2011 GMC Sierra Denali Problems
Compared with other GMC Sierra Denali years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.2× that of a typical GMC Sierra Denali year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- None of its 28 complaints were filed by the end of 2013.
- Most reported part: Other or unknown (17 complaints, median 68,000 mi).
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
- 28filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles, 21 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns 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 Denali (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 17 complaints (61% of the total), followed by air bags (10) and body and structure (9). 21 of the complaints include a mileage, and 24% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 65,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1,609 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 56 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 GMC Sierra Denali model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 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.
- Other or unknown17 61%
- Air bags10 36%
- Body and structure9 32%
- Suspension1 3.6%
- Wheels1 3.6%
Example complaints
Other or unknown: “Dash cracked on passenger side starting at air bag top left corner and center bracket broke this is a safety concern along with the air bag inflators GM needs to fix this issue one day I got off work opened my door I got in shut the door and crack this is stupid there needs to be some kind of improvement design to many people are having this issue”
NHTSA complaint #11217302, filed 2019-06, 40,000 milesAir bags: “The dashboard in my 2011 Gmc Sierra Denali 1500 has multiple cracks in the dashboard, they have appeared significantly within in the last year and gotten much larger to the point where a hole has opened up due to a piece of the dashboard breaking loose and falling inside of the dash console. The cracks and loose debris have caused me concern because if the airbags were to deploy during a motor vehicle accident the occupants of the vehicle would be subjected to flying debris/ shrapnel from the dashboard. …”
NHTSA complaint #11132067, filed 2018-09, 97,000 milesBody and structure: “Dash has been cracked completely through on passenger side by airbag, now I have a crack just above instrument cluster. Vehicle only has 47,000 miles and the cracks just appear out of no where. The vehicle is not driven off roading or anything like that it is immaculate other then now cracked up dash. It's never been in an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #11355202, filed 2020-09, 35,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “In 2017 before my vehicle completing two years from the date of purchase at (70,000 km) the vehicle start shuddering when accelerating at low speed, when the service was due I took the vehicle to dealer for service & complained about the shuddering issue, after diagnosing the vehicle they said that they have to replace the torque converter, so they did replace the torque converter under warranty after fixing the torque converter issue I found trace of oil in front driver side & again when the service was due I complained about the leak, after diagnosing the found that the shock absorber is…”
NHTSA complaint #11337567, filed 2020-07, 43,750 milesMileage when problems were reported
24% of the 21 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 51,000 and 88,000 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.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 1,609 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037253Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11030974Apr 1, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
- 11030092Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- 11030091Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11027601Jan 8, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11025755Nov 20, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit…
- 11023091Sep 9, 2025Other or unknown. New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- 11022084Aug 14, 2025Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11021792Aug 7, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
- 11019693Jun 9, 2025Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
Other model years of the GMC Sierra Denali
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 | 20,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 26 | 5,269 | 0 | — | — | 77 · More | Falling |
| 2018 | 17 | 28,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2017 | 15 | 60,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2016 | 30 | 48,000 | 0 | — | — | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 22 | 47,800 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2014 | 14 | 59,496 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 8 | 70,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 10 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 28 | 65,000 | 0 | — | — | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 10 | 45,284 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 7 | 94,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 18 | 58,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2006 | 5 | 61,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 11 | 44,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 13 | 79,315 | 0 | — | 12 | — | Not enough data |
All GMC Sierra Denali model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali have?
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali is reported most often?
Other or unknown is named most often, in 17 complaints (61% of the total), followed by air bags with 10.
Has the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali reported?
Among the 21 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 65,000 miles and the middle half falls between 51,000 and 88,000 miles; 24% 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.