Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 GMC Sierra 3500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V050000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V053000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V052000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V267000 Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V407000 Melted Fusible Link may Result in Fire NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 2 complaints
- Air Bags 1 complaint
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
- Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
- Tires 1 complaint
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 has an average reliability rating due to moderate recall and complaint counts predominantly related to the airbag system and electrical concerns. Despite these issues, overall failure frequency is not notably high, but ongoing vigilance is recommended.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag inflator | 30,000–70,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $150–$500 | occasional |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system maintenance
- Transmission fluid change
- Fuel filter replacement
- Tire rotations
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Dimming or flickering lights
- Transmission slippage or noise
- Overheating
- Battery draining quickly
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.