General Motors describes the Sierra as “the most dependable full-size truck.” But the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 got off to a bad start because of supply-chain shortages. No sooner had GM advertised the new 2023 model on its website than it had to apologize that certain features had limited, late, or no availability. But that doesn’t excuse any of the malfunctions involving the electrical system, engine, or fuel-related problems owners are complaining about.
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Most Common Problems with the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
The electrical system, engine, and problems relating to fuel top the issues that 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 owners are complaining to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about. But other affected components include the seat belts and structure, as well as lane departure and vehicle speed control.
While there are no complaints about exterior lighting at this stage, there is a recall that was announced in December 2022. It affects as many as 740,108 General Motors (GM) vehicles including the 2022-2023 Sierra 1500.
The problem is that the daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate as they should when the headlights are on. This can result in a glare that reduces visibility and increases the risk of a crash. The remedy is a software update.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Electrical System
10
10
Unknown Or Other
8
8
Structure:body
7
7
Engine
4
4
Service Brakes
4
4
Exterior Lighting
3
3
Steering
3
3
Fuel/propulsion System
2
2
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
2
2
Power Train
2
2
Problems with the Engine
Engine problems are varied, ranging from inadvertent deceleration to bad programming. There is also a detailed report on the Duramax Forum of the engine of a 2023 Sierra 1500 Elevation 3.0 Duramax failing on the fourth day of ownership.
NHTSA Complaints about Engine Issues
While driving at about 60 mph, the owner of a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 with about 5,000 miles, reports that “the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to approximately 30 mph and went into limp mode.”
Designed as a security feature, limp mode activates when the vehicle detects a fault. Triggered by abnormal signals from the car’s components, including faulty sensors, transmission issues, or low fluid levels, it reduces speed and switches off non-essential functions.
When it happened to this 2023 Sierra 2023, “the check engine warning light, the service power steering warning light, the service transmission warning light, the low tire pressure warning light, and the traction control warning light were (all) illuminated.” There were also messages displayed on the instrument panel to “Service 4-WD” and “Reduce Acceleration – Drive with Care.” And the climate control system increased to 76 degrees. The dealer was able to produce several codes (P00FF, P1789, P25A2, U0073, U0402, U0418, U1610, U1643), but wasn’t able to duplicate the failure.
The owner of a much newer 2023 GMC Sierra 3.0 Duramax experienced the check engine light at just 600 miles. The code reader displayed a P0402, and the truck had a very strong fume odor. The truck was serviced twice and GM engineering did several tests. They “concluded that the truck needs to be reprogrammed.” But, the owner asks, “If the program is bad, why release the product to the public?”
Based on forum conversations, he has also concluded that “this issue is present on almost all LZ0 GMC trucks.”
Discussion about Vehicle System Failure
In February 2023, the owner of a 2023 Sierra 1500 Elevation 3.0 Duramax described how the truck went into a low speed mode while driving down the interstate. Then the check engine light went on and he couldn’t go faster than 45 mph. He pulled off and it “started flashing every system failure the truck could possibly have. The defrost kept kicking to max high, even after I turned it off. Eventually the whole system was not sending signals for temp gauges and total miles.
“Everything kept beeping and flashing, even after turning the truck off. I unplugged the main fuse and that finally shut everything down. But as soon as I started it back up, it kept flashing all the failures, and put the truck back into low speed mode.”
He called for a tow and it was at the dealer when he started the forum discussion. He had only had the vehicle for four days and it had only 650 miles on the clock.
The conversation switched to the problem of supply chain issues following Covid. But, clearly GM isn’t the only victim, as the discussion starter says.
“I understand things malfunction unexpectedly, but to not have a replacement part ready is not acceptable to me. They’ve had 3 years to figure out supply chain issues.” Even at that stage, he said he believed “it’s more cost effective for GM to just buy back the vehicle, and give me a new one.”
Fast-forward to June 2023. GM eventually accepted a Lemon Law vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) swap. This gave him a brand new truck of equal value or one of greater value if he paid the difference. It didn’t happen instantly, and there were other problems. But eventually he got a new truck.
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Problems with the Electrical System
The electrical system affects so many elements of a vehicle, it needs to be 100% at all times. But owners of 2023 Sierra 1500 vehicles are finding that their electrical systems aren’t always performing as they should.
Battery Issues
The Michigan owner of a 2023 GMC Sierra Denali purchased in January 2023 discovered six months later that the battery had zero charge. The Sierra 1500 had only 3,800 when the electrical system became “completely inoperable” and the doors wouldn’t open and the engine wouldn’t turn on.
Infotainment System
The owner of Sierra 1500 from Arizona reported in a February 2023 complaint to the NHTSA that the “infotainment system loses all audio through the speakers intermittently.” This results in a loss of safety warning chimes too. The complaint states that “shutting off the vehicle for an extended period of time resets something and it resumes normal function.” Even though everything else on the touch screen seemed to be working as it should, the owner was very worried.
The vehicle had 800 miles and was only one month old, and the fault had recurred four times. “I feel this is a safety concern as I travel with my 13-month-old daily.” After speaking to three different GM representatives and asking for the case to be escalated, she was told it could take four days for a response. At the time of the complaint, she was still waiting.
Bose Radio Problems
Although filed as an unknown or other problem, this one is likely to have something to do with the electrical system. The complaint states that Bose radio randomly goes to maximum volume and they aren’t able to turn it off. “This has happened twice and nearly caused wrecks each time trying to get out of traffic to turn the vehicle off.”
Fuel Related Problems
A complaint lodged with the NHTSA by an owner of a 2023 Sierra 1500 in Nebraska details fuel/propulsion system issues. It states that “the fuel in the tank is splashing around and makes (a) bump sound when you come to a stop.” It goes on to say that it “is worse when the fuel tank is full and goes away the lower the tank gets.”
The complaint draws attention to a GMC service bulletin PIT5161J that states this is “considered a normal characteristic.” But the complaint states, “This is not normal. I have never had any vehicle I have owned have a fuel tank noise let alone have felt a bump that you can feel in the seat. There is obviously something manufactured wrong and needs to be addressed.”
Another complaint that is listed as unknown or other, also relates to fuel. It states that the owner sent his vehicle to a dealer ”to have my fluids topped off upon receipt of my truck.” But, the next day the truck broke down. “I sent my truck back to the dealer where they said Def (diesel exhaust fluid) was placed into the diesel tank by me, which was a lie.”
Nevertheless, the owner filed an insurance claim and the insurance company paid to have everything fixed. But shortly after getting the vehicle back, there were new problems. “I was traveling (on) the interstate and my speed was cut back to 15 miles per hour per the truck’s computer, which almost caused my vehicle to be rear ended.” At this stage, the owner recognized that the codes were “telling me” there was an injection system default, which the dealership “was supposed to have fixed.”
There is no information in the complaint about the outcome of the issue.
What to do if your 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 is a Lemon?
Any vehicle that has recurring problems that affect its use or value may be deemed to be a lemon. But it can be difficult to assess without an experienced lemon lawyer to help you.
This is why Lemberg Law offers to evaluate potential lemon law owners’ issues free of charge. We are an experienced lemon law firm and we have helped many clients negotiate settlement deals with automakers.
So, if you think you’ve got a lemon and want us to help you, fill in our contact form or call our Helpline and we will assess your problems free of charge. It won’t cost you a cent because the law says GMC must pay the legal fees of lemon law cases.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions.
He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
