← 20182017 model yearnewer β†’
⚑ NHTSA Official DataUpdated: Jun 2026How we calculate this
Severe Issues

2017 Gmc Sierra: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict

Used GMC SIERRA shoppers should review this model-year complaint and recall record before making an offer. Current data includes 500 complaints, with Transmission / Drivetrain as the top reported area.

500
Complaints
25
Crashes
7
Fires
8
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
10
Recalls

2017 Gmc Sierra Fuel Economy

βœ“ EPA Official Data

EPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2017 Gmc Sierra trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.

16
MPG City
15–18 range
23
MPG Hwy
20–24 range
19
MPG Combined
17–20 range
479
g COβ‚‚/mile
Regular Gasoline
⚠️Costs $5,750 more than avg vehicle over 5 years

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017 Gmc Sierra has 500 owner complaints, 25 crash-related complaints, and 10 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Transmission / Drivetrain. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.

2017 Gmc Sierra β€” key reliability facts
Make
Gmc
Model
Sierra
Model year
2017
NHTSA owner complaints
500
Crash-related complaints
25
Safety recall campaigns
10
Top reported component
Transmission / Drivetrain
Reliability signal
Severe Issues
EPA MPG combined
19
EPA MPG city / highway
16 / 23
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline

Most Common 2017 Gmc Sierra Problems

Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.

#1
165
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Crash-related:2
#2
158
complaints

Brake System

Crash-related:18
#3
74
complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:1
Fires:3

Complaint patterns center on Transmission / Drivetrain, Brake System, Electrical Faults. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.

Should You Buy a Used 2017 Gmc Sierra?

This GMC SIERRA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection.

Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs.

May Suit

This year may suit buyers who prioritize complete maintenance records and pass a pre-purchase inspection.

May Want to Avoid

Buyers who want a lower-risk ownership profile may prefer comparing nearby model years before committing.

What to Check Before Buying a Used 2017 Gmc Sierra

Inspection Focus

  • Inspect the most frequently reported complaint components on this model year
  • Confirm recall repairs were completed and documented
  • Check for accident damage, title brands, and mileage inconsistencies on the exact VIN

Before You Close the Deal

  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase

Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.

Before buying a used 2017 Gmc Sierra, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.

What the Complaint Data Suggests

Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

The GMC SIERRA has 500 NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls on record. 25 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Recall context: 10 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase.

Key Findings
  • 500 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 10 federal recall campaigns
  • 25 crash-related complaints on record
Top Concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

All 2017 Gmc Sierra Complaints by Category

Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Gmc Sierra. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Transmission / Drivetrain1652β€”β€”
Brake System15818β€”β€”
Electrical Faults7413β€”
Engine Problems73β€”1β€”
Uncategorized Issues47β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects243β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper18β€”1β€”
Suspension Failures12β€”β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures12β€”β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration12β€”β€”β€”
Hydraulic93β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System91β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions94β€”β€”
Structural Problems81β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB71β€”β€”
Tire Issues73β€”β€”
Equipment6β€”β€”β€”
Visibility5β€”3β€”
Seat-Related Issues5β€”β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)4β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues31β€”β€”
Lane Departure2β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System1β€”β€”β€”
Diesel1β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Air1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Real Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Gmc Sierra. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

Showing 400 most recent complaints of 500 total. View all on NHTSA β†—

Electrical FaultsMay 13, 2026

Truck was started using auto start and I drove roughly a mile down the road smelt burning and looked in the back seat, I saw smoke and promptly pulled to the side of the road shut the vehicle off then I heard a loud pop and saw the back drivers side window shattered.

Wheel IssuesMay 4, 2026

Dear Sir, I currently own a 2017 GMC Denali that had a potentially catastrophic failure with one of the alloy wheels that are on my vehicle. Mileage about 110,000 I recently went to have new tires installed on my vehicles when the tire shop manager came from the work area and…

Engine ProblemsApr 19, 2026

I drive this vehicle on higher speed roads to work everyday. Roads also used by large tractor trailers and like larger vehicles. I was told by dealer that I had broken exhaust manifold studs at a previous oil change. While driving the truck it seemed to lose power for a short tim…

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 10, 2026

The ABS light came on while driving. Tire and components were removed to expose the axle housing. It was determined by the parts manager at DeBauche Truck and Diesel that the rear wheel hub nut had come loose and destroyed the threading. The damage was catastrophic, in that con…

Engine ProblemsMar 31, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure h…

Engine ProblemsMar 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that th…

Electrical FaultsMar 17, 2026

The rear window on my 2017 GMC Sierra shattered unexpectedly without any impact. The vehicle had been remote started in very cold weather and the rear window glass suddenly shattered while the truck was parked. There was no rock strike or external damage that would explain the fa…

Uncategorized IssuesMar 11, 2026

Rear glass window shattered due to the defroster getting too hot. Some smoke was noticed

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, failed to accelerate, and stalled. The vehicle was unable to shift into third gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The veh…

VisibilityMar 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the defrost was turned on, but the defrost failed to function as intended. There was a loud pop, and there was brown and yellow smoke in the rear of the vehicle. The contact tu…

Engine ProblemsMar 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure of the #8 glow plug. The contact was informed that…

Electrical FaultsFeb 26, 2026

While the 2017 GMC Sierra was warming up via remote start, I noticed a smell of smoke as I walked by the passenger side of the truck. Then I heard a loud bang as I was walking around the rear of the truck. As I entered the truck from the driver's door I saw the back window, passe…

Visibility/WiperFeb 5, 2026

While using the rear defrost my daughter smelled burning. Moments after the smell the rear window exploded. This is a sliding three part window and it shattered on the passenger side. My daughter was hit by the exploding glass.

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 4, 2026

While sitting at a stop sign heard a loud bang and truck lunged forward as if we were rear ended . Actually thought we were . Drove about 20 miles and transmission went out . Even though i had foot on brake truck still went forward . Had to have transmission replaced at $6421.58 …

Transmission / DrivetrainFeb 4, 2026

check engine light and traction control light on. vehicle undriveable. took to dealer code P0304 lifters need to be replaced

Engine ProblemsJan 28, 2026

My L86 Engine had 250,000 plus miles and the engine went out. So we decided to rebuild the engine due to the truck being paid off and the cost of a new engine is much cheaper than a new truck. After the first rebuild the engine last around 10K miles. We pulled the engine back …

Transmission / DrivetrainJan 25, 2026

After 38,000 miles and 8 years of normal service (mix of city, highway, and 10% towing), my 8L90 transmission began to shudder occasionally. The problem first became apparent when driving slightly uphill, on cruise control at about 50 mph, or while slightly accelerating on a fla…

Transmission / DrivetrainJan 25, 2026

My vehicle has lurched forward upon the first engine start of the day, under no throttle, on several occasions, throughout the life of my vehicle. Shortly after starting my 6.2 engine in my garage, if I shift my 8L90 transmission into Drive as soon as the engine RPMs settle to i…

Electrical FaultsJan 23, 2026

My truck is affected by GM’s engine block‑heater safety recall (NHTSA 21V‑496 / GM N212329840) addressing a risk of short circuit and potential engine‑compartment fire at the heater cord/terminal connection. GM’s interim action has been to remove/disable the block‑heater cord, wh…

Engine ProblemsJan 19, 2026

6.2L lifter failure camshaft destroyed. Complete top end rebuild cost me $8500. Same problem as the previous recall.

Page 1 of 20

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2017 Gmc Sierra.

2017 Gmc Sierra Recalls

10 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Gmc Sierra. 10 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.

19V645000Jun 9, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

19V76100024/10/2019
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

16V651000Aug 9, 2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V487000Mar 8, 2017
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP

17V437000Oct 7, 2017
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V56700014/09/2017
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

19V32800025/04/2019
ENGINE

21V496000Jan 7, 2021
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

23V047000Feb 2, 2023
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

19V088000Jul 2, 2019
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Compare Gmc Sierra Model Years

Compare complaint and recall volume across years to see whether 2017 lands in a lower-risk or higher-risk part of the model timeline.

202620252024202220212020201920182017

2017 Gmc Sierra Buying FAQ

Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.

Is the 2017 Gmc Sierra reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 500 owner complaints, 25 crash-related complaints, and 10 recall campaigns for this model year. This GMC SIERRA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Gmc Sierra?β–Ύ

#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (165 complaints). #2: Brake System (158 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (74 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Gmc Sierra?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2017 Gmc Sierra?β–Ύ

Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2017 Gmc Sierra, NHTSA complaints include 25 crash-related reports and 7 fire reports out of 500 total complaints. 8 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2017 Gmc Sierra have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes. 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Gmc Sierra. A major recall area is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM. 10 recall campaigns are on record, so recall completion status should be confirmed on the exact VIN before purchase. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.

Should I buy a 2017 Gmc Sierra?β–Ύ

This GMC SIERRA year shows a meaningful number of reported issues, so buyers should only proceed after a careful records review and inspection. Model-year complaint trends can reveal recurring trouble spots before you spend money on inspections, financing, or repairs. Pay extra attention to Transmission / Drivetrain during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Gmc Sierra reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Owner Reliability Rating

Rate the 2017 Gmc Sierra based on your ownership experience.

Add your rating:

Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.

Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy

Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.