NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable connecting your driver's seat belt may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit, causing it to wear out and separate.
What the fix does
This page covers 8 recalls, 732 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Exterior lighting leads complaint volume for the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500, with owners consistently reporting headlights that fail, dim prematurely, or go out entirely while driving. Steering draws the second-highest complaint count, with owners describing a loss of power assist, pulling to one side, and a grinding or clunking sensation through the wheel. Brake complaints follow closely, with owners reporting extended stopping distances, a spongy or sinking pedal feel, and brake fade under normal driving conditions. A separate but recurring thread involves the engine, owners report sudden loss of drive power at speed, RPMs climbing while the truck stops accelerating, and in several cases valvetrain or lifter failures that left the vehicle undrivable, sometimes without any prior warning lights or symptoms.
732
Total Complaints
24
Crash-Related
7
Fire-Related
13
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 has 8 recalls, the most serious being a driveline sensor fault that can trigger unintended braking on one side of the vehicle, causing it to pull sharply in one direction without warning.
Three recalls involve seatbelts and airbags. The front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may fail to deploy in a crash, leaving the driver and front passenger without full restraint protection. Separately, the driver's seatbelt tensioner cable can fatigue and break if the driver slides over it while entering the truck, weakening the belt's ability to hold in a crash. A third recall applies to trucks where a prior repair may have installed an incorrect replacement tensioner cable, which can also reduce seatbelt effectiveness. On the steering side, the electric power steering assist can cut out temporarily during low-speed turns and then return suddenly, causing a brief loss of steering control. The brake vacuum pump can weaken over time, reducing power assist and extending stopping distances. There is also a fire extinguisher recall covering trucks equipped with certain plastic-handle or push-button models that may not function when needed.
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable connecting your driver's seat belt may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit, causing it to wear out and separate.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 6 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wheel-speed sensor may fail, causing the brake control computer to incorrectly activate the driveline-protection system while driving 41–60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the brake control computer at no cost to prevent the system from activating incorrectly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vacuum pump produces less vacuum over time, which can reduce braking system performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no cost to restore proper braking function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to discharge, or require excessive force to use. In some models, the nozzle may detach forcefully, potentially causing injury and making the extinguisher inoperable.
What the fix does
GM will provide a free replacement fire extinguisher from Kidde. Contact your vehicle manufacturer's customer service to arrange the replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control software may not have received a complete update from a previous recall. Under certain driving conditions, this software may run a diagnostic test that disables frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software. If your vehicle previously deployed air bags, the control module will be replaced instead. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering assist may temporarily stop working, especially when turning at low speeds, making steering harder.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the steering module software at no cost to restore power steering assist function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions, the air bag control module's software may run a self-test that disables the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners, preventing them from deploying in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software. If your air bags have previously deployed, the module will be replaced. Repairs are free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned so the driver slides over it when entering the vehicle, causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify vehicles to protect the tensioner from damage and replace any already-damaged tensioners at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.