NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The roof-rail air bag inflator end cap may separate, or the inflator sidewall may break open.
This page covers 6 recalls and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2015 GMC Sierra 2500.
The 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 received an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, it earned 2 stars. Side crash and side pole tests both yielded 5-star ratings. The vehicle received 3 stars in rollover testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a redesign occurs, so this rating covers the Sierra 2500 throughout its production run in this generation.
3/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 has 6 recalls, the most serious being a brake pedal that can come loose or stop working entirely, leaving the driver unable to slow or stop the truck and potentially jamming the accelerator pedal.
The brake pedal pivot nut can loosen over time, causing the pedal to feel sloppy underfoot or fail to engage the brakes at all. Because the pedal sits close to the accelerator, a loose assembly can also catch on the gas pedal and make the vehicle harder to control. On the safety equipment side, the roof-rail curtain airbag inflator can fail in two ways: the end cap may detach from the inflator body, or in some cases the inflator sidewall itself can rupture. Either failure allows compressed gas to escape suddenly, turning the end cap or other housing fragments into projectiles inside the cabin. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the inflator issue, which is why multiple recalls exist for the same curtain airbag problem. There is also a concern with the front seatbelt pretensioners and front airbags, where a control module issue can prevent both from deploying in a crash. The pretensioner tightens the belt against the occupant's body at the moment of impact, so a failure there, combined with airbags that do not fire, leaves the driver and front passenger with significantly less protection in a collision.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof-rail air bag inflator end cap may separate, or the inflator sidewall may break open.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 6 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the left and right roof-rail air bag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The end cap of the roof-rail air bag inflator may separate from the inflator unit, potentially affecting air bag deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the roof-rail air bag modules on the affected side(s) at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal pivot nut can loosen, making the brake pedal loose or unable to work.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply adhesive to the nut and reinstall it more tightly to secure the brake pedal.
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
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 brake pedal pivot nut may loosen over time, causing the brake pedal to become loose or stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall it with increased torque to secure it properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.