Quick Facts:
- Topic: Sierra grille deflector review by NHTSA.
- Probe: Recall query RQ26003, opened October 9, 2026.
- Trucks: Up to 535,639 GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, model years 2022 to 2024.
- Complaints: 118 reports of the upper deflector detaching, 21 from repaired trucks.
- Earlier recall: GM recall 25V-060, filed February 6, 2025, covering 70,768 trucks.
- Injuries: None identified in NHTSA documents, per GM Authority.
- GM response: No expanded recall announced.
- Sources: NHTSA, Detroit News, GM Authority and autoevolution.
5 min read
In This Article
Overview
The Sierra grille deflector is back under federal review. According to GM Authority’s report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened recall query RQ26003 on October 9, 2026. This NHTSA probe covers up to 535,639 GMC Sierra 1500 pickups from model years 2022 to 2024.
Investigators logged 118 complaints about the upper trim piece above the grille coming off while driving. Of those, 21 came from trucks already repaired under GM recall 25V-060. Detroit News reports detached parts cracked windshields and forced nearby drivers to dodge.
NHTSA has not found a defect. Instead, it is asking whether the 2025 recall covered enough trucks and whether the repair holds. We compare the recall and the probe, then cover owner reports and what to do today.
Cracked windshields are among the damage in the complaints. Resin kits like the Permatex 09103 Windshield Repair Kit or the Rain-X 600001 Windshield Repair Kit seal small chips early. Still, a long crack, or a chip in the driver’s line of sight, needs a glass shop.
Windshield chip repair kits
Permatex 09103 Automotive Windshield Repair Kit For Chipped And Cra…
What NHTSA Is Investigating in the Sierra Grille Deflector Probe
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened the review on October 9, 2026. It asks two questions. First, did the recall cover every truck with the problem? Second, does the repair keep the deflector attached?
The agency has not alleged a defect, autoevolution notes. A recall query ends two ways. NHTSA closes it, or pushes GM to widen the campaign and rethink the repair. Recently, NHTSA closed its Jeep underhood fire probe after two years. Meanwhile, the GM eBoost brake investigation stays open at 1.16 million vehicles.
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Probe | Recall query RQ26003 |
| Opened | October 9, 2026 |
| Trucks | Up to 535,639 GMC Sierra 1500 |
| Model years | 2022 to 2024 |
| Complaints | 118, including 21 on repaired trucks |
| Injuries | None identified in NHTSA documents, per GM Authority |
| Expanded GM recall | Not announced |
Recall 25V-060 vs. the Sierra Grille Deflector Probe
GM filed recall 25V-060 on February 6, 2025. It covers 70,768 2022 Sierra 1500 pickups with the chrome deflector. GM built them from November 9, 2021 to September 29, 2022, per GM’s report to NHTSA. Earlier 2022 builds from before GM’s mid-cycle update, trucks with other deflector designs, and 2500 and 3500 models sit outside it.
In this filing, GM says one or more of the eight attachments holding the deflector might fracture over time. If all eight break, the deflector might detach while driving. Drivers might hear a rattle first. GM counted 1,225 complaints and four accident allegations by the end of 2024, with no known injuries.
| Item | Recall 25V-060 | Probe RQ26003 |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Filed February 6, 2025 | Opened October 9, 2026 |
| Trucks | 70,768 | Up to 535,639 |
| Model years | 2022 only | 2022 to 2024 |
| Status | Recall with a dealer repair | Open review, no defect finding |
| Repair | Dealers reinforce or repair the attachments | Under review |
| Sierra HD | Not covered | Not named |
Why do 2023 and 2024 trucks appear in the probe? GM told NHTSA the later trucks used parts outside the supplier’s suspect window. Autoevolution ties this statement to the wider scope. In effect, the probe asks whether GM’s cutoff was right.
GM Authority reports about 64 percent of recalled trucks had the repair as of January 2026. No newer repair figure has been published.
What Owners Report
NHTSA logged 118 complaints. Detroit News says detached deflectors cracked windshields and forced nearby drivers to dodge. The 21 complaints from repaired trucks matter most, because they question the fix itself.
GM told Detroit News it will keep cooperating with NHTSA’s evaluation. Its spokesperson added, “The safety and satisfaction of our customers are the highest priorities for the entire GM team.”
Damage costs are a separate question. In March, GM told GM Authority to take related damage to a dealer. The recall itself does not promise to cover glass or body repairs, so expect a conversation about goodwill coverage.
What This Means for You
Start with your model year. If you own a 2022 Sierra 1500 with the chrome deflector, recall 25V-060 might apply, depending on build date. Enter your VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup to see whether your repair is still open.
If you own a 2023 or 2024 truck, no recall exists today. You sit inside the probe’s scope only. Nothing requires action yet, but a quick check is free.
First, shine a flashlight on the trim above the grille. Look for gaps, a loose edge, or movement when you press on it. Then listen for a rattle at the front end on the highway, because GM’s filing says drivers might notice a rattle before the deflector separates. If you drive rough roads, add the trim to your post trail inspection checklist.
Two tools help here. A rechargeable flashlight, such as the Streamlight 88052 ProTac HL USB, lights the attachment points. For evidence, a front camera, such as the VIOFO A119 Mini 2, helps document a debris event and the damage after it.
Inspect and document
Streamlight 88052 ProTac HL USB Rechargeable Tactical Light
If a deflector comes off while you drive, slow down and pull over only when it is safe. Then photograph the truck, the part and the road before you move anything, and note the date, place and mileage. If a piece hit your glass, ask your insurer whether comprehensive coverage pays for it. Keep the dealer invoice and any repair order. Then report the failure to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov or on the vehicle safety hotline, 1-888-327-4236. Each complaint gives investigators a clearer count.
For me, the 21 repeat failures are the number to watch, because a failed repair says more than the first defect. Photograph your trim today, while it is still on the truck.
Final Thoughts
The part is a trim piece, yet complaints describe it coming off while driving and hitting windshields. A failure after a recall repair needs a close look, and NHTSA is giving it one.
NHTSA has found no defect, GM has not widened the recall, and either outcome remains open. Most owners of 2023 and 2024 trucks have nothing to fix today. Owners of 2022 trucks with the chrome deflector should confirm the repair, and everyone should photograph the trim.
Jeep recalled Grand Cherokees a third time after rear springs kept falling off. A first fix does not always close a case, so keep your paperwork.
Watch for a GM recall expansion or a closing report from NHTSA. Either one tells you whether your truck needs a dealer visit.
FAQ
What Is the Sierra Grille Deflector Probe?
It is NHTSA’s review of GM’s 2025 recall repair. NHTSA opened it on October 9, 2026, and it covers up to 535,639 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks.
Which Model Years Does the Sierra Grille Deflector Probe Cover?
The NHTSA probe covers 2022 through 2024 trucks. Recall 25V-060 covers only 2022 trucks with the chrome deflector built after GM’s mid-cycle update.
Is There a Recall on 2023 and 2024 Sierra Trucks?
No. GM has not announced an expanded recall. Only 2022 trucks with the chrome deflector fall under recall 25V-060.
Does the Probe Cover the Sierra HD?
No. Autoevolution reports RQ26003 names only the half-ton Sierra 1500. GM’s recall filing also says 2500 and 3500 trucks have a different grille design.
Who Pays if a Grille Deflector Cracks My Windshield?
GM has not promised coverage. It told GM Authority to take related damage to a dealer. Document everything, then ask the dealer about goodwill coverage.
How Do I Check My Truck for Recall 25V-060?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. An open recall appears with its campaign number.