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2023 GMC Sierra 1500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
63%
298 of 485 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

63% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 298 of 485 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%), and the largest group is filed under engine (208). For comparison, the 2022 scores 58%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
298
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
485
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
5 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE208 · 43%
POWER TRAIN91 · 19%
STRUCTURE87 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM64 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER52 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM35 · 7%

The years either side

2010
22%
27 of 217
2011
26%
58 of 366
2012
28%
12 of 49
2013
19%
22 of 167
2014
25%
156 of 859
2015
32%
202 of 817
2016
37%
16 of 48
2017
47%
195 of 429
2018
64%
185 of 304
2019
67%
424 of 647
2020
69%
317 of 468
2021
77%
441 of 577
2022
58%
336 of 588
2023
63%
298 of 485

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500

What one owner reported

ENGINE09/28/2026
6.2L engine lost power and failed at highway speed with no warning lamp or prior indication of failure. Engine recall/Pico test and oil viscosity change performed by dealer at 40,000 miles. Engine failed at 45,868 miles.

One of 298 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical25V274000 · Apr 2025

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the…

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp24V674000 · Sep 2024
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles.…
exterior lighting: lighting control module: software22V903000 · Dec 2022
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2023 GMC Sierra 1500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500

Does the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 298 of 485 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (63%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 25V274000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which GMC Sierra 1500 years are better?

Among the GMC Sierra 1500 years we track, the 2013 (19%), the 2010 (22%) and the 2014 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (63%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.