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GMC Sierra 1500 vs Ram 1500: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2026, owners filed an average of 384 complaints per model year about the GMC Sierra 1500 and 796 about the Ram 1500.

Side by side

GMC Sierra 1500Ram 1500
Model years compared2009-20262009-2026
Owner complaints6,91611,933
Complaints per model year384796
Recalls5297
Years to avoid201420152019202120222014
Best years20122013201820202022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy17-20 mpg combined (2018)12-22 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2009 GMC Sierra 1500: 2342009 Ram 1500: 3720092010 GMC Sierra 1500: 1682011 GMC Sierra 1500: 28420112012 GMC Sierra 1500: 1072013 GMC Sierra 1500: 1162013 Ram 1500: 1,28320132014 GMC Sierra 1500: 7442014 Ram 1500: 1,7842015 GMC Sierra 1500: 7212015 Ram 1500: 1,46120152016 GMC Sierra 1500: 3442016 Ram 1500: 1,5652017 GMC Sierra 1500: 3572017 Ram 1500: 88620172018 GMC Sierra 1500: 3052018 Ram 1500: 6692019 GMC Sierra 1500: 6622019 Ram 1500: 1,50120192020 GMC Sierra 1500: 4842020 Ram 1500: 6452021 GMC Sierra 1500: 6032021 Ram 1500: 69020212022 GMC Sierra 1500: 6072022 Ram 1500: 6402023 GMC Sierra 1500: 5162023 Ram 1500: 20720232024 GMC Sierra 1500: 3842024 Ram 1500: 782025 GMC Sierra 1500: 1302025 Ram 1500: 38020252026 GMC Sierra 1500: 1502026 Ram 1500: 107
GMC Sierra 1500Ram 1500

Problems compared

Sierra 15001500
Engine2,2602,698
Transmission1,2841,464
Electrical9312,410
Brakes9161,296
Body507424
Steering5042,682
Fuel system2951,531

Questions about the GMC Sierra 1500 vs Ram 1500

Which is more reliable, the GMC Sierra 1500 or the Ram 1500?

Between 2009 and 2026, the GMC Sierra 1500 has 5 years to avoid and the Ram 1500 1. The Ram 1500 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the GMC Sierra 1500 drew fewer complaints per model year (384 vs 796), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the GMC Sierra 1500 or the Ram 1500?

From 2009 to 2026, the GMC Sierra 1500 was covered by 52 recalls and the Ram 1500 by 97.

What years of the GMC Sierra 1500 and Ram 1500 should you avoid?

GMC Sierra 1500: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2022. Ram 1500: 2014.

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