electrical System) referenced; some VINs not included in recall
Vehicle fire and electrical ignition hazard
Vehicle caught fire or experienced near-fire conditions from electrical issues. One narrative reports vehicle fully engulfed in flames while parked; another reports explosion under hood and fire from electrical burning odor.
When: One incident at 4,015 miles while parked; another at 49,653 miles during operation
Symptoms owners cite: A/C stopped working; Electrical wiring burning odor; Smoke from under glove compartment; Explosion occurred under hood; Vehicle fully engulfed in flames; Fire ignition from parked vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle totaled; fire department and police reports filed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer notified in one case; manufacturer not notified in one case
Steering assist and power steering failures
Power steering malfunctions and steering assist reduces or fails. Warning lights illuminate indicating steering assist reduced. Owner experiences difficulty steering or loss of assist.
When: Various mileages; narratives cite early ownership (750 miles) and later ownership (110,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering malfunction; Steering assist reduced warning light; Loss of power steering; Service steering column lock messages; Vehicle difficult to control
Repairs/costs cited: Parts or repairs not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented
Door lock mechanism electrical malfunction
Driver's door lock mechanism fails to lock or unlock properly via remote or push button. Manual unlock via door handle works but electronic lock/unlock is unreliable.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Door does not lock or unlock by remote control; Door does not lock or unlock by push button; Sporadic failure of lock mechanism; Manual door handle unlock works; Door does not auto-lock when vehicle put into drive
Repairs/costs cited: None provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Loss of vehicle acceleration and throttle response
Vehicle experiences loss of power when accelerating, stuck throttle sensation, or inability to accelerate despite pressing accelerator pedal. One narrative describes truck getting 'stuck halfway out into live traffic' as if brakes were being applied.
When: Various driving conditions at different mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power during acceleration; Vehicle stuck in traffic unable to accelerate; Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle does not respond; Check engine light illuminates; Multiple warning lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: Check engine light codes (specific codes not always provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Root cause not identified in some cases; vehicle may recover on its own
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response documented
Electronic stability control and traction control failures
ESC and traction control systems disable, malfunction, or trigger false warnings. Service ESC lights illuminate. Safety systems disable unexpectedly. System may activate inappropriately.
When: Various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Service ESC light illuminates; ESC system disabled warning; Traction control light on; Complete loss of brakes reported with ESC failure; Trailer brake system light (false alarm); Cross traffic alert disabled; Lane keeping assistance disabled
Codes mentioned: ESC-related diagnostic codes
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates attempted; recalibration performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software updates and recalibration; some issues unresolved
Fuel system false warnings and fuel gauge malfunction
Low fuel warning illuminates when fuel tank is full or nearly full. Fuel gauge reads incorrectly. Owners must add large amounts of fuel despite warning indicating low fuel.
When: Various instances cited
Symptoms owners cite: Low fuel warning illuminates when tank is full or half-full; False low fuel warning appears; Fuel gauge reads incorrectly; Must add 1/2 tank of fuel despite warning; Engine stalls associated with fuel system anomalies
Codes mentioned: P129F (Fuel pump or fuel pump power control module)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replacement in some cases; fuel pump power control module replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM technical support recommended fuel pump replacement
Instrument cluster false warnings and shifting errors
Instrument cluster displays false or repeated error messages that do not correspond to actual vehicle conditions. Shift-to-park messages display when vehicle is already in park. Messages continuously reappear despite clearing.
When: Various mileages; cold weather exacerbates issues
Symptoms owners cite: Shift-to-park message displays when vehicle in park; Brake system failure warnings appear repeatedly; Service messages appear when no actual issue exists; Error messages require constant clearing only to reappear; Multiple false warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Engine reduce power message displays
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates attempted; shift-to-park handler replacement suggested; dealer unable to diagnose root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software updates; dealership suggestions for parts replacement
Parking brake and automatic stop system malfunction
Park assist activates when not needed. Corroded ground straps cause electrical issues. Automatic stop system malfunctions. Recall exists for ground strap corrosion on some vehicles.
When: Various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Park assist activates at stop lights with no vehicle in front; Ground straps corroded; Automatic stop malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Ground strap replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists on some 2019-2024 vehicles for corroded ground straps; some VINs not included
Remote start system malfunction
Remote start feature malfunctions or causes system failures. Vehicle issues occur after remote start activation.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Truck locked into 4WD after remote start; All safety features lost after remote start; Lights do not work after remote start; Brake system issues after remote start; Dashboard lights illuminate after remote start
Repairs/costs cited: Glitch corrected by dealership; recalibration performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership identified as 'glitch' in recall service
Rear brake lock-up after idle periods
Rear brakes lock up when shifting from park to drive after the vehicle has been idle for extended periods or driven for long periods. Vehicle cannot exceed 5 MPH without brake engagement.
When: Mileage 6,000 miles cited
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brakes lock up when shifting from park to drive; Vehicle cannot exceed 5 MPH without rear brake engagement; Occurs after long idle periods (10+ minutes) or extended driving; Condition may be limp mode
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership had difficulty acknowledging the problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Engine pushbutton start failure and electrical drain
Pushbutton start fails to completely shut off engine. Radio, instrument panel lights, and dinging noise remain on after pressing start button. Vehicle battery drains while off. Message on screen states 'shift to park' despite vehicle being in park.
When: Mileage 36,000 miles mentioned
Symptoms owners cite: Engine turns off but radio remains on; Instrument panel and gauge lights remain on after shutdown; Dinging noise continues after shutdown; Screen displays 'shift to park' message when in park; Battery and electrical components drain while vehicle off; Issue occurs daily; Duration of drain varies from 1 minute to several minutes
Repairs/costs cited: None provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Cold weather electrical and software glitches
Electrical and software malfunctions occur or worsen when ambient temperature drops below 20°F. Multiple false warning messages and display errors appear in cold weather.
When: Cold weather conditions below 20°F
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency codes display requiring clearing in cold; Infotainment head unit flashes, resets, cuts sound in and out; Trailer checklists display in cold weather; Lane departure and pedestrian sensor alerts in cold; Distracting screen flashes; Safety hazard while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Service performed but no permanent fix found; videos document issues
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM engineers aware of common issue on 2019 Sierra and Silverado 1500 but unable to find solution
Synthesized from 69 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I was driving up the road truck cranked up fine started a morning commute, on cruise control the truck instantly out of nowhere lost power completely with no signs of anything and engine won’t attempt to turn over now. I fear the worst has happened which would be catastrophic internal failure for to a faulty engine & its internals.
When accelerating it will over rev and then slip and then punch foward I had a diagnostic did and the sensor in the Transmission aren't working properly and then when just driving my etrak also randomly went out and I can no longer active cruise controll
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 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 electrical problem on the 2019 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 69 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 4,015 and 43,742 miles, with the median around 9,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,015; a quarter make it past 43,742. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2019/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.