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2009 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 GMC Sierra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

33 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

9 reports
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70,000 miles · Feb 16, 2023
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number - 09184C (Material Over Sensing and Diagnostic Module Retaining Moisture) . The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it…

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The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number - 09184C (Material Over Sensing and Diagnostic Module Retaining Moisture) . The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed as a corroded air bag control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11507624

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2022
Air Bags

2009 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE AIRBAG RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFOMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11478744

40,000 miles · Nov 4, 2021
Air BagsCrash

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, he crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not know whether a warning light illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries and drove the vehicle to his r…

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The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, he crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not know whether a warning light illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries and drove the vehicle to his residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist with the air bags failure unless he had a recall notification. The contact also stated while driving at 40 MPH, his vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries and drove to his residence. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact stated while driving at 75 MPH on a wet road, the brake pedal was depressed and the front and rear tires inadvertently locked. The vehicle slid off the road and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he did not sustain any injuries and drove to his residence. A police report was not filed. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (AIR BAGS) for the front passenger air bag only. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #11439348

68,895 miles · Oct 14, 2021
Air Bags

The contact called on behalf of a GM dealer where he is employed. He stated that a customer had dropped off his 2009 GMC Sierra to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags). As the vehicle sat on the dealer lot with the engine off, the contact witnessed both the passenger and driver side air bags deploy without…

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The contact called on behalf of a GM dealer where he is employed. He stated that a customer had dropped off his 2009 GMC Sierra to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags). As the vehicle sat on the dealer lot with the engine off, the contact witnessed both the passenger and driver side air bags deploy without incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 68,895.

NHTSA ODI #11436802

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2021
Air Bags

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 GMC SIERRA. The contact stated that the "Service airbag notification" warning light had illuminated onthe instrument panel. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000(AIRBAGS); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notifie…

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Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 GMC SIERRA. The contact stated that the "Service airbag notification" warning light had illuminated onthe instrument panel. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000(AIRBAGS); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The failure was unknown. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11421861

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2015
Air Bags

ABOUT A YEAR GO STARDED TO SEE A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD BY THE AIR BAG

NHTSA ODI #10762443

89,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10650674

55,544 miles · May 23, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE AND SENSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. T…

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

NHTSA ODI #10593587

1,000 miles · Jul 22, 2010
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE ENGINE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE AIR BA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE ENGINE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE AIR BAG SENSOR ALSO CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIFTEEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND ONLY OFFERED HER A FREE OIL CHANGE FOR ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344701

Official recalls

1

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

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). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.