Showing the 2026 Sierra Elevation-L. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
15–25 mpgcombined; city 14–23, highway 16–28; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$16,240–$26,830U.S. average; Ohio $14,510–$25,280 at local prices; every version of this model year, electric versions apart; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026. Electric versions: $6,800–$7,190 at U.S. average electricity prices
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2026 Sierra. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Sierra. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
97
1
0
0
Power train
34
1
0
0
Electrical system
18
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
10
0
0
0
Unknown or other
10
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
7
0
0
0
Service brakes
5
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
5
0
0
0
Steering
4
0
0
0
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
10 more parts
Structure
2
0
0
0
Air bags
1
0
0
0
Communication
1
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2026 Sierra over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, GMC Sierra EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup vehicles. The high voltage battery may have an improperly secured internal module component.
Risk: A loose component may move and damage the high voltage battery, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262562600. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 30, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV vehicles. A manufacturing defect may result in the steel wheels cracking at the disc vent holes.
Risk: A cracked wheel may lead to disc separation and a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheels as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262556920. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 30, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV electric vehicles. After experiencing an electronic stability control (ESC) system malfunction, the ESC malfunction warning light may not illuminate on the next key cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: An indicator light that does not illuminate may fail to warn the driver of an ESC system issue, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The EBCM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 15, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252515340.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 290 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2026 Sierra, the latest on Oct 7, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: unknown or other (272), electrical system (7), fuel/propulsion system (4), engine (3), service brakes (2).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA26005 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2026 Sierra.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: standard pickup trucks. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Sierra Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Diesel
23 / 28 / 25
Sierra Rear-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 21 / 20
Sierra 4-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 20 / 18
Sierra Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 20 / 17
Sierra 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
15 / 19 / 17
Sierra 4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 19 / 16
Sierra 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 18 / 16
Sierra Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 18 / 16
Sierra 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 16 / 15
Sierra AT4X 4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 16 / 15
Sierra AT4X with Sport Mode 4-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Diesel
19 / 20 / 19
SIERRA EV Ext Range (11kW Charger) 4-Wheel Drive
255 and 256 kW ACPM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 410 miles of range
75 / 61 / 68 MPGe
SIERRA EV Ext Range (19kW Charger) 4-Wheel Drive
255 and 256 kW ACPM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 385 miles of range
69 / 59 / 64 MPGe
SIERRA EV Std Range (11kW Charger) 4-Wheel Drive
255 and 256 kW ACPM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 283 miles of range
74 / 60 / 67 MPGe
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires 4-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 17 / 17
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
15 / 19 / 17
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 17 / 16
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires 4-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 17 / 15
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires (Sport Mode) 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 18 / 16
Sierra Mud Terrain Tires with Sport Mode 4-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Diesel
21 / 24 / 23
Sierra with Sport Mode 4-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic 10-spd
Diesel
22 / 26 / 24
Sierra with Sport Mode Rear-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 21 / 19
Sierra with Sport Mode Rear-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 21 / 18
Sierra with Sport Mode 4-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 18 / 17
Sierra with Sport Mode 4-Wheel Drive
5.3 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 10-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 19 / 17
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data