GMC Sierra 2500 fire or smoke problems

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Brakes · 201,000 miles · IL · fire

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal, however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, coasted into a ditch, and went into a field before coming to a stop. After the vehicle came to a stop, the contact became aware that there was a fire behind every wheel, and the flames had spread to the grass. The fire was self-extinguished. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V758000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); as the possible cause of the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred in 2023. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The failure mileage was 201,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · 40,832 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle lost brake and power steering functionality, and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that power steering fluid was leaking onto the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the power steering pump had seized, the belt and hoses had failed, and the parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,832.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Electrical · 9,000 miles · TX · fire

The contact called on behalf of an insurer who owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that 15 minutes after the vehicle was parked and turned off, a neighbor informed the owner that the vehicle had caught on fire. The owner and the neighbor extinguished the fire using water hoses. The contact stated that the fire originated under the rear passenger’s side seat and was caused by an overheating amplifier that had short-circuited. No warning light was illuminated. The Fire Department responded to the scene and filed a report. There was no Police report filed. There was no injury or property damage. The vehicle remained parked, and the owner intended to return the vehicle to the dealer. The owner was provided a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · ME · fire

On 07/10/2026 at approximately 1:10 a.m., the parked and unoccupied vehicle caught fire while turned off. The vehicle had not been driven for several hours. A neighbor was awakened by the horn/alarm and popping noises, observed fire near the passenger-side cab/engine area, and called 911. The fire rapidly spread throughout the cab, engine compartment, rocker-panel areas, wheel wells, and truck bed, creating an explosion hazard and threatening a nearby occupied residence and garage. The fire department extinguished the blaze, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. Before the fire, the vehicle had experienced recurring coolant warnings, a DEF-system warning, and delayed starting associated with the main battery. No smoke, fuel odor, intentional ignition source, charging device, or known external fire source was present before the incident. Weather was calm. The exact failed component and cause remain UNKNOWN. A firefighter stated that the apparent fire origin was near the passenger side of the vehicle. The remains are available for inspection, subject to coordination with the vehicle owner and insurer. The incident has been reported to the fire department, insurer, manufacturer, and the federal safety agency.

Filed May 8, 2026 · Electrical · WV

During normal use, the factory wireless phone charging pad in the center console overheated, produced visible smoke inside the cabin, and melted the charging surface area. No liquids or foreign metal objects were present. The phone was placed normally on the charging pad. The incident created a burning smell and visible damage to the interior trim. The system did not shut down before damage occurred. This appears to be a potential electrical or thermal safety failure in the factory-installed wireless charging system.

Filed Mar 5, 2026 · Brakes, Steering · CT

On highway taking an exit. The brake pedal sank and did not engage at normal pressure, I had to push the brake all the way down for it to engage. Concurrently the steering wheel locked up where I could not turn the wheel at all. I drove straight through the exit ramp to the entrance ramp, luckily no one was entering the highway at the same time. I very well could have hurt some one else or myself. The steering wheel finally engaged where I had full power steering again and I was able to remove my truck off the highway and cautiously drove to a parking lot to get it towed. I have not tried to drive sense incident as it is at the dealer for service. The GMC Dealer has not inspected the vehicle yet, they are backed up with other services. There were no warning lamps at the time nor before the incident. Symptons see bellow. I have had issues with the brakes and it has been to the dealer 4 times including this incident, Service issue #1 at 21,501 miles -Breaks were pulsating, squealing and rough and it was shaking the steering column - The smell of burning breaks was present after drives -Solution they sanded down the hot spots on both rotors and pads for the front brakes Temporarily fixed the breaking and steering column shaking ( it did not solve the burning break smell problem. Service issue #2 at 28,142 miles Breaks were pulsating, squeaking, and steering column shaking - The smell of burning breaks was still present after drives. solution new front brake pads and rotors. Service issue #3 at 39,893 miles Rear brakes locked up while taking a turn on to a street Breaks were pulsating Squeaking and steering column shaking Smell of burning breaks is still present after drives solution machine front brake rotors. could not reproduce brake locking issue Final issue as mentioned above #4 @43,426 miles I cant help but think the constant break issues were warning signs.

Filed Jul 19, 2025 · Body, Electrical · KY · fire

I was driving my 2022 GMC 2500 HD (not towing, just normal drive) after an oil change <900 miles ago and new brakes/rotors 3 days prior <100 miles (total mileage 81,000, serviced exclusively at GMC dealership) when the loss of power alert flashed on the screen. I was 2 miles from my destination, going approx 55mph, so I kept driving to destination, when the vehicle stalled in driveway. As I was scrolling through menus to see the alert I looked up and smoke and flames were coming out of the engine. I attempted to extinguish with a fire extinguisher I had with me, but it was no use. The entire engine was engulfed, melting out, tires and windshield exploded from heat etc. Total loss. Vehicle was inspected by insurance co fire investigator, no origin confirmed due to extent of damage. Vehicle was offered to GMC for their inspection as it was partially under OEM warranty and I had an extended warranty from dealership, which I also notified. Extended would not do anything without the vehicle at GMC and diagnosis, which again, there is no engine etc so not repairable. GMC was to be in contact with insurance co. No status update received.

Filed Jun 29, 2024 · Electrical · PA · fire

Vehicle was last driven on June 23 2024 and parked in my driveway. On the evening of June 29 2024 my horn was blowing in my truck at around 10:30. While I was walking out to the vehicle it was in flames. The fire started from what I understand on the driver’s side behind the dash. Luckily no one was in the vehicle when it happened.

Filed Mar 20, 2024 · Electrical · NV · fire

[XXX]: After arriving home and parking in my driveway (plugged in the block heater that came installed from the factory), approximately 35 minutes later my neighbor rang the doorbell. She was yelling that my truck was on fire! The flames were starting to hit my eaves on my house. I put the fire out with my hose. The Sparks Fire Department had to pry open my hood to disconnect the batteries in order to stop the truck from lighting back on fire. The vehicle has been inspected by General Motors and turned over to their insurance. My insurance has also inspected the vehicle and stated they believe that the wiring to the block heater was faulty. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem. This truck has 19,000 miles and is 1.5 years old (2022). How could this be turned over to GM's insurance and not under warranty? I have not had my truck for over 2 months now. I wonder how many of these trucks are lighting on fire? The truck is currently at the local dealership and is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 9, 2023 · Engine · MS · fire

On December 29, 2022 I stopped at the bank for 2 minute and when I got back to my truck I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I immediately called 911 and luckily some nice people were able to get my hood up safely and the bank provided a fire extinguisher before the fire trucks arrived. It was engulfed in flames. The fireman said it appeared the fire started in the wiring at the engine. I had a recall fixed a while back for the engine block heater so I was worried maybe they didn’t repair the recall. A week after the fire I received a 2nd recall in the mail for the same recall. Today is July 9th and my truck is still in the shop waiting on parts that have been on back order this whole time. GMC told my insurance company they were sending someone down to look at it. Never heard anything back. This could have been so bad had I been driving it when the fire started. So here I am going on 7 months without my truck all while paying $942/month. I just want something to be done to speed up the repairs that my insurance has paid. Estimate is $22,000