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Common High Mileage Problems?

tjonesdfw
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tjonesdfw Enthusiast

tjonesdfw

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I'm approaching 100,000 miles on my '21 with a 5.3, and despite all the electrical gremlins, ball joints/lower control arms that only lasted 65K miles, and a bad radiator.... the motor and transmission are still going strong.  What are the common issues other than transmission and lifters people are seeing around 100K and up?  Do wheel bearings and seals start failing, are the screens in the dash going to self destruct after so many years, etc.?  Contemplating whether its worth keeping the devil I do know vs a devil I don't, especially considering the '27s are still not out.  Ideally I'd usually wait a year or two after a re-design to purchase.  Are there preventative maintenance procedures like replacing the torque converter, rebuilding the 10 speed, hoses, seals, bearings, and or a true DOD delete that would buy me another year or two of reliability with this heap?   Driving 15-20K miles a year at the moment and need it to be as reliable as possible.  I see some guys with over 150,000 doing just fine, and others have had transmissions and lifters go within months of getting to 100,000.  

GMCustomerService Senior Enthusiast

GMCustomerService

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Reaching 100,000 miles on your vehicle is impressive, and we understand wanting to find ways to continue your journey for many miles to come. In this shared effort, our team wants to offer our assistance in partnership with your dealership to address any concerns you are currently facing or future inquires you may run into. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team by filling out our support form (https://s.gmc.com/support-request) should you need or want our help in ensuring your GMC ownership is as seamless as possible. 

tjonesdfw Enthusiast

tjonesdfw

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On 6/1/2026 at 1:50 PM, GMCustomerService said:

Reaching 100,000 miles on your vehicle is impressive, and we understand wanting to find ways to continue your journey for many miles to come. In this shared effort, our team wants to offer our assistance in partnership with your dealership to address any concerns you are currently facing or future inquires you may run into. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team by filling out our support form (https://s.gmc.com/support-request) should you need or want our help in ensuring your GMC ownership is as seamless as possible. 

I am just trying to ascertain what common issues creep up over 100,000 miles on this generation of truck.  I don't need any dealer help, and I'm well aware that some people don't consider 100,000 miles to be "high mileage," and I'm also aware that older generations of trucks had less major issues over 100,000 miles.  The GM maintenance guide only goes to 150,000 miles and only references basic maintenance, not proactive replacement of things like gaskets, seals, bearings, etc.  In my limited experience, I know multiple people who have lost transmissions and lifters shortly after 100,000 miles, so I was hoping I might get a consensus here from a larger sample of people.  When driving nearly 20,000 miles a year, often in very remote areas, I personally prefer to be proactive.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

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16 minutes ago, tjonesdfw said:

I am just trying to ascertain what common issues creep up over 100,000 miles on this generation of truck.  I don't need any dealer help, and I'm well aware that some people don't consider 100,000 miles to be "high mileage," and I'm also aware that older generations of trucks had less major issues over 100,000 miles.  The GM maintenance guide only goes to 150,000 miles and only references basic maintenance, not proactive replacement of things like gaskets, seals, bearings, etc.  In my limited experience, I know multiple people who have lost transmissions and lifters shortly after 100,000 miles, so I was hoping I might get a consensus here from a larger sample of people.  When driving nearly 20,000 miles a year, often in very remote areas, I personally prefer to be proactive.

When I’m looking at used vehicles. A fairly new phenomenon for me. I look at the average reliability on the internet. All vehicles hit a milestone at 100K. Look at a carfax type of maintenance record. I only cruise dealers on the net that provide that. I’m always looking at my next minivan. Honda has the highest 100K maintenance because of the timing belt. My next one is going to be 2022 or newer. Probably just after the 100K mark with all maintenance done. If you’re looking for a used truck in a 1/2 ton. I would go with a Nissan or the V-8 Tundra. A midsize a Toyota, Nissan or Ridgeline for reliability. 2008 would be my cut off on GM only with the 4.8. 5.3 only without the Cylinder Deactivation. But even with those they have issues years. Hit the net for the reliable years.

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Atlas Senior Enthusiast

Atlas

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If you're driving in remote areas, suspension issues would be forefront on my mind.

 

Preventative maintenance would be things like doing wiggle-checks on joints and replacing if there's noticeable wear. If your ball joints only lasted 65k on the first round, are you monitoring them again now that you're over 100k?

 

Driveshaft u-joints are also suspect if the truck sees hard use. 

 

Tie rod/ends.

 

Front CV joints

 

Engine accessories like idler/tensioner pulleys, alternator, and battery, if it hasn't already been replaced.

 

Have you gone through your owner's manual maintenance checklist, and can you definitively check off all the things even if they seem minor?

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tjonesdfw Enthusiast

tjonesdfw

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43 minutes ago, Atlas said:

If you're driving in remote areas, suspension issues would be forefront on my mind.

 

Preventative maintenance would be things like doing wiggle-checks on joints and replacing if there's noticeable wear. If your ball joints only lasted 65k on the first round, are you monitoring them again now that you're over 100k?

 

Driveshaft u-joints are also suspect if the truck sees hard use. 

 

Tie rod/ends.

 

Front CV joints

 

Engine accessories like idler/tensioner pulleys, alternator, and battery, if it hasn't already been replaced.

 

Have you gone through your owner's manual maintenance checklist, and can you definitively check off all the things even if they seem minor?

Definitely monitoring the suspension.  Was surprised a pavement pounder Denali with stock tires ate lower ball joints at 65K.  The rear leaf spring isolator pads have also all been replaced TWICE!.  Questioning wheel bearings, input output seals, coolant and oil hoses, and how long the electric adaptive ride control shocks will hang in there... already investigating the kits that eliminate those so I can use regular shocks without triggering a warning light.

 

U-joints are on the monitor list as I already would have replaced them on an older truck.  

 

I think oner front CV is starting to make some minor noise, so that's the next repair.

 

Just did the serpentine belt again when replacing a leaking radiator, and everything on the accessory drive looked good, but I wonder how much longer the water pump and other items will last.  Battery gets replaced every 2.5 years regardless of how it tests.  

 

Otherwise everything in the severe maintenance schedule has been done religiously, along with a TON of other warranty repairs.

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tjonesdfw Enthusiast

tjonesdfw

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1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

When I’m looking at used vehicles. A fairly new phenomenon for me. I look at the average reliability on the internet. All vehicles hit a milestone at 100K. Look at a carfax type of maintenance record. I only cruise dealers on the net that provide that. I’m always looking at my next minivan. Honda has the highest 100K maintenance because of the timing belt. My next one is going to be 2022 or newer. Probably just after the 100K mark with all maintenance done. If you’re looking for a used truck in a 1/2 ton. I would go with a Nissan or the V-8 Tundra. A midsize a Toyota, Nissan or Ridgeline for reliability. 2008 would be my cut off on GM only with the 4.8. 5.3 only without the Cylinder Deactivation. But even with those they have issues years. Hit the net for the reliable years.

I already own the 2021 Sierra Denali I'm debating taking well past 100,000.  Shoulda, coulda, woulda bought a 2020 Tundra with the 5.7 instead of this if not for Covid era dealer shenanigans.  Overall disappointed with the LONG list of non maintenance repairs this truck has required.... thank God for a 7 year 100K GM extended warranty that MORE than paid for itself.  I find myself missing the reliability of my '97 GMT400 with the 5.0 Vortec that only seemed to eat the occasional alternator that I could replace in the NAPA parking lot.  

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

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Posted
16 minutes ago, tjonesdfw said:

I already own the 2021 Sierra Denali I'm debating taking well past 100,000.  Shoulda, coulda, woulda bought a 2020 Tundra with the 5.7 instead of this if not for Covid era dealer shenanigans.  Overall disappointed with the LONG list of non maintenance repairs this truck has required.... thank God for a 7 year 100K GM extended warranty that MORE than paid for itself.  I find myself missing the reliability of my '97 GMT400 with the 5.0 Vortec that only seemed to eat the occasional alternator that I could replace in the NAPA parking lot.  

You can use the same formula with your truck. Deciding to do the maintenance or trading in. What is the average life after 100k. And the cost associated. My formula is 500$ a month when I buy a vehicle. If a buy a new one will it go to pay off under warranty. A used one will go until it pays for itself before a repair. I look more at reliability more than worth. If I can buy a replacement before investing in a major repair. In recent threads we are seeing what it costs to replace an engine. With trade in and starting with a new warranty how does that stack with a new engine. And the possibility the transmission goes next. So I decided to go with used after the 100K maintenance with the depreciation present. All my vehicles are money in the bank. They paid for themselves with my formula. The 200K milestone with my Odyssey will probably not get the maintenance required. If it needs as much as it did at 100K miles. That money will go towards its replacement as well as what ever it brings being sold. The replacement won’t have as big of a nut to crack when you add that in.

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