I bought a brand new 2026 1500 GMC sierra AT4X and after 1,800 miles the engine seized and failed.
2026 GMC Sierra 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 109 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
109 reportsTotal engine failure on 5/31/26. Truck lost engine power while on highway and had to be towed to dealership where they found the lower end of the engine failed. Engine and radiator replacement needed, both are backordered with no eta.
Heard clanging noise under hood as I was driving and truck just stopped. Tried to restart and nothing! Towed to dealership where they found the engine has to be replaced.
While driving approximately 45 MPH, I slowed to make a right turn into a parking lot. The engine suddenly stalled and lost all propulsion. The vehicle retained electrical power but automatically shifted into NEUTRAL, and would not shift back into DRIVE. I braked to a stop, temporarily stranding the vehicle and blocking traffic i…
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While driving approximately 45 MPH, I slowed to make a right turn into a parking lot. The engine suddenly stalled and lost all propulsion. The vehicle retained electrical power but automatically shifted into NEUTRAL, and would not shift back into DRIVE. I braked to a stop, temporarily stranding the vehicle and blocking traffic in the parking area. Attempting to turn the vehicle off via the START/STOP button actually restarted the engine, confirming the stall. The truck then shifted into DRIVE and operated normally. A subsequent OnStar diagnostic scan found no active trouble codes.
While driving on the highway, the steering became much more stiff, and then I heard metallic clanging sounds for a few seconds. The dashboard said press start to start Vehicle. I pressed start while going 30 miles an hour and all lights and instrument clusters went black. I pulled into the grass median where the truck would not…
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While driving on the highway, the steering became much more stiff, and then I heard metallic clanging sounds for a few seconds. The dashboard said press start to start Vehicle. I pressed start while going 30 miles an hour and all lights and instrument clusters went black. I pulled into the grass median where the truck would not start or shift gears. Truck was towed to a GMC dealership
Traveling home the day I purchased vehicle going through [XXX] with cruise set on 35,negotiating a right handed curve in the road and a vehicle was stopped in center lane turning left and my vehicle abruptly braked causing the vehicles behind me to take evasive action to keep from hitting me from behind INFORMATION REDACTED PU…
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Traveling home the day I purchased vehicle going through [XXX] with cruise set on 35,negotiating a right handed curve in the road and a vehicle was stopped in center lane turning left and my vehicle abruptly braked causing the vehicles behind me to take evasive action to keep from hitting me from behind INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2026 GMC SIERRA 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently engaged into limp mode. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failu…
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The contact owns a 2026 GMC SIERRA 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently engaged into limp mode. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
Transmission Cooler line blew out
On or about 12/14/25 at approximately 2,000 miles my engine began smoking to the point that it was pushing in to the interior of the cabin and created a cloud like atmosphere that smelled of burning oil. There were no warning messages in the vehicle or in the mobile diagnostic application associated with the vehicle. Once parked…
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On or about 12/14/25 at approximately 2,000 miles my engine began smoking to the point that it was pushing in to the interior of the cabin and created a cloud like atmosphere that smelled of burning oil. There were no warning messages in the vehicle or in the mobile diagnostic application associated with the vehicle. Once parked, I popped the engine and observed visible smoke from the engine and a distinct crackling noise coming from the area of the engine. I checked underneath the vehicle and was able to see oil dripping and, subsequently, feel oil running down a majority of the undercarriage of the truck. Ultimately, I had the vehicle towed the dealership and they diagnosed a front cover seal for the engine was leaking and repaired the issue. On 3/20/26 I had to take my vehicle in for an early oil change due to the above issue and low oil life. Since the above repair, I had continued to smell intermittent burning oil in the cabin of the truck. During the oil change I asked the GM service provider to check to ensure the same issue had not recurred and, following the oil change, I was informed they did not see any issue. On 5/8/26, at approximately 7,000 miles, the same issue regarding visible smoke in the cabin occurred and, upon opening the hood, I was able to see visible smoke from the engine and hear the same crackling noise. I checked underneath the vehicle and, again, was able to see oil dripping and feel it on a majority of the underside of the truck. There were no warnings, in the vehicle or in the GM app for the vehicle, associated with the failure. Again, I took the vehicle to the GM dealer service center. The diagnosis was a leaking rear cover seal. Upon repairing this issue, GM service discovered "flakes" in the oil in the engine and diagnoses a failing thrust bearing that indicated engine failure. I have documentation of the diagnosis and attempted repairs but, am not currently in a location that I can scan and upload them. I can provide them.
The tailgate intermittently opens while driving or parked
Official recalls
226V289000 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)
May 7, 2026
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
26V114000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Feb 26, 2026
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA26005 · Loss Of Motive Power Due To Engine Failure Post Recall Remedy
Opened Aug 20, 2026 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V-274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V-274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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