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GMC Sierra 1500Model year report

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

Compared with other GMC Sierra 1500 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

16/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
284filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,250miles, 150 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 8 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 4.3L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: a dashboard that cracks near the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster, and airbag warning-light or Takata inflator recall complaints, many of which involve owners saying replacement parts or remedies were unavailable for long periods. A smaller but recurring group of complaints covers rear axle and driveline noise, door handles breaking off, and engine noise such as lifter ticking. Mileage varies widely - dash cracks show up from a few thousand to over 100,000 miles, while driveline and engine complaints cluster at both low and higher mileage.

  1. Body and structure

    Cracked dashboard around passenger airbag

    • 80 complaints (28%)
    • median 57,330 mi at 5.7 yrs old (62 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2024

    Owners describe cracks developing in the top of the dashboard, most often at the corners of the passenger airbag cover and above the instrument cluster. Many say the cracks appeared while parked or after sun exposure, and some note they returned after a warranty replacement. Complaints frequently express concern that broken plastic could become projectiles if the airbag deploys; some owners replaced the dash or fitted a cover. Reported from roughly 25,000 to over 100,000 miles, with many in the 30,000-70,000 mile range and several owners citing hot-climate parking.

    What to check: Inspect the top of the dash near the airbag seam and above the gauge cluster in daylight for hairline cracks; ask whether the dash was ever replaced and whether the passenger airbag recall work was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My dashboard is cracked in three places. Twice around the passenger air bag and the other is above the instrument panel. The two around the air bag happened in august of 2013 and the one around the dash just happened nov 25, 2016. I have kept a sun visor covering it when it was not in the garage. I am now concerned that this has become a safety hazard.”

    NHTSA complaint #10929589, filed 2016-12, 35,000 miles

    “This is the third GM vehicle of this year model range that I have owned. All 3 have resulted in catastrophic cracking of the dash, all three in either exact, or close to exact locations. These cracks are connecting to the airbag, and connecting to the instrument panel right in front of the driver field of view. I have pointy shards of plastic and holes in the sierra I currently own. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10891694, filed 2016-07, 33,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Airbag warning light and Takata inflator recall

    • 92 complaints (32%)
    • median 75,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2022

    Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or cycling on and off, and several say dealers told them the vehicle needed a new airbag module. Many complaints center on the Takata inflator recalls, with owners stating that they were told a remedy was not yet available or that their vehicle was not covered, sometimes over repeated visits spanning years. Some note the light remained on even after the recalled passenger inflator was replaced. Reported from about 25,000 to 128,000 miles, with several complaints filed years after purchase while parts availability was limited.

    Recall 21V050000Recall 21V054000

    What to check: Check whether the airbag recalls were performed by looking up the VIN with a dealer, and confirm the warning light goes out after the bulb check at startup.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My dash light have a code that say check air bag service never been in accident in vehicle but. Light stays on I think iam apart of recall but noone at dealer have reach out to me iam owner of vehicle and my car is paided off”

    NHTSA complaint #11376006, filed 2020-11, 79,000 miles

    “For the air bag, the light continually goes on and when I took it to dealer; they said it was fine, but when I took it later; dealer said that warranty had expired and it would cost me $800. I just left it alone. Light continually goes on and turns itself off. For the seat belt, back seat middle, the dealer repaired it twice, but once warranty expired than they wouldn't fix it anymore unless I paid. For the gas, I pump gas and it constant causes pump to pop and shut off. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10967875, filed 2017-03, 28,978 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Rear axle and driveline noise or looseness

    • 17 complaints (6%)
    • median 61,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe a clunk or knocking sound from the rear of the truck, sometimes felt as side-to-side play in the bed or driveline slack when backing over a grade or downshifting. Complaints mention rear axle cross pins, pinion gear or differential work, and in a few cases rear-wheel lockup. Some owners say the noise was called normal by the dealer or that repairs were done outside warranty. Reported across a wide range, from about 11,000 to 126,000 miles, including several complaints under 40,000 miles.

    Recall 11V007000Recall 10V643000

    What to check: Ask whether the rear axle cross-pin recalls were performed, and listen for clunks or whine from the rear while turning at low speed and during steady highway driving.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on a main route where the speed limit it 45 MPH. It was on a straight stretch and my rear end exploded leaving me and my young son stuck. I finally realized that I use 4x4 to get us off the road which thankfully worked.”

    NHTSA complaint #11306646, filed 2020-02, 163,000 miles

    “I was driving my 2011 Gmc on a highway in massachusetts when the transmission decided to fail. My rear wheels locked up and was caused to turn sideways on a highway. My truck was hit by four other vechicles. Well the truck got fixed. The transmission was replaced 3 times! With all the same failures. Gm needs to check into there transmittions before it could kill someone. 3 times its been replaced and all 3 times my rear wheels have locked up. Why? You guys need to fix this issue...”

    NHTSA complaint #10743510, filed 2015-07, 32,000 miles
  4. Engine

    Engine lifter tick or rough running

    Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe a ticking or tapping noise from the engine, sometimes shortly after startup, and one complaint notes lifters replaced under warranty with a caution that camshaft work might follow. Other complaints describe rough running with an engine light, reduced power messages, and a lurch or surge that dealers could not always reproduce. Mostly reported between about 13,000 and 92,000 miles, with one owner describing the noise as worse in cold weather.

    What to check: Listen for ticking at cold start and on light acceleration, check the oil level and condition, and ask whether lifters or camshaft work has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was accelerating on to the freeway when I heard a pop then the engine light came on. The vehicle starting knocking and lost power. I called onstar and they gave me the code p0300: the emissions system is not performing as expected. An issue has been detected in the exhaust emissions system which monitors and controls exhaust gases released into the air from the engine. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11151017, filed 2018-11, 92,000 miles

    “My truck has problems with stability control running on the freeway in the dash came stability control services and second reduce power and the stop mu truck go slow from 65 to 20 in the middle of the freeway car behind my truck”

    NHTSA complaint #11372326, filed 2020-10, 65 miles

Buying note. Inspect the dashboard and interior door handles closely and confirm with a dealer that the airbag and rear-axle recall work was completed for the specific truck. Listen for engine ticking and rear-end clunks on the test drive, and ask for service records covering lifters, differential, or transmission work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 284 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. 150 of the complaints include a mileage, and 46% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,250 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 11 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 801 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 GMC Sierra 1500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 16 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (7), Brakes (6), Exterior lighting (5), Seat belts (4), Tires (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Engine cooling (2), Forward collision avoidance (2), Seats (2), Wheels (2).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. It has been 15 months since I was issued a recall notice concerning my passenger airbag. Gm has still not made any attempt to replace it under their recall. My vehicle is only getting older and causing the inflator in question to be further stressed from the heat and humidity of the northeast texas. I no longer feel safe having a passenger in my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11074467, filed 2018-02, 85,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My sierra has two cracks in the dash, one in the middle and the other from the airbag to the vent. This is very common in GM trucks from 2007-2013, with the crack from the airbag to the vent being the most common. There is a facebook page dedicated to this defect with thousands of examples. I believe this could be a safety hazard if the airbag deploys and sends plastic shards throughout the cab.”

NHTSA complaint #10824208, filed 2016-02, 64,500 miles

Body and structure: “After having the truck for a year or so I noticed that the dash was starting to crack due to the florida sun beaming down on it. I purchased a sunvisor but still didn't seem to have much effect on the dash and now it has cracked all the way across in three different spots”

NHTSA complaint #11298593, filed 2020-01, 40,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My starter or fly wheel is causing my truck to not want to start, also there is a rattling noise while driving at about 1500 RPM, and something is knocking in the rear of my truck. Its a 2011 with less than 40,000 miles and has been taken well care of, no reason this should happen. Luckily still under warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #10563813, filed 2014-02, 39,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

46% of the 150 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,978 and 90,000 miles.

13%0–107%10–2527%25–5020%50–7514%75–10013%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (150 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’11’14’1756’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sierra 1500 · regular cab 4WD★★★★☆5 / 4554 · 18.5% risk
Sierra 1500 · crew cab 4WD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 18.5% risk
Sierra 1500 · extended cab 4WD★★★★☆5 / 4554 · 18.5% risk
Sierra 1500 · crew cab RWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 19.1% risk
Sierra 1500 · regular cab RWD★★★★☆5 / 4554 · 19.1% risk
Sierra 1500 · extended cab RWD★★★★☆5 / 4554 · 19.1% risk
Sierra 1500 Hybrid · crew cab 4WD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 18.5% risk
Sierra 1500 Hybrid · crew cab RWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 19.1% risk

Neighbouring years: 2012: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sierra C15 2WD4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic152017$3,950
Sierra K15 4WD4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141816$4,200
Sierra C15 2WD4.8L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Sierra C15 2WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152117$3,950
Sierra C15 2WD6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic121814$4,800
Sierra C15 XFE 2WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152218$3,700
Sierra K15 4WD4.8L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131815$4,450
Sierra K15 4WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152117$3,950
Sierra K15 4WD6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic121814$4,800
Sierra K15 AWD6.2L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic121814$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 801 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 801 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Sierra 1500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20261473,9002519Too new to compareToo new
202512416,0001519Too new to compareToo new
202437419,6501518Too new to compareToo new
202349729,000351881 · MoreToo new
202259839,54164–51882 · MoreRising
202159650,00074–51775 · MoreRising
202048335,930124–51977 · MoreRising
201965814,250104–51989 · MoreRising
201830534,000751946 · TypicalRising
201735538,984651943 · TypicalStable
201634347,000851954 · TypicalStable
201572047,000951976 · MoreFalling
201474355,000951976 · MoreFalling
201311670,00034170 · FewerFalling
201210760,44034170 · FewerFalling
201128455,250541716 · FewerFalling
201016863,7504—170 · FewerFalling
200923472,7504—160 · FewerFalling
200838175,0002—170 · FewerFalling
200726373,4622—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200614552,0000—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200517770,0000—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200421260,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200318075,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200216680,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200114097,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200018190,5061—16Not compared (before 2008)Rising
1999158107,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19985980,5002—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19978382,5003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19965132,5000—16—Not enough data
199413129,7750—15—Not enough data

All GMC Sierra 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500?

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: a dashboard that cracks near the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster, and airbag warning-light or Takata inflator recall complaints, many of which involve owners saying replacement parts or remedies were unavailable for long periods. The issues reported most often: Cracked dashboard around passenger airbag; Airbag warning light and Takata inflator recall; Rear axle and driveline noise or looseness.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have?

NHTSA recorded 284 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 113 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 73.

Has the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 8 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 (Sierra C15 2WD, 4.3L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 reported?

Among the 150 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,250 miles and the middle half falls between 28,978 and 90,000 miles; 46% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.