GMC Sierra 1500 vs Ram 1500
Pickup truck · 2015–2025 · 12,176 federal complaints
GMC Sierra 1500
4,393 complaints · 7 engines
Most-complained engine: L87 · 6.2L V8
Full breakdown for GMC Sierra 1500 →
At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| GMC Sierra 1500 | Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $28,455 | $26,795 |
| Most common engine | L87 · 6.2L V8 | 5.7L V8 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Fuel economy | 18 MPG | 19 MPG |
| Running cost | $3,600/yr | $3,450/yr |
| Low emissions | 507 g/mi | 465 g/mi |
| Displacement | 5.3 L | 3.6 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2023) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 19.8% | 19.8% |
| Engines with enough data | 7 | 3 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Pickup truck, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
GMC Sierra 1500
Ram 1500
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
GMC Sierra 1500
- L87 · 6.2L V8Naturally aspirated1,461
- L83 · 5.3L V8Naturally aspirated1,143
- L84 · 5.3L V8Naturally aspirated775
- LM2 · 3.0L I6Turbo324
- L86 · 6.2L V8Naturally aspirated284
- LZ0 · 3.0L V6Turbo199
- L3B · 2.7L I4Turbo111
Ram 1500
- 5.7L V8Naturally aspirated5,203
- 3.0L V6Turbo1,713
- 3.6L V6Naturally aspirated817
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
GMC Sierra 1500
- Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
Ram 1500
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder (stop driving, 2021–2021) 21V037000
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.