GM received more than 1,200 complaints of the Sierra 1500’s upper grille bezel coming off.
When GMC updated the Sierra 1500 for 2022, it introduced a larger and more in-your-face grille than the latest-generation truck had when it made its initial debut in 2019. Fast forward a few years, though, and that design change created an apparent safety problem worthy of a large-scale recall covering 70,768 trucks: The chrome grille deflectors can detach unexpectedly while driving.
Specifically, the eight attachment points holding the upper grille bezel in place can break. GM tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the piece “may not adequately withstand expected loads” and may fracture over time. Drivers may notice the grille piece rattling before it actually comes loose, but if all eight attachment points fail, the molding can come off — potentially with damaging consequences.
Through December 27, 2024, the automaker says its identified 1,225 field complaints potentially related to the problem, as well as four allegations of accidents. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem there were any injuries from those crashes, but GM’s internal safety team decided to start a safety recall on January 30.
Before actually launching the recall, though, an employee submitted a report through GM’s “Speak Up for Safety” program. The company initially investigated the matter in late February 2024. However, it closed that investigation in late May, saying “no defect trend was identified”. Nevertheless, evidently after hundreds of additional field complaints rolled in, GM reopened its investigation on December 11, 2024 and determined over the following weeks there that there actually is a problem that needs addressing.
How is GMC addressing the problem?
GM’s safety recall N242490120 (also NHTSA recall number 25V-060) says only GMC Sierra 1500 trucks built after the 2022 “mid-cycle enhancement” are affected. Per documentation the automaker submitted to the safety agency, that includes trucks built between November 9, 2021 and September 29, 2022 with chrome grille deflectors. Trucks built either before or after those dates are not affected by the recall, at least at this point in time, nor are vehicles with non-chrome grille deflectors.
GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HD trucks have a different grille design with different component numbers, and also are not impacted by this recall.
Of the 70,768 trucks GM included in this campaign, it claims to the NHTSA that an estimated 3% (or about 2,100 trucks) actually have the mentioned defect.
The company says it is working on a remedy for this problem, so owners currently don’t have any recourse for a permanent solution. It notified dealers of the problem on February 6, and says notices will go out to owners at least informing them of the problem on March 24. In the interim letter, GM says it will provide an estimate as to when a remedy might be available, “once that is determined”. So, at this point it does not have a fix and does not have details on when it could take corrective action on this recall.
