NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 65 complaints against the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 has generated 390 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. GMC pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 90 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ENGINE FAILURE- CRANKSHAFT ENDPLAY WAY OUT OF SPECS. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? SPECIFIC ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED AT A GM DEALER- Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? GM DEALER ONLY-NO ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS PERFORMED. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER DISPLAYED, ONLY EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE. SYMPTONS BEGAN AROUND 6,900 MILES” (NHTSA Complaint #11721745)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 36 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “The truck keeps wanting to engage two gears acceleration and deceleration and still is happening i have taken it to the dealership an they can not find a problem took it home an its happening again so now its back at the shop now I’m waiting to hear back from them so this is the second time to the dealership” (NHTSA Complaint #11718159)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 24 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “This happens many times, at random intervals, and sometimes it does not happen at all, but I would say about 33% of the time, it happens. When you put the vehicle into reverse, the side mirrors will lower slightly, so that its easy to see the ground, or parking lines, etc. When you then go back to park or forward gear, the mirrors are supposed to go back to the position they were earlier. The original starting point. But that’s the problem, many times, they do not go back to the starting position and you must then push the preset buttons to make them go back to your desired view angle.” (NHTSA Complaint #11718238)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 12 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “I was driving and the engine abruptly stalled. The truck self-shifted to Neutral. Once stopped, I shifted to Park to attempt a restart. It would not crank. I was on a 2-lane road so I did not have a shoulder. Once I realized it would not restart I tried to shift to Neutral so I could push it to a subdivision road about 50 yards away only to find out my transmission has no ability to shift to Neutral (the dealer confirmed this later). So I was stuck on the road for hours just over the crest of a hill with people coming up on me and my family at 50mph. It was a windy 10 degrees so we could not wait on the side of the road where we would have been safer. This is how people get killed; being stopped where people can’t see you and do not expect you to be stopped. Why can I not get the truck off the road? If this happened on an 8-lane highway how would I get to a shoulder, even after traffic had stopped behind me? On top of all that, the problem with the truck ended up being an engine bearing failure (per the dealership service dept) that is a known problem with this engine and truck build date. General Motors needs to proactively diagnose and get these engines replaced before someone gets hurt. There is a TSB issued for the bearing issue but when I asked my dealer about it a month ago, before the failure, they acted like they knew nothing about it and told me to bring it in if I hear noises. If they had offered to check the crankshaft endplay when I asked about it ( as the TSB suggests), I may not have gotten stranded and my family’s safety put at risk. There were no warning lamps, and no strange noises before the engine seized. My fuel economy had decreased by about 20% in the last month but that may be from cold weather operating conditions. I have a separate electrical issue that I’ve been chasing down and I assumed this stall condition was related to that. But the dealer confirmed this was a bearing failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11715737)
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 has generated 12 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “If truck has a “dusting of snow” on it, blower motor for defrost and heat retracts to absolute “low” setting to supposedly protect the blower motor. H…”
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 by the NHTSA or GMC. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Rollx will work with Q’Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx’s customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2025 GMC Sierra 1500:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to GMC to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), GMC must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 qualifies as a lemon under California law, GMC may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give GMC a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized GMC dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), GMC pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send GMC a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), GMC is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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