GMC · NHTSA safety record

2011 GMC Sierra

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 43 safety complaints about the 2011 GMC Sierra with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the electrical system and the steering.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 10 complaints, 23% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 47,500 miles, the median across the 40 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers April 2012 to March 2022 · How this is counted

What is on file

43 complaints on file

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11 · 26% 11 26%

AIR BAGS 10 · 23% 10 23%

STRUCTURE 8 · 19% 8 19%

ENGINE 7 · 16% 7 16%

POWER TRAIN 6 · 14% 6 14%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 4 · 9% 4 9%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 9% 4 9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 7% 3 7%

SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 7% 3 7%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 2% 1 2%

EQUIPMENT 1 · 2% 1 2%

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 1 · 2% 1 2%

0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 43.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 14.

16 12 8 4

12 2012 13 2013 14 2014 15 2015 16 2016 22 2022

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2012 to 2022.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2011 GMC Sierra. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

14V827000 · December 30, 2014

The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
The risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

General Motors LLC · up to 84,192 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:LINKAGES

11V339000 · June 28, 2011

The defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
The risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 739 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE Filed March 28, 2013

1 injured · 13,800 miles

I OWN A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500 6.6 DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK IS "REGEN-ING" THE "DPF", RAW FUEL LEAKS FROM AN EXHAUST COUPLING LOCATED AT THE TURBO AND DOWN-PIPE SATURATING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH FUEL. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP WHILE IT IS IN THIS REGEN MODE WHITE SMOKE BOILS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ENTERS THE CABIN INDUCING A COUGHING FIT AND BURNING EYES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A GMC DEALER IN SAN ANGELO TX AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS DESCRIBING AND THAT I SHOULD REST ASSURED BECAUSE "DIESEL WON'T BURN ANYWAY". *TR

NHTSA complaint 10504865. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed May 4, 2015

crash · 137,000 miles

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN HOUSTON AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH APPROACHING A HILL. WHEN REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL, THERE WAS A PARKED CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK END OF IT. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND WERE NOT TERRIBLY INJURED. JUST REAL JARRED UP.THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WITH A HIT THAT HARD THEY SHOULD HAVE. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10714346. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed March 11, 2022

2011 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA complaint 11456285. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed April 18, 2016

MY DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE AIRBAG. PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA complaint 10860189. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed April 8, 2016

50,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE FRACTURES ON THE DASHBOARD AROUND WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint 10854398. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed March 29, 2016

59,980 miles

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 50 MPH. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT. I TURNED IT OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY RAN TESTS AND SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME THING WHEN I TURNED IT OFF IT WORKED FINE AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES I GOT HOME AND WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT TO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS

NHTSA complaint 10852316, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed March 17, 2016

58,000 miles

RECENTLY THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO CRACK IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MOST NOTABLY A CRACK AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint 10850327. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed March 3, 2016

65,000 miles

DASH BOARD CRACK AT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND 2 MORE CRACKS AT DRIVERS SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONCERN THAT THE CRACK AT AIR BAG COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN IF EVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint 10839656. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Sierra

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2017	61	0	—
2015	53	6	—
2014	101	11	—
2013	39	3	—
2012	29	2	—
2010	34	0	—

Other 2011 GMC models

Terrain 386 Sierra 1500 284 Acadia 269 Yukon 158 Yukon Denali 96 Yukon Denali XL 69 Sierra 2500 63 Yukon XL 47

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every GMC on this site — 149 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed December 30, 2014.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst