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GMC Sierra 3500Model year report

2011 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
77,250miles, 10 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.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500. The part named most often is air bags, with 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and fuel system (2). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 77,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 819 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 154 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “The dash has cracked in a number of places. My fear is that if the airbag deploys that shards of plastic could become airborne and the projectiles could injure myself or my passengers. Some of the cracks are at the airbag location. I have checked online and this is a major problem on these vehicles and GM will not address it. There is a facebook page dedicated to it with many many members.”

NHTSA complaint #11019882, filed 2017-08, 35,000 miles

Electrical system: “Recall #14260 covers 2007-2011 Gmc 3500 trucks with dual batteries amd covers vehicles through june 22nd of 2011, mine was made in july 07/11 and I was drivind 3 hours and 30 minutes after getting home my truck wself ignited inder the bed of the truck abive tje rear part of the spare tore. I believe the positive wire to the trailer wiring plug in grounded and the fuse did not blow causing the grounded wire to ignite the wiring harness and spray in bed liner burning the rear of the truck, I believe your recall covers more trucks than listed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11173177, filed 2019-01, 97,500 miles

Fuel system: “While driving up hill the truck just shut off. Could not start it again. There was no warning signs it took over 2 weeks and 2 different GM dealers to figure out it was a fuel injector pump that exploded. There were no codes on the trucks computer to acknowledge there was any problem with the truck even after it would not start. Could have been extremely dangerous if our circumstance we're didferent. 5 miles earlier and we would have been on an express way.”

NHTSA complaint #10730877, filed 2015-06, 104,000 miles

Other or unknown: “Bad tires all way around. And the other company trucks I use has bad brakes and a lot of other usdot inspection would fail. I am certified DOT driver and I am scared this company is putting company profits above human life”

NHTSA complaint #10945805, filed 2017-01, 153,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 35,000 and 106,000 miles.

20%0–100%10–2520%25–5010%50–7510%75–10030%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 77,250 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.

2011201520162017620182019202020212023
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.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 → · 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. 819 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 819 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Sierra 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202652,2502———Too new
20251740,0001———Too new
20245138,3003——Too new to compareToo new
20232833,8001——47 · TypicalToo new
20223231,1543——54 · TypicalRising
202120101,5005———Rising
20205128,7008——95 · MoreRising
20191353,0047———Not enough data
20181453,8006———Not enough data
20171321,0007———Not enough data
20161927,5007———Rising
20153138,5007——50 · TypicalFalling
2014768,0003———Not enough data
20131449,2184———Not enough data
2012931,2004———Not enough data
20112077,2505———Falling
2009536,6005———Not enough data
20082559,0003——0 · FewerFalling
20071636,0003———Rising
20061149,9740———Not enough data
20052450,5000———Rising
20042484,0000———Rising
2003760,5000———Not enough data
20022079,0002———Stable
20013663,5402——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20002657,0072——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19991959,5001———Stable
199812128,0002———Not enough data
19971095,0001———Not enough data

All GMC Sierra 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 been recalled?

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

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 77,250 miles and the middle half falls between 35,000 and 106,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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.