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2011 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

40 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

6 reports
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57,892 miles · Aug 5, 2015
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes

FIRST OFF WOULD BE MY DASHBOARD AIR BAG, THE DASHBOARD PLASTIC IS CRACKING WITH THE CONCERN ON FLYING DEBRIS I BROUGHT MY GMC 1500 INTO MY LOCAL SERVICE/SALES CENTER AND HE TOLD ME WITH OUT A RECALL THERE IS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME. SECOND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH WHAT SEEMS TO EITHER THE POWER TRAIN OR BRAKES FROM DAY ONE…

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FIRST OFF WOULD BE MY DASHBOARD AIR BAG, THE DASHBOARD PLASTIC IS CRACKING WITH THE CONCERN ON FLYING DEBRIS I BROUGHT MY GMC 1500 INTO MY LOCAL SERVICE/SALES CENTER AND HE TOLD ME WITH OUT A RECALL THERE IS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME. SECOND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH WHAT SEEMS TO EITHER THE POWER TRAIN OR BRAKES FROM DAY ONE I PURCHASED MY TRUCK. WHAT IT DOES IS WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, RELEASE THE BRAKE, AND THEN APPLY THE ACCELERATOR I GET A BIG CUR PLUNK SOUND AND FEELING OF THE TRUCK JERK. THIS IS COMING FOR THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK I WOULD ASSUME THE REAR AXIAL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY LOCAL SERVICE/SALES CENTER , MULTIPLE TIMES. HE HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM AND TELLS ME THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE HE CAN DO WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURER POSTING A BULLETIN OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10746296

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2015
Power Train

IN VERY COLD WEATHER, THE SHIFTER STICKS AND WILL NOT MOVE TO SHIFT IN ANY GEAR. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10681664

61,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014
EnginePower Train

ENGINE LIGHT SYMBOL MESSAGE APPEARED ON VEHICLE DURING THE EARLY PART OF SEPTEMBER. (NOT QUITE SURE OF THE DATE). DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL REQUIRE A FULL DAY TO REPLACE PARTS. AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE SEEM TO OPERATE EXCELLENTLY UNTIL THE MIDDLE PART OF OCTOBER. ENGINE LIGHT M…

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ENGINE LIGHT SYMBOL MESSAGE APPEARED ON VEHICLE DURING THE EARLY PART OF SEPTEMBER. (NOT QUITE SURE OF THE DATE). DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL REQUIRE A FULL DAY TO REPLACE PARTS. AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE SEEM TO OPERATE EXCELLENTLY UNTIL THE MIDDLE PART OF OCTOBER. ENGINE LIGHT MESSAGE APPEARED AGAIN ON VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A SENSOR OVERHEATING. NEEDED TO BRING VEHICLE BACK WHEN DIESEL MECHANIC IS ON DUTY. REQUESTED ADVICE FOR TRAVEL. SERVICE MANAGER CLEARED CODE. ENGINE LIGHT MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN IN MINUTES. THE NEXT DAY WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE LOST OF POWER MESSAGE CAME ON WITHIN 150 MILES FROM WHERE WE DEPARTED. BEFORE LOST OF POWER A MESSAGE OF LOW IN EXHAUST FLUID FLASHED ON AND OFF. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED ENGINE OFF FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE DROVE WELL TO OUR DESTINATION OF 248 MILES MORE. CARRIED VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING CODES: P113A-EGR TEMP 3-4 CORRELATION; P2471-EGR TEMP SENSOR 4 HIGH VOLTAGE; P20CC-EXHAUST FUEL INJECTOR PERFORMANCE HISTORY. DEALER STATED REPAIR COULD NOT BE ADDRESS DUE TO OTHER SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS FOR A WEEK. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC CLEARED CODES. ENGINE SYMBOL RETURNED IN 25 MINUTES. WHILE RETURNING BACK HOME THE VEHICLE AGAIN GAVE THE MESSAGE LOW IN EXHAUST FLUID AND WITHIN MINUTES WENT INTO LOST OF POWER MODE. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649976

37,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Power Train

GM PERFORMED A RECALL FOR FRACTURED TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE ON MY TRUCK. THEY TOOK A TUBE OF FOAM AND PLASTIC STRAPPED IT TO THE TUBE. I NEVER SAW THE REASONING! THE TUBE HAS FRACTURED AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED. WHY DID THE NOT FIX THIS PROPER IN THE FIRST PLACE. NOW I NEED TO MAKE TWO MORE APPOINTMENTS TO GET THIS FIXED. MY…

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GM PERFORMED A RECALL FOR FRACTURED TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE ON MY TRUCK. THEY TOOK A TUBE OF FOAM AND PLASTIC STRAPPED IT TO THE TUBE. I NEVER SAW THE REASONING! THE TUBE HAS FRACTURED AND NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED. WHY DID THE NOT FIX THIS PROPER IN THE FIRST PLACE. NOW I NEED TO MAKE TWO MORE APPOINTMENTS TO GET THIS FIXED. MY TRANSMISSION IS OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS, WATER AND DIRT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638841

10,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER APPLYING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO < 5 MPH (NOT COMING TO A HALT) AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS; IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL DURING THE BRAKING PERIOD AND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED, THERE IS A 1 - 2 SECOND TIME PERIOD WHERE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SO…

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AFTER APPLYING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO < 5 MPH (NOT COMING TO A HALT) AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS; IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL DURING THE BRAKING PERIOD AND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED, THERE IS A 1 - 2 SECOND TIME PERIOD WHERE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING AND PREVENTS ANY ACCELERATION. WHY IS THIS DANGEROUS? I FOUND MYSELF IN A LEFT TURN ONLY LANE/GREEN LIGHT WITH OPPOSING TRAFFIC, AND I ATTEMPTED THE LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT I HAD AMPLE TIME BUT THE VEHICLE JUST SAT THERE FOR 1 - 2 SECONDS, AND WITH THAT I FOUND MYSELF IN A DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT BECAUSE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE. IF THE VEHICLE HAD RESPONDED WHEN I NEEDED IT TO, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A CLOSE CALL. THIS BEHAVIOR WITH THE VEHICLE CAN BE REPRODUCED AT WILL, EVERY TIME. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE DRIVE-TRAIN, GMC KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598600

28,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN IT ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND INTO THE STREET. A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN IT ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND INTO THE STREET. A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 02-08/13 *BF UPDATED 02/11/13

NHTSA ODI #10493059

Official recalls

2

14V827000 · Electrical System:ignition

Dec 30, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

11V339000 · Steering:linkages

Jun 28, 2011

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.