2011 Gmc SIERRA 3500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Gmc SIERRA 3500 has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 gmc sierra 3500. every time the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator for both the driver and passenger sides illuminated. the dealer diagnosed that the sensor on both sides failed. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the a. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
24
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON BOTH SIDES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE A
- • 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
- • TAKATA RECALL - 5/27/2016 NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AS OF YET. HOW DO I GET THIS RESOLVED?
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON BOTH SIDES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
2 complaints- • VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN ACCESS ROAD COMING UP TO INTERSTATE OFFRAMP. RIGHT BEFORE YIELD SIGN BOSCH CP4 PUMP FAILED STOPPING MOTOR. BRAKES AND STEERING AFFECTED. JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FIGHT TRUCK INTO ADJACENT PARKING LOT RIGHT AFTER RAMP. *TR
- • 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
“VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN ACCESS ROAD COMING UP TO INTERSTATE OFFRAMP. RIGHT BEFORE YIELD SIGN BOSCH CP4 PUMP FAILED STOPPING MOTOR. BRAKES AND STEERING AFFECTED. JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FIGHT TRUCK INTO ADJACENT PARKING LOT RIGHT AFTER RAMP. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
WHEELS
2 complaints- • 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
- • I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN THE DEALER THEY PUT TIRES SMALLER THAN WHAT IT REQUIRES AND A TIRE EXPLODED IN THE FREEWAY, THOSE WHO HELP THE TRAFFIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE TIRE WAS SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE TRUCK, THE SAME THING THEY TOLD ME IN THE TIRE PLACES (CLEGG AUTO SALE - 1485 N MAIN ST SPANISH F
“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 filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • 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
- • Safety factor dash is cracking manly. around air bag on passenger side. across dash behind instrument panel. If air bag deploys it would send plastic before air bag, destroying your face even eyes. the GMC dealer said cracking happens on all chevy and GMC trucks.
“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 filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
2 complaints- • CRACKED DASHBOARD LOCATED BY AIRBAG
- • DASH IS CRACKING IN THREE SPOTS
“CRACKED DASHBOARD LOCATED BY AIRBAG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON BOTH SIDES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN ACCESS ROAD COMING UP TO INTERSTATE OFFRAMP. RIGHT BEFORE YIELD SIGN BOSCH CP4 PUMP FAILED STOPPING MOTOR. BRAKES AND STEERING AFFECTED. JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FIGHT TRUCK INTO ADJACENT PARKING LOT RIGHT AFTER RAMP. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐WHEELS: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Gmc SIERRA 3500 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 24
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Gmc SIERRA 3500