2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 284 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the brakes of the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, 2% of the 284 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I had a severe shudder when braking. I took apart the front brakes and did not find anything. When I took off the rear drum I found that the washers on the hold down springs had failed and allowed the pin to pull through. (making a cross in the washer where there should only be a slot) the released the spring and washer to fall. The shoes were just sitting there not secured to the back plate of the wheel. The second side had almost failed and the wear on the washer is visible in my attached photos.”
NHTSA complaint #11364854, filed 2020-10, 68,000 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“ABS Randomly turns on with the traction control light… All windows except for driver window will not go down and sometimes it does not unlock or lock sometimes. It started the beginning of 2022 and has got worst over the years. It is available for inspection. Safety has been and issue because whenever it rains it can lose control on the road haven’t had the money to fix it so don’t really drive it right now.”
NHTSA complaint #11756351, filed 2026-08“Vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure characterized by a percussive shotgun blast noise from the rear chassis, followed by an immediate, total loss of braking power (pedal to the floor) and a violent loss of directional stability. This incident represents an aggravated safety failure of known GMT900 platform defects. The technical chain of causality began with the factory exhaust manifold fasteners suffering a metallurgical shear, a universal defect documented under GM Bulletins 19-NA-218, PIP5075, and PIP4701. …”
NHTSA complaint #11724011, filed 2026-03Related service bulletins
- 11014230Jan 31, 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
- 11011709Nov 5, 2024This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 3% |
| 2025 | 7 | 6% |
| 2024 | 11 | 3% |
| 2023 | 17 | 3% |
| 2022 | 30 | 5% |
| 2021 | 25 | 4% |
| 2020 | 55 | 11% |
| 2019 | 114 | 17% |
| 2018 | 44 | 14% |
| 2017 | 108 | 30% |
| 2016 | 106 | 31% |
| 2015 | 229 | 32% |
| 2014 | 144 | 19% |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% |
| 2012 | 5 | 5% |
| 2011 | 6 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 6 | 3% |
| 2008 | 10 | 3% |
| 2007 | 25 | 10% |
| 2006 | 67 | 46% |
| 2005 | 50 | 28% |
| 2004 | 67 | 32% |
| 2003 | 105 | 58% |
| 2002 | 127 | 77% |
| 2001 | 108 | 77% |
| 2000 | 131 | 72% |
| 1999 | 103 | 65% |
| 1998 | 18 | 31% |
| 1997 | 18 | 22% |
| 1996 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
113 complaintsOther or unknown
73 complaintsBody and structure
45 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology