Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Sierra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Unknown or other11
- Air bags10
- Structure8
- Engine7
- Power train6
- Electronic stability control (esc)4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Service brakes3
- Electrical system3
- Engine and engine cooling1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 134 2011 Sierra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 60 people died inside them, and 25 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2011 GMC Sierra failed the safety check 1.86% of the time — 25% less often than the average 2011 passenger car (2.49%). Median odometer at inspection: 130,144 miles.
20,592first inspections
1.86%failed on safety
130,144 mimedian odometer
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 16 variants: combined 13.3–22.6 L/100 km (about 10–18 mpg US), CO₂ 286–386 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra XFE · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.9 | 11.2 | 13.8 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 11.2 | 13.9 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.7 | 11.8 | 14.0 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 12.3 | 14.9 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 13.3 | 15.1 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.7 | 13.4 | 15.7 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Premium gasoline | 18.8 | 13.0 | 16.2 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Premium gasoline | 19.6 | 13.4 | 16.8 |
| Sierra XFE · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.7 | 14.4 | 17.9 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 21.3 | 14.7 | 18.3 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 21.5 | 14.7 | 18.5 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 22.2 | 16.6 | 19.7 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 23.2 | 17.8 | 20.8 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 25.5 | 17.4 | 21.9 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 26.6 | 17.8 | 22.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2011 GMC Sierra.
| 2021028 5 Feb 2021 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the p… |
| 2020591 2 Dec 2020 | Airbag Issue: Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained i… |
| 2016307 15 Jun 2016 | Airbag This Safety Improvement Program was replaced by Transport Canada Recall No. 2020-591. General Motors Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Pro… |
| 2015002 30 Dec 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a defect in the ignition lock cylinder could cause the key to stick in the "start" position if the vehicle interior temperature is sufficie… |
| 2014277 3 Jul 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles equipped with an optional dual batteries, the owner's manual does not specify a maximum amperage rating for the auxiliary battery to the tra… |
| 2011240 28 Jun 2011 | Steering On certain vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts may not have received adequate tightening torque during vehicle assembly. This could allow… |
| 2010454 17 Dec 2010 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the rear axle cross pin was improperly heat treated (during the manufacturing process) and could fracture and become displaced within the r… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
14V827000 · Electrical system30 Dec 2014 · 84,192 vehicles
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.
11V339000 · Steering28 Jun 2011 · 739 vehicles
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 2011 GMC Sierra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10114597 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician of an engine power reduced message on the driver information center after performing the Canada Onstar 4G upgrade. If the concern is present park the vehicle outside and call General Motors Technical Assistance Center. |
| 10114470 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that may have an OnStar system that has progression tones when pressing the blue or red button. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center with the scan tool data from the OnStar system. |
| 10114431 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact. |
| 10114408 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that are travelling from Canada to the United States. While in the United States they are unable to receive Turn-by-Turn directions. Due to the existing cellular provider not having roaming agreements in areas outside of Canada to support transmitting of the packet data required for Turn-By-Turn feature to operate. The customer has 3 options while traveling through the United Sates. First if the vehicle is equipped with a navigation radio they can request a "Destination Download" to the vehicle. Se |
| 10114354 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that some vehicles may have a Service Engine Soon lamp, engine misfire on cylinder 1, 4, 6, or 7 and/or tick noise. Technician will follow service information diagnosis first. If service information diagnosis does not isolate the cause of this concern perform a cylinder deactivation active fuel management system compression test in service information. If the running compression of the misfiring cylinder stays below 25 Pounds per Square Inch regardless of the active fuel management solenoid being commanded on or |
| 10114352 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection. |
| 10114343 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage |
| 10114342 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that may have an OnStar system that has progression tones when pressing the blue or red button. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center with the scan tool data from the OnStar system. |
| 10114328 | This information for Warranty administration - Changes the Service Policy and Procedures Section 1.6.2.11 and now is refered to Article 3.2.9 of the 1st addition manual for details of Technician Identification and Accounting of Labor Time |
| 10114309 | This informational bulletin explains how to care for wiper blades. |
| 10114299 | This informational bulletin provides a quick guide to updating which model vehicle after replacing the IPC. |
| 10114296 | This warranty administration bulletin provide policy information of the JOB CARD, for a repair on vehicles and what is acceptable - customer authorization; Service manager approvals and transaction authorization; Details of concern, cause and correction; Labor Time; Technician ID and acoutablity of labor time; Proper documentation and retension of warranty parts; Accurate sublet charges and receipts; Add on concerns after the Job Card has been written. |
| 10114281 | This informational bulletin states that it no longer valid and refers to a new bulletin. |
| 10114280 | This informational bulletin provides information on Inappropriate Warranty Claims Submitted for Damaged Radios and IPCs |
| 10113889 | This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with a list of modules to check for communication with the scan tool, if the navigation radio does not display the current Hybrid mode. Dealer will use a scan tool to check communication with Accessory Direct current Power Control Module, Air Condition control module, Drive Motor Generator Power Inverter Module, Engine Control Module, Battery Energy Control Module, and Transfer Case Control Module. Repair the loss of communication with the affected module and the power flow should return to the radio display. |
| 10113888 | This Preliminary Information communication provides steps the technician will uses to diagnose and repair vehicles that have low oil pressure after an oil change with the engine Regular Production Option Code L20, L77, L94, L96, L99, L9H, LC8, LC9, LH9, LMF, LMG, LY6, or LZ1. Vehicle may have Service Engine Soon lamp with Diagnostic Trouble Code P0521 or Low Oil Pressure message on the instrument panel. Dealer will need to determine if bulletin 10-06-01-008 was completed. If the bulletin was performed inspect the left rocker cover. Dealer will insure the left rocker can hold water without leak |
| 10113887 | This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with the additional steps that are needed to help perform a successful brake bleed on the 2-Mode Hybrid with Regular Production Option Code HP2. With a battery maintainer installed on the vehicle use brake pressure bleeder that maintains 30 psi for the entire bleed procedure. |
| 10113849 | This informational bulletin provides information on the proper oils to use on GM vehicles including information regarding the differences of the Dexos oils. |
| 10113843 | This warranty administration bulletin provides information on the Clarification of Use for Dealer Empowerment Labor Operations and Customer Enthusiasm |
| 10113837 | This informational bulletin provides a list off all the issues revolving around new vehicles for a one stop place to find growing concerns around them. |
| 10113831 | This preliminary information bulletin provides a descritption of operation of the echo control and noise cancellation settings for concernc regarding noice drop outs during calls and muffled sound. |
| 10113810 | This warranty administration bulletin provides dealership personnel with policy and procedure requirements for essential tools that include consumable parts (U.S. Only). |
| 10113796 | This informational bulletin provides information on the proper use of GM floor mats. |
| 10113792 | This informational bulletin provides information to technicians regarding intake manifold inspection/replacement after severe internal engine damage. |
| 10113788 | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on courtesy transportation and roadside assistance programs. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)