2011 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
284 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
55,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 150 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 112 of 284 complaints (39.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 112 |
| Unknown Or Other | 72 |
| Structure:Body | 38 |
| Power Train | 21 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
Air Bags: 112; Unknown Or Other: 72; Structure:Body: 38; Power Train: 21; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Steering: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 10
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 134 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 56 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2010: 3; 2011: 10; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 9; 2015: 11; 2016: 46; 2017: 56; 2018: 39; 2019: 27; 2020: 20; 2021: 17; 2022: 12; 2023: 11; 2024: 8; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10368729 · 2010-12-02 (December 2, 2010)
ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010, RETURNING FROM VACATION, DRIVING A NEW 2011 GMC SIERRA SLE PICK UP WITH LESS THAN 2,000 MILES USE, PULLING A 24' TRAVEL TRAILER. THE TRUCK WAS IN "TOW" MODE DESCENDING A 15% GRADE HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING WHEN THE TRUCK DOWN SHIFTED ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY FROM 5TH TO 3RD GEAR AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 4000 RPM. I APPLIED BRAKES AND TRUCK SHIFTED BACK TO 5TH GEAR. FORTUNATELY CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME AS TERRAIN WAS VERY HILLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372652 · 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)
SECOND REPORT - SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 2011 GMC SIERRA PU TRUCK. ON DECEMBER 20, 2010 I WAS TRAVELING TO VISIT FRIENDS. WHILE ON HIGHWAY I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR 70 MPH. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES ON CITY STREETS. UPON ENTERING A BEDROOM TOWNSHIP KNOWN FOR SPEED TRAPS I ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR 30 MPH. WHEN PRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SET THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING (30 MPH) THE TRUCK DOWN SHIFTED AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY (TO 4000 RPM). I IMMEDIATELY TAPPED THE BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383333 · 2011-02-19 (February 19, 2011)
OEM TIRES HAVE EXTREMELY POOR WET PAVEMENT TRACTION. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT HAD RAINED HEAVILY FOR AN EXTENDED TIME THAT DAY AND CONTINUING MODERATELY INTO THE EVENING. APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WHERE I INTENDED TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, I BEGAN SLOWING TO WHAT I CONSIDERED A SAFE AND PRUDENT SPEED GIVEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED RESULTING IN SLIDING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, LUCKILY ON A GREEN SIGNAL LIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383901 · 2011-02-21 (February 21, 2011)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE TODAY, THE STEERING LOCKED IN POSITION. IT TOOK BOTH HANDS TO FORCE IT TO TURN, AT WHICH A POP WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. VEHICLE HAS DRIVEN NORMALLY SINCE. TRUCK ONLY HAS 1,500 MILES ON IT. NO CONSUMER DEBRIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692101 · 2015-03-04 (March 4, 2015)
PULLING OUT OF A SNOW COVERED PARKING LOT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DIC THEN THE MESSAGE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AT A LOWER IDLE SPEED, AS BEGAN TO HAPPEN THE TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD AND I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD LIKE I WAS FIGHTING THE ENGINE SPEED TO SLOW, THEN THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE GAS PEDAL AND COULD ONLY MOVE AT ABOUT 5MPH, THEN THE MESSAGE CHANGED TO SERVICE STABILITRAK, I GOT TO ANOTHER AREA OF THE PARKING LOT, PARKED AND SHUT OFF THE EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,375 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692175 · 2015-03-04 (March 4, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE GAUGES FAILED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE WASHER FLUID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALTHOUGH THE WASHER FLUID WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 13V315000 (AIR BAGS), AND 14V614000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10692175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558740 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)
WENT ABOUT A MILE WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT ACROSS MD RT 4 WHEN I LOST POWER AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME, HAD A CLOSE CALL, ON DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A TECHNICAL NOTICE ABOUT THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTOR SENSORS THEY NEED A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895073 · 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING AND GOING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A YEAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372705 · 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES AND THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500 UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE WOULD LAG BEHIND FOR A SPLIT SECOND. WHEN THE ENGINE DID ENGAGE, THE DRIVE TRAIN WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376716 · 2011-01-14 (January 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UP AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND PLOWING SNOW IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A ROAD TEST AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIG…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852196 · 2016-03-29 (March 29, 2016)
THE THROTTLE BODY AND PEDAL CHIP WENT BAD CAUSING A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL. MECHANIC STATED HE'S BEEN REPLACING 5-12 A MONTH ON THE SAME ENGINE (5.3 LITER V8). OTHER MODELS ARE SUPPOSEDLY UNDER RECALL. REPAIRS COST IN EXCESS OF $500.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852196 at NHTSA ↗