2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 has 366 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and unknown or other. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sierra 1500's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
366
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
6
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 138 | 38% |
| Unknown or other | 108 | 30% |
| Body structure | 62 | 17% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 32 | 9% |
| Engine | 23 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 5% |
| Steering | 11 | 3% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 11 | 3% |
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10V643000 | Dec 17, 2010 | Suspension — rear / axle / spindle | 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.… |
| 11V007000 | Jan 6, 2011 | Suspension — rear / axle / spindle | 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… |
| 18V267000 | Apr 26, 2018 | Equipment | 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… |
| 21V050000 | Feb 5, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 21V054000 | Feb 5, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Sierra 1500 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sierra 1500 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 280 | 4 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 217 | 4 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2011 (this page) | 366 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 | 152 | 3 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2013 | 168 | 3 | Unknown or other | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 on the used market
- 76 of 330 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 has 366 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and unknown or other. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sierra 1500's typical year.
What are the most common 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 are air bags (138), unknown or other (108), body structure (62), powertrain / transmission (32). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, including 10V643000 (suspension — rear / axle / spindle) and 11V007000 (suspension — rear / axle / spindle). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 217 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2012 has 152 complaints and 3 recalls (better year). The 2011 has 366 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 GMC Sierra 1500?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More GMC Sierra 1500 research
Other GMC Sierra 1500 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Sierra 1500, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.