2015 GMC SIERRA 2500 Electrical System Problems

Electric trailer brake control modular is malfunctioning on my 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500. Multiple of sources told me this is a common problem with this generation of GMC.

Water intrusion from antenna ran down into my wires causing corrosion in my electrical harness. Truck will throw code p2138 and go into reduced power mode. Very dangerous when you are in traffic. Truck will not go over 15mph when this happens. This has been a problem intermittently since I have owned the truck at 119000 miles . Gotten progressively worse.

I was driving down the road after turning on the rear window defrost. The cab of the truck filled with smoke billowing from the back seat. I pulled over and turned the truck off. I got into the back seat to try to identify what was on fire, and noticed the lines of the rear window defrost system were actually smoldering. Then one of the rear windshield panels exploded in my face. Upon reading online, it looks like a recall was issued for this same problem in Canada but not the USA.

I turned on my rear defroster. I smelled electrical burning and rear window shattered with my 6 month old in the back seat in her car seat. GM states there is a recall which can be referenced as N192220470. Speaking with customer service and dealership the recall is VIN specific and my vehicle is not included in the recall even though the year and make is listed in the recall. Very dangerous, especially when there are passengers in the back seat of the vehicle

At various intervals, all four door lock actuators have failed. first rear door failures occurred in July 2020. Front door lock actuators began failing Spring of 2021. Rear lock actuators were repaired at a contested (I was charged for 3 hours labor when truck was on site for two) cost of $801.86.

The display of the intellink system acts erratic and eventually freezes up. It happens in all modes ( map, radio, phone, ….). The only way to reset is shut the truck off. GMC knows of the problem but their only solution is replace the radio and or replace the touch panel. This can be a safety issue but I take my eyes off the road to try and get the display to work.

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER OR REMOTE STARTING THE VEHICLE. IN JAN OF 2020, THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENT (N192265660). I HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED ON 6/18/20 (SEE ATTACHED WORK ORDER). ON 02/11/21 I WAS RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. ON 02/13/21 I REMOTE STARTED THE VEHICLE TO LET IT WARM UP (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY). UPON ENTRY OF THE INTO THE VEHICLE I SMELLED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURNING WIRES. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE GLASS ON THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED (SEE PICTURES). I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING AS EXPECTED FOLLOWING A REMOTE START. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE REAR DEFROSTER OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR YEARS I RAN THIS DEFROSTER WITH NO ISSUE. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO PREVENT ANY THERMAL EVENT FROM OCCURRING. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY, OR THE RECALL FIX CREATED A NEW THERMAL EVENT. THE BURNING WIRES AND SHATTERING GLASS WERE A FEW OF THE INDICATORS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I PLAN TO CONTACT GM FOR A WAY AHEAD.

Mileage: 115,000

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER OR REMOTE STARTING THE VEHICLE. IN JAN OF 2020, THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENT (N192265660). I HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED ON 6/18/20 (SEE ATTACHED WORK ORDER). ON 02/11/21 I WAS RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. ON 02/13/21 I REMOTE STARTED THE VEHICLE TO LET IT WARM UP (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY). UPON ENTRY OF THE INTO THE VEHICLE I SMELLED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURNING WIRES. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE GLASS ON THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED (SEE PICTURES). I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING AS EXPECTED FOLLOWING A REMOTE START. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE REAR DEFROSTER OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR YEARS I RAN THIS DEFROSTER WITH NO ISSUE. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO PREVENT ANY THERMAL EVENT FROM OCCURRING. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY, OR THE RECALL FIX CREATED A NEW THERMAL EVENT. THE BURNING WIRES AND SHATTERING GLASS WERE A FEW OF THE INDICATORS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I PLAN TO CONTACT GM FOR A WAY AHEAD.

Mileage: 115,000

ON 5/12/19 THE CHECK BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, SO I LEFT OUT SIDE FACING STREET IN CASE I HAD TO JUMP TO TAKE TO DEALER ON MONDAY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE AND 1/2 HOUR LATER HEARD AND EXPLOSION AND WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE.

Mileage: 60,194

WATER STEADILY DRIPPING THROUGH THE SUN VISOR BAR THAT MOUNTS TO INTERIOR OF ROOF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN RAINING/SNOWING TODAY. DOES NOT MATTER IF YOUR DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. ELECTRICAL WIRES RUN THROUGH THIS BAR POSING A FIRE HAZARD. GM REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE.

Mileage: 97,149