2017 GMC Sierra brake problems
127 of the 429 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Sierra name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database14 of the 127 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 20 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 8
Half of the 62 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 32,000 and 60,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
429 complaints in all about the 2017 GMC Sierra, 8 filed in 2025. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: GMC Sierra brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
October 2019 went to the dealership to have breaks worked on given recent recall about the mechanical vacuum pump output may decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Vehicle frequently exhibits loss of braking power. When this occurs, something sounding like the ABS systems is sometimes engaged by the vehicle and other times not. While GM claims braking performance meets federal standards, the braking power is greatly reduced when the hydraulic system is engaged and almost non-existent when neither…
First and most importantly my brakes are my main issue and safety problem. I nearly ran into the car in front of me at a busy intersection. My trucks brakes lose pressure after the first initial stop coming to any traffic lights, stop sign, slow traffic, parking lots etc... No matter how slow or fast the trucks movement is.
The past month as I push on the brakes driving on the road my steering wheel starts to shake as the brakes are being applied. Does not happen all the time has actually only happened 3 times in a month
While braking pedal feels like gurgling and at times complete loss of power assist making pedal very hard to depress all were in motion and intermittent making dealer diagnosis difficult and not yet able to replicate so dealer refuses to do work
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 19V645000 HighSep 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 GMC Sierra names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 GMC Sierra
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 145 complaints
- engine problems 67 complaints
- electrical problems 60 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2017 GMC Sierra?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 127 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (30% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the brakes on the 2017 GMC Sierra?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 19V645000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2017 GMC Sierra?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 45,000 miles; half of them between 32,000 and 60,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.