2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 32%of 63 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 62,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500, 32% of the 63 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 62,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I got in my truck yesterday and noticed a crack in the dash at the passenger side air bag. The crack was not there before. I am concerned that if the bag deploys, the crack in the dash could become a projectile or cut the air bag resulting in a serious or fatal injury. My truck is garage kept and is not exposed to extreme temperatures.”
NHTSA complaint #10894866, filed 2016-08, 91,000 miles“To avoid a head on collision I had to move to the right of my lane and I hit a mountain head on and neither the driver or passengers airbag deployed. The vehicle over turned on its left driver side after skidding along pavement for a few yards it finally came to a stop. There were no passengers. I was the driver and sustained lacerations to my head bruising in chest area and a punctured left lung. The vehicle was in motion going 35 MPH”
NHTSA complaint #11377984, filed 2020-12, 54,000 miles“Takata recall, I have a letter from GM. Concerning the air bag recall dated 07/2016 informing me of said recall and stating that I would be notified when parts are available for repairs. That has been over a year ago and now I have a crack in the corner of the dash panel where the air-bag is located. After doing some research it appears that GM. Has issues with GM trucks, SUV's etc. From year 2007 until at least 2013 concerning this issue. I have contacted GM. …”
NHTSA complaint #11005530, filed 2017-07, 100 miles“The vehicles dashboard is beginning to crack in multiple locations. This truck has less than 30,000 miles on it and it's only used as a leisure vehicle. One of the areas of major concern is, the crack that leads directly to the airbag. If the airbag were to deploy, I believe that shards of plastic would be thrown all over the interior of the vehicle. There's no reason for this dashboard to crack and the repair would be close to $1,000 dollars. In my opinion this is a manufacture defect, and a huge oversight on quality control.”
NHTSA complaint #10939955, filed 2017-01, 26,000 miles“The dashboard cracked which creates an extremely dangerous hazard should the airbag activate. The loss of integrity of the dashboard could create an explosion of dash material should the airbag activate in an accident”
NHTSA complaint #10971510, filed 2017-04, 75,000 milesRelated recalls
- 21V050000Feb 5, 2021General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe…Covers: GMC Sierra 2500 2009–2011, Chevrolet Tahoe 2007–2011, GMC Yukon 2007–2011 +11 more
- 21V054000Feb 5, 2021General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra…Covers: GMC Sierra 2500 2010–2014, Cadillac Escalade 2010–2014, Chevrolet Tahoe 2010–2014 +11 more
Related service bulletins
- 10252974Apr 5, 2024This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Courtesy Transportation Reimbursement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls listed in bulletin.
- 10251345Feb 26, 2024This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735,15040, 15041, 15043,15044, 15045, 15046…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 7% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 4% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 2 | 5% |
| 2016 | 3 | 5% |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% |
| 2014 | 6 | 20% |
| 2013 | 7 | 15% |
| 2012 | 8 | 26% |
| 2011 | 20 | 32% |
| 2010 | 2 | 20% |
| 2009 | 5 | 16% |
| 2008 | 39 | 62% |
| 2007 | 49 | 59% |
| 2006 | 3 | 5% |
| 2005 | 3 | 3% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 4 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 2000 | 1 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500
11 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500
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