2011 Gmc SIERRA 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Gmc SIERRA 2500 has 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the dash is cracked around the passenger side airbag which could be a safety concern during airbag deployment with sharp pieces of broken dash being propelled towards occupants.. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

20 complaints

25%

• THE DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SHARP PIECES OF BROKEN DASH BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS OCCUPANTS.
• 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
• 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 W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SHARP PIECES OF BROKEN DASH BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS OCCUPANTS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

11 complaints

14%

• CRACKED DASH BY PASSENGER AIR BAG.
• THE DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SHARP PIECES OF BROKEN DASH BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS OCCUPANTS.
• BROKEN DASH BOARD AT PASSENGER AIRBAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CRACKED DASH BY PASSENGER AIR BAG.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

11%

• WE PURCHASED 24 2011 GMC 2500 TRUCKS WITH OMAHA UTILITY BODIES. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER PUTTING THE UNITS IN SERVICE WE HAD A FAILURE OF THE MODULE THAT OPERATES THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL/TURN LIGHTS. IT HAD NO LEFT TURN LIGHT,AND THE RIGHT TURN OPERATED WITH THE TURN SWITCH SET TO LEFT OR RIGHT. WE REMOVED T
• VEHICLE EXHIBITED "LOW COOLANT" WARNING IN DIC AFTER GM DEF RECALL WAS PERFORMED. "LOW COOLANT" WARNING RETURNED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM FROM SERVICING DEALER. FAILURE OF COOLANT SYSTEM RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER INTRUSION INTO THE #7 CYLINDER. VEHICLE
• VEHICLE SPORADICALLY SPONTANEOUSLY LOCKS ALL 4 DOORS WITHIN 10 SECONDS AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR. NO TOUCHING OF REMOTE, NO ACCIDENTALLY HITTING A DOOR SWITCH WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M AT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, OR 10 FEET AWAY. ALWAYS WITHIN 10 TO 15 SECONDS AFTER EXITING. IT MAY S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WE PURCHASED 24 2011 GMC 2500 TRUCKS WITH OMAHA UTILITY BODIES. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER PUTTING THE UNITS IN SERVICE WE HAD A FAILURE OF THE MODULE THAT OPERATES THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL/TURN LIGHTS. IT HAD NO LEFT TURN LIGHT,AND THE RIGHT TURN OPERATED WITH THE TURN SWITCH SET TO LEFT OR RIGHT. WE REMOVED T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

11%

• 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 W
• THERE IS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE PASSENGER AIGBAG. IT'S CONCERNING THAT IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE AIRBAG AND SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. NOT SURE HOW LONG IT'S BEEN THERE. I JUST NOTICED IT THIS WEEK.
• CRACKED PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD ABOVE AIRBAG. NOTHING WAS DONE BY OWNER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT IS A KNOWN GM PROBLEM THEY REFUSE TO RECALL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

• VEHICLE EXHIBITED "LOW COOLANT" WARNING IN DIC AFTER GM DEF RECALL WAS PERFORMED. "LOW COOLANT" WARNING RETURNED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM FROM SERVICING DEALER. FAILURE OF COOLANT SYSTEM RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER INTRUSION INTO THE #7 CYLINDER. VEHICLE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE EXHAUST FLUID AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS KEROSENE MIXED IN WITH THE DIESEL FUEL. THE CO
• MY 2011 GMC DURAMAX DISPLAYS CODES (P0676), (P2493), (P122D0 AND (P140A) RELATED TO THE EGR AND THROTTLE BODY. I LOCATED SPECIAL WARRANTY WORK #14353. I AM TOLD BY GM CUSTOMER CARE THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DURAMAX DIESEL WARRANTY ISSUE. I LOCATED THE FOLLOWING: 02/03/17N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“VEHICLE EXHIBITED "LOW COOLANT" WARNING IN DIC AFTER GM DEF RECALL WAS PERFORMED. "LOW COOLANT" WARNING RETURNED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM FROM SERVICING DEALER. FAILURE OF COOLANT SYSTEM RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND WATER INTRUSION INTO THE #7 CYLINDER. VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 81 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THE DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SHARP PIECES OF BROKEN DASH BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS OCCUPANTS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: CRACKED DASH BY PASSENGER AIR BAG.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WE PURCHASED 24 2011 GMC 2500 TRUCKS WITH OMAHA UTILITY BODIES. ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER PUTTING THE UNITS IN SERVICE WE HAD A FAILURE OF THE MODULE THAT OPERATES THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL/TURN LIGHTS. IT HAD NO LEFT TURN LIGHT,AND THE RIGHT TURN OPERATED WITH THE TURN SWITCH SET TO LEFT OR RIGHT. WE REMOVED T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)