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GMC exterior lighting recalls: daytime running lights, brake lights and headlights
Two themes run through GMC's six exterior lighting recalls. The first is daytime running lights that fail to switch off when the headlights come on, a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 violation covering 2021 Yukon and Yukon XL and, in a second larger recall, 2022-2023 Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL alongside Cadillac and Buick models; both are fixed with body control module software. The second is brake and signal lights that mislead traffic: an accessory sport bar on the 2022 Sierra 1500 that blocks or disables the high-mounted brake light, and Whelen brake lights on 2017-2018 GMC G3500 ambulances that come on with no pedal pressed. Two newer trucks add hardware faults — the 2024 Canyon's flickering headlights and the 2024 Sierra EV's dim front turn signals.
Warning signs to watch for
- Daytime running lights that stay on after you switch the headlights on, creating glare for oncoming drivers.
- Headlights that flicker while you are driving and while the truck sits in park (2024 Canyon).
- Front turn signals that barely stand out from the parking lights when you signal a turn (2024 Sierra EV).
- A high-mounted brake light that does not light, or is hidden behind an accessory sport bar (2022 Sierra 1500).
- Brake lights illuminating when nobody has pressed the brake pedal (GMC G3500-based ambulances).
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the six lighting recalls tells owners to stop driving or park outside, and none affects steering, braking or engine performance. Across the daytime running light, headlight flicker and turn signal recalls, GM's position is that you can keep driving normally while you arrange the free repair. The risk in every case falls on how well other drivers see you, or how well you see at night, so drive with extra care: signal early in the Sierra EV, and expect drivers behind you to miss your braking if a sport bar covers the high-mounted lamp.
What the free repair involves
Every repair is free. The two daytime running light recalls are body control module software updates, delivered over the air or at a dealer. The hardware faults get parts: a new module inside the 2024 Canyon headlight, a headlamp multipurpose LED driver module on the Sierra EV, correct vehicle wiring after a sport bar inspection on the Sierra 1500, and Whelen-supplied replacement brake lights on the recalled ambulances.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| medium | 6 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-10 | GMC Sierra EV front turn signals hard to see | medium |
| 2024-09-12 | GMC Canyon headlights may flicker while driving | medium |
| 2022-12-08 | Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC: Daytime Running Lights Stay On | medium |
| 2022-11-03 | Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Escalade daytime running light glare | medium |
| 2022-06-30 | Silverado and Sierra sport bar blocks brake light | medium |
| 2019-05-03 | Ford and GMC ambulances: brake lights turn on by themselves | medium |
Common questions
Will the daytime running light fix reach my Yukon over the air?
GM delivers the body control module software update over the air on 2021 Yukon and Yukon XL, and either over the air or through a dealer in the 2022-2023 recall covering Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL. No parts are involved.
Is the sport bar the problem on my 2022 Sierra 1500, or the truck?
The accessory sport bar. Its own high-mounted brake light may not function, and it can also block the truck's existing high-mounted brake light. A dealer inspects how the bar was installed and provides the correct vehicle wiring if needed.
Can I just swap the bulb in my flickering 2024 Canyon headlight?
No. GM traced the flicker to a module inside the headlight, and dealers replace that module free of charge. A bulb change would not correct the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 noncompliance this recall covers.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.