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2008 GMC Sierra problems

The most common problem on the 2008 GMC Sierra is airbags, typically around 69,000 miles. It has 1.2 times the complaints of a typical Sierra model year.

Typical year1.2x the typical complaints
Year score
70/100
Owner complaints
68
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
320
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
15-17mpg

The worst 2008 GMC Sierra problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 GMC Sierra

Door locks 11

Recalls 2

Electrical systemReported June 4, 2010 · 1,365,070 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet traverse vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (hwfs). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the hwfs fluid chamber.
Risk
It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Remedy
Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on june 11, 2010. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

Recall number 10V240000 · Recall details

Electrical systemReported August 28, 2008 · 857,735 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
Risk
This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080; cadillac at 1‑800‑982‑2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9436; or hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493; or through their website at http://www.gmownercenter.com .

Recall number 08V441000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 2008 GMC Sierra

Defect investigations

Non-crash engine compartment firesOpened June 12, 2008, closed September 8, 2008

In a letter dated august 27, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) notified the federal safety agency that it will conduct a safety recall (the federal safety agency recall number 08v‑441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population. According to gm, a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the windshield washer fluid heater module may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor or cause smoke and in rare cases it may cause a fire.as a remedy, gm dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse. In addition to the subject vehicles, several other gm models with the heated windshield washer fluid option are included in recall 08v‑441: my 2006-2008 buick lucerne (manufactured august 2005 through november 2007); my 2008 buick enclave (manufactured february 2007 through april 2007); my 2006-2008 cadillac dts (manufactured may 2007 through november 2007); my 2007-2008 saturn outlook (manufactured august 2006 through april 2007); and my 2007-2008 gmc acadia (manufactured august 2006 through april 2007) vehicles.gm is instructing owners to take their vehicle to a dealer for service if they experience symptoms of windshield washer heater module short circuits. Gm's recall resolves the safety defect concerns pursued by this investigation.this engineering analysis is closed.

EA08010

Non-crash engine compartment firesOpened February 4, 2008, closed June 12, 2008

In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation(odi) during preliminary evaluation pe08-010, gm provided odi with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires originating with the ignition in the off position.one of the fires was determined to be caused by an arson event.odi has also received 5 reports, 4 of which are of duplicative of reports provided by gm, alleging non-crash engine compartment fires in the subject vehicles.in total, odi is aware of 41 non-crashengine compartment fires in the subject vehicles that are unrelated to arson.eight of the 41 fire allegations also allege property damage as a result of the fires.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea08-010) to further assess the scope, frequency, origin and cause of the alleged non-crash related engine compartment fires in the subject vehicles.

PE08010

Technical service bulletins for the 2008 GMC Sierra 320

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 320 bulletins for the 2008 GMC Sierra

2008 GMC Sierra fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
4.3L 6‑cylRWD152017
5.3L 8‑cylRWD152017
4.8L 8‑cylRWD141916
4.8L 8‑cyl4WD141816
5.3L 8‑cyl4WD141916
6.0L 8‑cylRWD131815
6.2L 8‑cylRWD121915
4.3L 6‑cyl4WD141815

What 2008 GMC Sierra owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 22, 2021 · Airbags · MI

2008 gmc sierra. Consumer writes in regards to takata airbag safety recall.

Filed Jun 22, 2021 · Airbags · 159,398 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 21V052000 (Air bags) The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall was serviced; but, a week later the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,398.

Filed Apr 21, 2016 · Airbags · FL

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v324000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 15, 2016 · Body · 104,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the dashboard cracked on the passenger side of the vehicle and expanded to a gaping hole. It was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2016 · Electrical · 99,550 miles · NY

Purchased my 2008 gmc sierra truck in november 2015 after having for only 5 months driver side door lock will only lock or unlock sometime, making it unsafe if you needed to exit quickly due to accident or fire. Seen many other post about same problem. Should be a recall on this.

Filed Apr 6, 2016 · Airbags · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v324000 (air bags) was received in june of 2015. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Mar 28, 2016 · Electrical · AL

Door locks don't work.

Filed Mar 9, 2016 · Airbags · GA

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v324000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Mar 1, 2016 · Airbags · ID

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc sierra. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v324000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Body · 36,900 miles · SC

The dashboard is cracking above the instrument panel to the right of the airbag assembly. The truck is rarely driven, and has just passed 30,000 miles. The crack appeared while the truck sat in a stationary position in an enclosed garage.

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Questions about the 2008 GMC Sierra

Is the 2008 GMC Sierra reliable?

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the 2008 GMC Sierra, 1.2 times a typical Sierra model year.

What is the 2008 GMC Sierra year score?

The 2008 GMC Sierra scores 70 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the GMC Sierra: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 GMC Sierra?

Airbags, with 29 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles. Next is electrical (15).

How many recalls does the 2008 GMC Sierra have?

2 recalls, covering electrical system.

What year does the GMC Sierra have bad airbags?

The GMC Sierra model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (29 complaints), 2000 (17 complaints) and 1996 (16 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2008 GMC Sierra get?

Official estimates for the 2008 GMC Sierra range from 15 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 15 city and 20 highway.

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