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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Gmc SIERRA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

43 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

47,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 43 complaints (25.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior614.0%
Electrical and battery issues37.0%
Transmission and shifting24.7%
Steering behavior24.7%
Engine operation12.3%
Fuel system concerns12.3%

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.

Unknown Or Other
11
Air Bags
10
Engine
7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
4
Power Train
4
Structure:Body
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Electrical System
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other11
Air Bags10
Engine7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)4
Power Train4
Structure:Body4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Electrical System3

Unknown Or Other: 11; Air Bags: 10; Engine: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Power Train: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
13
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 3 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.

2012
3
2013
3
2014
10
2015
12
2016
14
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20123
20133
201410
201512
201614
20221

2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 10; 2015: 12; 2016: 14; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10455051 · 2012-04-12 (April 12, 2012)

THE HEADLIGHTS DIM THEN RETURN TO NORMAL EVERY TIME THE BREAK IS APPLIED. INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM AND RETURN TO NORMAL WHEN HAZARD LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. DEALER FOUND THE COMPLAINT TO BE VALID. BATTERY TESTED AND FOUND TO BE GOOD. VOLTAGE TEST OF ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT NORMAL. ENGINE AND BODY GROUNDS CHECKED OUT NORMAL. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH WITH NEW PART WITH NO CHANGE. GENERAL MOTORS REFERENCED SERVICE BULLETIN #02-06-03-008D AND CLAIM THE TRUCK IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THER…

Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455051 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10456279 · 2012-04-24 (April 24, 2012)

VEHICLE STALLS LOSING ALL POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THERE IS NO ADVANCED WARNING OF POWER LOSS, IT SIMPLY QUITS RENDERING THE DRIVER INCAPABLE OF STEERING, MOVING OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN IN CERTIFIED GMC SHOP THREE TIMES, THEY KEEP INSISTING THEY CANNOT FIND PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE BE PICKED UP. POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. NOT ONLY UNSAFE FOR DRIVER BUT ALSO ANYONE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456279 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459134 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)

PURCHASED TRUCK 11/10/2011 WITH 3 MILES ON IT. AT 4,000 MILES THE TRUCKS BRAKES STARTED PULSATING AND SHIMMING WHILE APPLING BRAKES GOING DOWN HILL. TOOK IT TO DEALER , THEY RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS. GOOD TILL 5,700 MILES AND IT STARTED DOING THIS AGAIN, BUT WORSE, ALSO PROBLEMS JUST BRAKING ANY WHERE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, NOW THEY RESURFACED REAR DRUMS. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS NEW VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY WROTE THE BRAKES WERE WARPED DURING BOTH VISITS, AND NO REASON AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY NEW VEHICLE. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 4,168 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459134 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10493059 · 2013-01-15 (January 15, 2013)

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. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 02-08/13 *BF UPDATED 02/11/13

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493059 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10504865 · 2013-03-28 (March 28, 2013)

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 UNDER THE HOOD AND ENTERS THE CABIN INDUCING A COUGHING FIT AND BURNING EYES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A GMC DEALER IN SAN ANGELO TX AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS DESCRIBING AND THAT I SHOULD RES…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504865 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525227 · 2013-07-16 (July 16, 2013)

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 24,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525227 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10565507 · 2014-02-23 (February 23, 2014)

THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH I DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE BAD TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BE COME BADLY CHIPPED AND PIECES OF RUBBER TREAD BEGAN COMING FROM TREAD AREA. THE SIDEWALLS DISCOLORED AND BEGAN CRACKING. THE TIRES STARTED TO LOOSE AIR AND HAD TO BE REINFLATTED ALL THE TIME TO PRESENT. TIRE HAS SAME SYMPTOMS AS RE-CALLED TIRES BUT MICHELIN AND GM WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,873 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10566902 · 2014-03-03 (March 3, 2014)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566902 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

11V339000 · Steering:Linkages

Reported: 2011-06-28 (June 28, 2011)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V827000 · Electrical System:Ignition

Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

Consequence: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

NHTSA campaign record ↗