Used car safety, rank #33 of 188
GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD, a very large pickup, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years against a very large pickups average of 24, which is 42% below the class average. That places it #33 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 77.9/100.
What the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab death rate means
At 14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD beats the very large pickups average of 24 by 42%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 36, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 67 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab. Its 95% confidence interval is 31β103. It is higher than the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for heavier vehicles. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used pickups
The safest very large pickups in the IIHS study, by our score, with the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD highlighted. It ranks 2 of the 7 shown; the class leader is the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD at a death rate of 10.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD | 2020-23 | 10 (0 to 22) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 14 (0 to 36) | 77.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 2500 crew cab short bed 4WD | 2020-23 | 20 (11 to 29) | 69.6 | n/a | n/a |
| GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD | 2020-23 | 21 (9 to 33) | 68.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD | 2020-23 | 21 (11 to 31) | 68.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 3500 crew cab long bed 4WD | 2020-23 | 37 (13 to 61) | 44.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 2500 crew cab long bed 4WD | 2020-23 | 43 (1 to 85) | 40.4 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for very large pickups: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | GMC Sierra 1500 | No award | 52.8 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 77.9 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
1 recall campaign on the 2023 model year, covering latches/locks/linkages.
-
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate, latch
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD: Common Questions
Is the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 14 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD, 42% below the class average (24 for very large pickups). That earns a used-car safety score of 77.9 out of 100 and rank #33 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD driver death rate?
14 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 36. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab died at a rate of 67 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD compare with other very large pickups?
The very large pickups class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD sits at 14. Among the 7 very large pickups compared above it ranks 2 by safety score; the top of that group is the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD with a death rate of 10.