The GMC Sierra 1500 is built to work hard, which makes a repeat defect especially costly. If your new Sierra has had an engine replaced, keeps misfiring, blows warm air, or has spent weeks at the dealer, Florida's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback or replacement from General Motors.

Common GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

  • 6.2L V8 (L87) engine failure. GM recall 25V-274 covers certain 2022–2024 Sierra 1500 trucks with the 6.2L for crankshaft and connecting-rod manufacturing defects that can cause engine damage or failure. NHTSA has also opened follow-up reviews. Read the recall guide.
  • Engine replacements with long downtime. Back-ordered engines can keep a truck at the dealer for months. How the 30-day rule works.
  • 5.3L lifter, AFM/DFM, and misfire problems. Read more.
  • A/C blowing warm, often on the driver's side. Read more.
  • Transmission shudder, clunks, and harsh shifting
  • Electrical faults: infotainment and camera failures, warning lights, battery drain
  • 3.0L Duramax diesel turbo, EGR, and emissions-sensor issues. Read more.

How Florida's Lemon Law Applies

Florida's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (Fla. Stat. ch. 681) covers new vehicles bought or leased in Florida and used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. The key rules:

  • 24-month Lemon Law Rights Period, measured from the date the vehicle was first delivered to the consumer.
  • A presumption that the vehicle is a lemon if, during that period, the same defect has been through 3 or more repair attempts and still exists (after the manufacturer's final repair attempt), or the vehicle has been out of service for repair of one or more defects for a cumulative 30 or more days.
  • Written notice to the manufacturer, sent by registered or express mail, is required before the presumption can be used. The manufacturer then gets a final repair attempt.
  • Remedy: a repurchase (refund) or a comparable replacement vehicle, less a reasonable offset for use. The consumer may choose the refund.
  • Exclusions: trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles are not covered.

See our Florida Lemon Law overview and how many repair attempts for more detail.

Heavy-Duty Trucks: The 10,000-Pound GVWR Rule

Florida's Lemon Law excludes "trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight." Light-duty 1500 pickups are well under that line. Many 2500HD and 3500HD configurations are over it, and some are close to it, so coverage depends on the specific truck.

Check the GVWR printed on the certification label in the driver's door jamb. If it is 10,000 pounds or less, the truck may be covered. If it is higher, Chapter 681 likely does not apply, though other warranty remedies (such as the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) may still be available. Send us a photo of the label and we'll tell you where you stand.

Work Trucks and Business Use

The law protects vehicles used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. A truck you also use for some work can still qualify, but a vehicle bought and used mainly for a business may not. Tell us how you use the truck during the case review.

Documents to Gather

  • Every repair order (RO), with dates in and out, mileage, your complaint, and what the dealer did
  • Your purchase or lease contract and window sticker
  • Any written notice you sent to the manufacturer, and proof of registered or express mail delivery
  • Loaner or rental agreements (they help prove days out of service)
  • Recall and bulletin notices, texts, and emails from the dealer or manufacturer

Statewide Florida Representation

We represent owners in all 67 Florida counties, from Miami and Tampa to Jacksonville and the Panhandle. Case review is by phone and email, with no office visit needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Sierra 2500HD is a lemon. Is it covered?

Maybe. Florida excludes trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Check the GVWR on your door-jamb label. If it is 10,000 lbs or less, Chapter 681 may apply.

My Sierra had a new engine and has been at the dealer more than 30 days. Do I qualify?

If those days fell within 24 months of delivery and you sent the required written notice, the 30-day presumption may apply. Days add up across visits.

Do I have to keep making payments while the truck is at the dealer?

Yes. Keep paying your loan or lease so your credit and the claim are protected. A buyback typically includes payments made.

Related Pages

This page is general information, not legal advice. Recall and bulletin details come from manufacturer filings with NHTSA and may change; whether a particular vehicle is covered depends on its VIN and facts.

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