2022 GMC Sierra 1500 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $35,000–$60,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 4 GMC Sierra 1500 years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The upscale Silverado — same platform, better interior. Same AFM lifter problem in the 5.3L. The 3.0L Duramax diesel is the sleeper choice: better mileage, better torque, no AFM drama.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 573 owner complaints for the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500, and 6 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 45% of them are about one thing — the engine. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
6 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the transmission and drivetrain (106 complaints), the body and structure (99 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Same GM AFM issue: cylinder deactivation system destroys the lifters over time. Ticking at startup is the tell.
Repair cost (estimate): $2,500-$5,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (260).
The turbo 4-cylinder uses direct injection — carbon buildup at 60-80k is inevitable.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$700
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (260).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗5.3L with engine tick at startup
- ✗No AFM disabler on a high-mileage 5.3L
- ✗MultiPro tailgate that won't latch properly
Good Signs
- ✓3.0L Duramax diesel — excellent reliability and mileage
- ✓6.2L with documented AFM disabler
- ✓Full service history with regular oil changes
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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