I Had My 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax With 11K Miles Towed To the Dealer For the Second Time, the Dealer Can’t Figure It Out, I’m Ready to Take It To Ford

Are there battery drain and other issues with the 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax trucks? 

Seth Barker (@sethbarker03) shares his frustration. His TikTok video clip captures the moment his 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax truck is towed to the GMC dealer, yet again. This isn't the first time he's faced issues with his new Duramax. It's the second time he's had to rely on the dealer due to reliability issues.

Seth is at his wit's end. 

Despite multiple attempts, GMC has been unable to resolve the issues with his truck, leading to two frustrating tows to the dealer. Here is what all Duramax owners need to know.

Seth's disbelief is evident as he recounts his experience, "These new Duramaxes are nothing but total junk. I stopped in at the store, left my truck running, ran in to get a case of water, came back out, and the truck was off, every light in the dash was on, and it wouldn't restart."

Imagine buying a new GMC Sierra Duramax truck, and it's had nothing but problems. It only has 11,000 miles on it, and the GMC dealer can't figure out why the battery drains for no reason.

"I've had to tow the truck twice now, and my buddy down the street with a Ford F-150, which has 215,000 miles on it, hasn't had a single issue. Dealing with the GMC dealer has become so tiresome that I'm considering taking it to the Ford dealer to see if they can fix it." 

Here is Seth's story. 

He says, "Now I'm waiting again for a tow truck to take it back to the dealer."

"This is the second time I've had to tow it to the dealer.  It only has 11,000 miles on it. It's totally stock, and I have not done anything to the truck, nothing aftermarket. These new Duramax trucks are just trash."

The GMC Dealer Can't Figure Out What the Problem Is 

"I wish I had an update on it. The GMC dealer can't even tell me what's going on with it and what's causing the problems. They kept it three days, and then the next morning after it was dropped off, the battery was dead because they couldn't get it to power off." 

"I told them to disconnect the battery, but it's not my problem. So, they came in the next morning and charged the battery, hooked up the scanner, and it's throwing an error code." 

"They drove it around and finally let it sit overnight. The next morning, there are no issues. They fired it up, and there's no error code."

GMC Can't Duplicate the Problem 

"They said they couldn't find any other issues, so I picked the truck up, brought it home, and it's sitting here running. I may take it to the Ford dealership next to see if they can solve the problem."

"So, if you own one of these Duramaxes, make sure you have AAA. I've had more problems with this truck than any other I've owned."

Seth Had His Duramax Truck Towed to the Dealer With only 4,000 Miles 

"At 4,000 miles, the ECM (Engine Control Module) went out on it, and the dealer doesn't know what caused it to fail. It never happened again."

He concludes, "However, my buddy's Ford F-150 sitting in the driveway over there has 215,000 miles on it, and it fires up every morning with no issues. This GMC Duramax is just trash." 

Are there dead battery problems with the 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax?

Some 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 and GMC Yukon models, including those with the Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V8 engine, have experienced battery drain issues, particularly after over-the-air (OTA) updates, leading to dead batteries. GM has issued customer satisfaction programs to address this, offering free repairs. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Battery Drain Issue Cause: The issue is believed to be related to OTA updates that incorrectly activate the infotainment system, causing a drain. 

GM's Response: GM has issued customer satisfaction programs (N242435630 and N242435631) to address the problem, offering free repairs for affected vehicles. 

Affected Vehicles: The programs apply to 2024 GMC Yukon and Sierra 1500 models, with most affected units still in inventory or in transit to dealers. 

Dealer Action: Dealers must repair affected vehicles before they are sold, delivered, or used in demonstrations. 

Customer Notification: Owners of affected vehicles already sold will be notified by mail and offered free repair. 

Other Potential Causes: Besides the OTA update issue, other factors can contribute to a draining GMC car battery, including leaving lights on, a faulty charging system, or a parasitic drain. 

Two Batteries: The 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax engine has two batteries to provide sufficient cranking amps for the diesel engine. 

What Are Other Duramax Owners Saying?

On the GMC Denali Diesel Duramax Facebook page, Tim Daniels says, "Ok, I have a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax.  I've been having some electrical issues, starting with waking up to dead batteries. I found out one had a bad cell, and they replaced it under warranty."  

"Then the truck started charging at 15-15.3 volts, so I brought it back to the dealership, and they determined the alternator was bad and replaced it. I picked it up yesterday, and it started overcharging again.  Does anyone else have similar issues, or is this normal for these trucks?"

Mike Bouvier says in the GMC Denali Diesel Duramax Facebook post, "I have a 2024 GMC 3500 Sierra Dually. If I leave the truck sit for three weeks, the battery is dead."

A Reddit user says, "I've got a 2024 Silverado 2500HD (completely stock). When I went to start it this morning, the dash showed a message that said that features were disabled to save battery. It wasn't completely dead, but it was too low to try to engage the starter." 

"I had driven it yesterday evening, so maybe 12 hours before. Nothing was left on to run the battery down. I jumped it with my other truck, and it was fine all day after that. It has a check engine light on, and the Chevy app says it's an ABS system issue. I'll be dropping it off for service on Monday."

Conclusion:

General Motors appears to be aware of the 2024 Sierra Duramax battery drain problem. The OTA update causes the battery to drain. Other owners say to take your truck to the dealer to get the Serial Data Gateway Module update. Owners report that it has happened on trucks from 2019 to 2024 and that not all models have been flagged yet. 

It's Your Turn

Have you had battery drain issues with your 2024 GMC Sierra Duramax truck? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my 2024 GMC Sierra story: My 2024 GMC Sierra’s Transmission Died at 6,500 Miles, I’ve Been Waiting For the Dealer To Get Parts For Over 60 Days

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Seth Barker