2011 GMC Sierra 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 366 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Sierra 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 6 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 21V050000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentApr 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
In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 18V267000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleJan 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.
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 11V007000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleDec 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.
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 10V643000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
108 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2019
I OPENED UP THE DOOR TO MY GMC SIERRA AND NOTICED THERE WAS A CRACK ABOVE THE AIR BAG AND FROM THE DEFROST VENT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER COVER ON MY DASH.
Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING BY PASSENGER AIRBAG AND I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE PASSENGER IF I GOT INTO A CRASH.
Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2019
A 3 INCH LONG CRACK APPEARED ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED, ONE BEING A REALLY BIG AND ALL ALONG THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS, THOSE PIECES CAN REALLY CAUSE PAIN. I HAVE MORE PHOTOS BUT FILES TO BIG TO UPLOAD.
Other or unspecified, Jun 1, 2019
DASH CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE STARTING AT AIR BAG TOP LEFT CORNER AND CENTER BRACKET BROKE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG INFLATORS GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONE DAY I GOT OFF WORK OPENED MY DOOR I GOT IN SHUT THE DOOR AND CRACK THIS IS STUPID THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF IMPROVEMENT DESIGN TO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2019
CRACK IN DASH AT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2019
DASHBOARD CRACKED AT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND AT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BROKEN PLASTIC PIECES WILL BECOME SHRAPNEL DURING AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG INFLATION
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2019
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE SPOTS. PAINT SEEMS REALLY THIN. ORIGINAL PAINT NEVER BEEN ABUSED. AS FOR DASHBOARD I GUESS ITS A COMMON THING RIGHT BY THE AIR BAG AND DRIVER SIDE. SCARY TO THINK ABOUT A COLLISION AND SHARDS OF PLASTIC FLYING TOWARD YOUR FACE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Jan 30, 2019
ON NOVEMBER 29, 2018 AT AROUND 12:00PM, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON ROUTE 460 WEST TOWARD GRUNDY, VIRGINIA, THE ROADS WAS CLEAR, AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AT A SPEED ABOUT 35MPH AND THE CEILING AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE SEATBELTS TO LOCK UP, AND SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS MADE A LOUD NOISE, THAT A NEIGHBORING BUSINESS HEARD THEM DEPLOY. I WAS NOT INJURED ONLY SCARED AND STARTLED BY WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I RESTARTED MY TRUCK AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND PROCEDED TO DRIVE TO MY MOTHER IN LAW'S WORK PLACE. I THEN CALLED MY MOM WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SHE ADVISED ME TO CALL RAMEY CHEVROLET RICHLANDS VA BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAD TO RESHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER AND BEING ABLE TO GET OFF WORK TO TAKE IT TO THEM FOR THEIR SCHEDULE UNTIL JANUARY 18, 2019. MY TRUCK WAS OWNED BY MY MOM AND DAD AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. WE HAVE CURRENTLY AROUND 58,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK AND AS YOU CAN TELL VERY LOW MILAGE. MY WIFE MOSTLY DRIVES THIS TRUCK. BOTH ME AND MY WIFE HAVE ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE DRIVING AND OBEYED SPEED LIMIT. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT RAMEY CHEVROLET RICHLANDS VA AND I TALK TO AN INSPECTOR FROM CHEVROLET BY THE NAME OF TONY AT 1-866-446-6963 EXT. 59115544 AND HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE SHOCKS WAS DAMAGED. NOW IF THE SHOCKS ARE DAMAGED THEN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE AIRBAGS MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE SHOCKS, BUT THIS TRUCK WAS NOT IN A CRASH, THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY JUST DRIVING AT A SPEED OF AROUND 35MPH. I AM THANKFUL I WAS NOT INJURED. I HOPE WE CAN WORK TO GET THIS RESLOVED.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2018
DASH BOARD IS CRACKING AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW ON.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 28, 2018
THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2011 GMC SIERRA DENALI 1500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD, THEY HAVE APPEARED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN IN THE LAST YEAR AND GOTTEN MUCH LARGER TO THE POINT WHERE A "HOLE" HAS OPENED UP DUE TO A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD BREAKING LOOSE AND FALLING INSIDE OF THE DASH CONSOLE. THE CRACKS AND LOOSE DEBRIS HAVE CAUSED ME CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY DURING A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FLYING DEBRIS/ SHRAPNEL FROM THE DASHBOARD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT IS AN AESTHETIC ISSUE WHICH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ITS OWN FACEBOOK PAGE AND PLENTY OF DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE SOME DASH BOARDS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AT A REDUCED COST. HOWEVER, THIS STILL SEEMS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT PERSONAL INJURY INCLUDING AND UP TO LOSS OF LIFE COULD BE A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT.
Other or unspecified, Sep 27, 2018
IMPORTING VEHICLE TO THE USA AND REQUIRES US FEDERAL SAFETY STANARDS COMPLIANCE LETTER
Other or unspecified, Jul 24, 2018
DASH BOARD CRACKING. I HAVE A CRACK THROUGH THE DASH AT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ANOTHER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. SHOULD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY, PIECES OF THE BROKEN DASH COULD INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER INJURY
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2018
TAKATA RECALL , DASH IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, CONCERNED IF AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY THE BROKEN DASH COULD BECOME FLYING PROJECTILES. MAJOR SAFERY ISSUE THAT G MC WILL NOT FIX.
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2018
DANGEROUS CRACKED CONDITION OF DASHBOARD SURROUNDING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AREA. DASHBOARD IS SO BADLY CRACKED AND BRITTLE THAT IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO GO OFF, SHARP AND JAGGED PIECES OF PLASTIC WOULD BECOME FLYING SCHRAPNEL. THE VELOCITY OF AN AIRBAG EXPLOSION COUPLED WITH FLYING BITS OF HARD SHARP PLASTIC COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND AS SUCH THE DASH CRACKING IS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2018
CRACK IN DASH ABOVE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BESIDE AIRBAG ON TOP OF DASH
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2018
DASH CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BY PASSANGER AIRBAG. DEALER QUOTED $1600 REPAIR BILL. GM WONT ISSUE A RECALL AFTER I CALL AND TALKED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2018
DASHBOARD COVER HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES CAUSING A $1300 REPAIR BILL FOR SOMETHING GM KNOWS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO FIX
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2018
THE DASH ON MY 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 IS CRACKING LIKE SEVERAL OTHER PPL HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A SPECIAL COVERAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 30, 2017, crash
HIT DEER,CRACKED DASH ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE,AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Other or unspecified, Nov 6, 2017
MY DASHBOARD CRACKED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I ALREADY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME IT CRACKED JANUARY 2015. IT HAS CRACKED FOR THE SECOND TIME. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PART FOR IT TO HAPPEN 2 TIMES SINCE 2011. I CAN NOT BRING MYSELF TO PAY FOR THIS AGAIN AS IT COST AROUND $1,000.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Oct 13, 2017
ALL FOUR OF THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY TRUCK ARE BREAKING OFF; EVEN THOUGH GMC HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES, BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, YOU CAN EVEN GOOGLE A SEARCH FOR THIS MATTER AND SEE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM, IF SOMEONE, IN NEED OF HELP, IS UNCONSCIOUS IN A VEHICLE WITH THE SAME BROKEN DOOR HANDLE PROBLEM, HOW WOULD THEY GET HELP FAST, IF THE DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN.
Other or unspecified, Oct 2, 2017
DASH BOARD IS CRACKING ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON TOP ABOUT THREE TO FIVE INCHES FROM BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD JUST APPEARED ON 10/02/2017 . THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE ON 10/01/2017, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WAS NOT DRIVEN AT ALL YESTERDAY.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 1, 2017
THE DASH CRACKED NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS AND SAID IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. FEARING PLASTIC PIECES FLYING IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, I PAID TO HAVE THE DASH REPLACED. LATER, I DROVE INTO A POTHOLE AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE SECOND DASH CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS MY FAULT AND THAT THERE ARE NO SAFETY CONCERNS. GM IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR A NEW DASH. THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS SO THAT THEY DO NOT LOSE PROFITS. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY GM SO THAT LIVES ARE NOT UNNECESSARY LOST.
Other or unspecified, Sep 27, 2017
DASH IS CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ABOVE PASSENGER AIRBAG POSING A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE EVEN OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.