Most common 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 284 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019. Compare all years →
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
Equipment
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018.
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, colorado, express, silverado, suburban, tahoe; and GMC canyon, sierra, savana, yukon and yukon xl vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2011. Owners May contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and at the…
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado ld and GMC sierra ld vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were not properly heat treated and could fracture and become displaced within the rear axle.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2011. Owners May contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and at the…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Air bags all 113 →
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the front passenger's side air bag was replaced; however, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could be associated with the front driver's side air bag; however, there was no recall for the front driver's side air bag. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Body & structure all 45 →
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a separation of the rear sub frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the rear sub frame was extremely rusted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
My GMC which is well cared for and only has 121,000 miles has a rusted through frame (mid-vehicle, left side) which has made the truck unsafe to drive. The steel used is inferior, my neighbor across the street also has this truck, 2 years newer, and is doing the same thing. As I have researched this issue I have found out that this is a critical failure of the GMC Sierra for several model years due to a failure to protect the steel used in northern states which compromises structural integrity. When Toyota had this issue, they stepped up and replaced the frames. General Motors, please tell me what you intend to do with this. It is a 5.3 Litre with 121,000 miles on it, in other words, still a baby for such a fine engine. This is not right. I am seriously discouraged. For my family, this is devastating. I still owe $2000 on this vehicle. Thank you, [redacted]
Transmission & drivetrain all 24 →
11/2022 shift cable separated from shift lever; preventing ability to put vehicle Into park. Retaining clip deteriorated allowing separation. Fortunately it happened when leaving parking garage and not moving fast. Was able to refasten using zip-tie until new retaining clip arrived at auto parts store.
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. This shear created a high-velocity, high-heat exhaust leak directed at the brake master cylinder and vacuum assembly. …
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Sierra 1500 rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 1500 at the same age. It is one of the Sierra 1500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500?
The air bags — 113 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about srs malfunction warning lamp/light. Next are the body & structure (45) and transmission & drivetrain (24).
How many recalls does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019. See the full GMC Sierra 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.