2011 Gmc SIERRA 1500: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE CREW CAB Z71 4X4 COMING OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS UNUSALLY STIFF THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED TO OVER 5000 RPM'S AND STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAD MY FOOT PUSHED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED REVVING AND MOVING FORWARD. I QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. STARTED BACK UP AND NO ISSUES ON REMAINING DRIVE. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 1400 MILES ON IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377941 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD AFTER IT WAS LATCHED. THE SEAT BELT WAS VERY LOOSE AROUND THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381271 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2011-01-06 (January 6, 2011)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2018-04-26 (April 26, 2018)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.