2011 Gmc SIERRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Gmc SIERRA has 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 gmc sierra. the contact stated that while replacing a flat tire, he noticed that the jack did not extend high enough to lift the vehicle and replace the tire. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the jack was not replaced. the approximate failure mileage was 24.

1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

13 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REPLACING A FLAT TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE JACK DID NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO LIFT THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REPLACING A FLAT TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE JACK DID NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO LIFT THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24
• NOTICED FRONT DASH WAS CRACKED IN AUGUST 2014. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR. MY WIFE HAD A 2007 TAHOE WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN DASH. MY 2 SON-IN-LAW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NOW, ONE HAS A 2011 SIERRA AND THE OTHER HAS A 2010 SILVERADO.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REPLACING A FLAT TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE JACK DID NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO LIFT THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

15%

• DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
• DASHBOARD CRACKING SEVERELY ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DASHBOARD RATTLING SEVERELY CAUSING DASH TO VIBRATE AND COVER TO AIRBAG TO VIBRATE SUBSTANTIALLY. CONCERN THAT DASH WILL COMPLETELY FALL CAUSING AIR BAG FAILURE IN CRASH. *TR
• WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN HOUSTON AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH APPROACHING A HILL. WHEN REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL, THERE WAS A PARKED CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK END OF IT. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND WERE NOT

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

“DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

8 complaints

12%

• I OWN A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500 6.6 DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK IS "REGEN-ING" THE "DPF", RAW FUEL LEAKS FROM AN EXHAUST COUPLING LOCATED AT THE TURBO AND DOWN-PIPE SATURATING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH FUEL. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP WHILE IT IS IN THIS REGEN MODE WHITE SMOKE BOILS OUT FROM UNDE
• WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN TO 1/2 POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE/VIBRATE. THE TOP SPEED THEN WAS ABOUT 40MPH. I FINALLY PULLED OVER AND READ MANUAL ON HOW TO RESET IT. IT WORKED PROPERLY THEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, WITH OUT USING CRU
• 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 VEHI

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

“I OWN A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500 6.6 DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK IS "REGEN-ING" THE "DPF", RAW FUEL LEAKS FROM AN EXHAUST COUPLING LOCATED AT THE TURBO AND DOWN-PIPE SATURATING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH FUEL. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP WHILE IT IS IN THIS REGEN MODE WHITE SMOKE BOILS OUT FROM UNDE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

8 complaints

12%

• DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
• THE FRONT BUMPERS PLASTIC FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE AND FALLS OFF. THIS CAN CAUSE CRASH AND ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF FALLING OFF PARTS FROM CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PLASTIC BUMPER PARTS FOR THE FOG LIGHTS. THE SUGGESTION IS TO REPLACE THIS WITH A CHROME OR METAL BUMPER SO THAT
• CRACK IN DASHBOARD AT UPPER LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR

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

“DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

• 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. TH
• 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 VEHI
• 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 APPO

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

“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. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 67 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REPLACING A FLAT TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE JACK DID NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO LIFT THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I OWN A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500 6.6 DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCK. WHEN THE TRUCK IS "REGEN-ING" THE "DPF", RAW FUEL LEAKS FROM AN EXHAUST COUPLING LOCATED AT THE TURBO AND DOWN-PIPE SATURATING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH FUEL. WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP WHILE IT IS IN THIS REGEN MODE WHITE SMOKE BOILS OUT FROM UNDE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)