2011 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
55,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 63 complaints (31.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 20 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Air Bags: 20; Structure:Body: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 5; Power Train: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 9; 2017: 16; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10916670 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING HARSH SHIFTING; UPSHIFTS/DOWNSHIFTS. PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY FROM RURAL HIGHWAY VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND PASSENGER WAS THROWN FORWARD AND ALMOST HIT THE DASH WITH HER HEAD, FELT LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR FOR MECHANIC. TRANSMISSION REPAIRED ALONG WITH A WIRING HARNESS THAT PREVENTED THE MAIN COMPUTER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THIS WIRING HARNESS FAILS AS WE COULD BE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWH…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,191 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448969 · 2022-01-26 (January 26, 2022)
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle remained in the PARK and failed to shift into DRIVE. The steering wheel was locked preventing the gear shifter from going into gear. The traction control warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but, was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000. The VIN was not available.
Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11448969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416481 · 2011-08-01 (August 1, 2011)
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 THE MODULE (INSTALLED BY PALFLEET) FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AND INSTALLED IT ON THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. THAT CORRECTED THAT UNIT.SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD 6 MORE UNITS THAT HAVE FAILED IN A SIMILAR MANNER,BUT VARIED LIGHTS TO INCLUDE RIGHT/LEFT TURN A…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447121 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)
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 IS 12 MONTHS OLD AND HAD 15,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES INCLUDING: DEAD BATTERY NO START CONDITION MULTIPLE TIMES TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ENGINE HOUR METER FAILURE INTERMI…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390417 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11053569 · 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND SUDDENLY FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP: MEDVED CHEVROLET BUICK GMC 1506 S WILCOX ST, CASTLE ROCK, CO 80104 WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,499.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,499 miles reported. Look up ODI 11053569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10935004 · 2016-12-13 (December 13, 2016)
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 CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANK AND NEW FUEL WAS ADDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,028.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,028 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142102 · 2018-10-23 (October 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RANZ MOTOR CO (1401 W BEECH ST, CHANUTE, KS 66720) WHERE THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 220,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142102 at NHTSA ↗