NHTSA Probes 535,639 GMC Sierra 1500s Over Grille Trim Flying Off

NHTSA has opened a recall query into 535,639 2022–2024 GMC Sierra 1500 pickups after 118 owner complaints that the upper grille deflector came off while driving, according to the agency’s October 9, 2026 opening resume for RQ26003. Twenty-one of those complaints say the trim let go after the truck had already been fixed under GM’s 2025 recall, 25V-060. That recall only covered 2022 Sierras with a chrome deflector. NHTSA now wants to know whether GM drew the line too tight and whether the fix holds.

This isn’t a recall yet. There’s nothing new to book at the dealer today unless your truck is already in 25V-060. But if the grille on your Sierra has started to rattle, don’t ignore it.

Sources

• NHTSA ODI opening resume, RQ26003 (opened October 9, 2026): 2022–2024 GMC Sierra 1500, estimated population 535,639, 118 complaints, 21 after the recall repair, no crashes or injuries listed
• NHTSA investigation record RQ26003: subject “Upper Grille Deflector Detachment,” component listed as structure
• GM Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V-060: original 70,768-truck scope, build dates, eight attachment points, rattle warning, supplier, remedy
• NHTSA recall record 25V-060: remedy summary, GM recall N242490120, GMC customer service number
• GM Authority (October 12, 2026): report on the new investigation

TruckDaily take

Who this is for. Anyone who owns a 2022, 2023 or 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, and anyone shopping one used. That’s the truck from GM’s 2022 mid-cycle refresh onward, and a used one is exactly what this query is about.

Who should skip. Silverado owners. This query names the Sierra 1500 only. Sierra HD owners too; GM’s 2025 filing says the 2500 and 3500 use a different grille design. And it doesn’t list 2025 or newer Sierra 1500s.

What we’d do. Run the VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup to see if 25V-060 is open on your truck, and get it done if it is. Then go stand in front of the truck and push on the grille trim. GM’s own filing says a deflector that’s working loose may rattle before it separates. If yours moves or buzzes at highway speed, take it in and get it on the dealer’s record, then file a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are what prompted this query, and every new one gives NHTSA more to weigh.

Investigation at a glance

What the 2025 recall covered

GM filed 25V-060 on February 6, 2025 for 70,768 2022 Sierra 1500s with chrome grille deflectors built after the 2022 mid-cycle refresh, with production dates of November 9, 2021 through September 29, 2022. GM estimated 3% of those trucks had the defect. Sierras built before the refresh, trucks with non-chrome deflectors, and the 2500 and 3500 were left out.

The filing spells out the failure. The upper deflector is held on at eight attachment points. One or more can crack over time, and if all eight break, the piece can come off at speed. GM traced it to deflectors from a supplier’s suspect manufacturing window that “may not adequately withstand expected loads,” and named the supplier as Minth Tennessee International. GM said trucks built after the 2022 model year got parts from outside that window, which is why 2023 and 2024 trucks weren’t included.

The fix was for dealers to reinforce or repair all of the attachment points on the chrome deflector, free. Owner letters went out in March 2025. GM’s chronology also notes 1,225 field complaints it had logged through December 2024, including four that alleged a related accident.

What NHTSA is questioning now

Two things. Scope: the complaints NHTSA has in hand cover 2022 trucks without the chrome piece and 2023–2024 trucks, none of which were in the recall. And the remedy: 21 owners say the deflector came off after the dealer had already done the 25V-060 repair.

A recall query is how NHTSA reviews whether an existing recall went far enough. It can lead to GM expanding the recall or changing the fix, or NHTSA can close it with no further action. Nothing has been decided yet, and GM hadn’t announced an expanded recall when NHTSA opened the query.

Other recent GM truck recalls

Sierra and Silverado owners have had a busy fall. Our GM 26V611 roof-rail airbag recall story covers the older 2016–2017 trucks. If you’re cross-shopping a used 2022–2024 Sierra against a new one, our 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 pricing breakdown has the new-truck numbers.

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