vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

77,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 20 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting315.0%
Braking behavior315.0%
Engine operation15.0%
Electrical and battery issues15.0%
Steering behavior15.0%
Fuel system concerns15.0%

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.

Air Bags
8
Electrical System
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Power Train
2
Structure:Body
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Wheels
2
Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags8
Electrical System2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Power Train2
Structure:Body2
Unknown Or Other2
Wheels2
Engine1

Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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.

2011
1
2015
2
2016
1
2017
6
2018
1
2019
2
2020
2
2021
2
2023
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20152
20161
20176
20181
20192
20202
20212
20233

2011: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10383247 · 2011-02-18 (February 18, 2011)

WHILE DRIVING A GMC 3500 DENALI HD 4X4 EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH LESS THAN 90 MILES ON IT, THE REAR ADJUSTMENT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT LESS THAN 20MPH. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE PART MOUNTS NEAR OR IN THE CROSSMEMBER BRACE AND IS USED TO ADJUST THE PRELOAD ON THE TORSION BAR. AFTER THE PART BROKE AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE HAD A NOTICEABLE LIST TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE PART IS A CAST PART THAT APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN OVERLOAD (UNDER…

Owner-reported narrative. 88 miles reported. Look up ODI 10383247 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10714457 · 2015-05-04 (May 4, 2015)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714457 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10730877 · 2015-06-29 (June 29, 2015)

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 THE TRUCK EVEN AFTER IT WOULD NOT START. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE WE'RE DIDFERENT. 5 MILES EARLIER AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON AN EXPRESS WAY.

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730877 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10860819 · 2016-04-21 (April 21, 2016)

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 AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/22/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFRERDTO SPILT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS

Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10860819 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10945805 · 2017-01-17 (January 17, 2017)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945805 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11019882 · 2017-08-26 (August 26, 2017)

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 AND GM WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE DEDICATED TO IT WITH MANY MANY MEMBERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11041820 · 2017-10-31 (October 31, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL - 5/27/2016 NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AS OF YET. HOW DO I GET THIS RESOLVED?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11041820 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11043662 · 2017-11-06 (November 6, 2017)

CRACKED DASHBOARD LOCATED BY AIRBAG

Owner-reported narrative. 47,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 11043662 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

14V407000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.

Consequence: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V664000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank

Reported: 2017-10-19 (October 19, 2017)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.

Consequence: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V267000 · Equipment

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V050000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V054000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗