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2011 GMC Sierra 1500
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 appears in 5 NHTSA recall campaigns (air bags, equipment and suspension) and in 195 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is air bags: 344.1 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 124.4 per 1,000 across all 2011 model-year vehicles and against 146.8 per 1,000 for the GMC Sierra 1500 line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 105.7 complaints per model year across the 33 GMC Sierra 1500 model years on this register; 5 complaints reported a crash and 1 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2017 (56); the most recent in the file is dated 30 Apr 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 2 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by General Motors, LLC (manufacturer campaign N212328800).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by General Motors, LLC (manufacturer campaign N212328760).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 18146).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 10426A).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 100426).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 (black) against all 2011 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2011 | Sierra 1500 line | All 2011 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 344.1 | 146.8 | 124.4 |
| Unknown or Other | 198.4 | 78.3 | 56.3 |
| Structure | 105.3 | 47.7 | 42.2 |
| Power Train | 64.8 | 46.5 | 91.7 |
| Engine | 48.6 | 31.1 | 118.1 |
| Electrical System | 40.5 | 94.7 | 132.1 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 85 | 344.1 | 146.8 | 124.4 |
| Unknown or Other | 49 | 198.4 | 78.3 | 56.3 |
| Structure | 26 | 105.3 | 47.7 | 42.2 |
| Power Train | 16 | 64.8 | 46.5 | 91.7 |
| Engine | 12 | 48.6 | 31.1 | 118.1 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 40.5 | 94.7 | 132.1 |
| Steering | 8 | 32.4 | 55.2 | 100.1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 28.3 | 15 | 44.6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | 28.3 | 13.1 | 44.2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 5 | 20.2 | 15.9 | 26.3 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 16.2 | 12.2 | 11.1 |
| Suspension | 4 | 16.2 | 25.3 | 24.1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 8.1 | 15.7 | 16.1 |
| Tires | 2 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 8.1 | 56.8 | 31.1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 8.1 | 11.5 | 11.6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 13.2 |
| Visibility | 1 | 4 | 14.5 | 10.3 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4 | 141.7 | 43.7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4 | 13.3 | 9.9 |
| Seats | 1 | 4 | 9.1 | 10.9 |
195 unique complaints, 247 component mentions; 8 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP22005 | Defect petition | Pedestrian alert sounds | electrical system:propulsion system | 27 Jan 2023 | 7 Aug 2023 | 22V063000 |
| EA21002 | Engineering analysis | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture | air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module | 17 Sep 2021 | open | — |
Other GMC Sierra 1500 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 NHTSA | 0 | 12 | — |
| 1995 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1996 NHTSA | 0 | 5 | — |
| 1997 | 3 | 82 | 686,123 |
| 1998 | 2 | 56 | 56,409 |
| 1999 | 1 | 157 | 279,132 |
| 2000 | 1 | 175 | 3,758 |
| 2001 | 2 | 137 | 79,145 |
| 2002 | 1 | 162 | 1,660 |
| 2003 | 1 | 178 | 1,660 |
| 2004 | 2 | 204 | 1,945 |
| 2005 | 0 | 167 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 138 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | 198 | 3,198,295 |
| 2008 | 2 | 294 | 3,198,295 |
| 2009 | 4 | 175 | 3,896,975 |
| 2010 | 4 | 132 | 5,118,080 |
| 2011 | 5 | 195 | 4,457,382 |
| 2012 | 3 | 57 | 2,068,927 |
| 2013 | 3 | 56 | 2,476,808 |
| 2014 | 9 | 413 | 9,710,383 |
| 2015 | 9 | 315 | 10,123,547 |
| 2016 | 8 | 93 | 8,215,126 |
| 2017 | 6 | 41 | 7,821,737 |
| 2018 | 7 | 28 | 4,135,159 |
| 2019 | 10 | 16 | 2,178,592 |
| 2020 | 12 | 0 | 2,058,981 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 1,694,749 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 1,873,039 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 1,787,350 |
| 2024 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 597,571 |
| 2025 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 86 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 5,927 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All GMC Sierra 1500 model years · GMC: 129 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 21V054000, was reported to NHTSA on 5 Feb 2021 and concerns air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Across all model years the GMC Sierra 1500 line has 61 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 2 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 complain about most?
Air Bags: 85 of 247 component mentions (344.1 per 1,000). Next is unknown or other with 49. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.