Illustration2011 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *JS
2011 GMC Sierra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
1125–50K
1350–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
40 reports with mileage · 3 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
43 reportsMY DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE AIRBAG. PASSENGER SIDE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE FRACTURES ON THE DASHBOARD AROUND WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 50 MPH. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO THE GAS STATION PARKING LO…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 50 MPH. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT. I TURNED IT OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY RAN TESTS AND SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME THING WHEN I TURNED IT OFF IT WORKED FINE AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES I GOT HOME AND WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT TO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. I HAVE READ A LOT AND FORUMS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RESOLUTION TRULY BEING FOUND. THIS IS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 WITH THE ALL-TERRAIN PACKAGE AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT IT GETS OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. THIS REALLY MAKES ME THINK THIS IS SOMETHING GM SHOULD LOOK INTO.
RECENTLY THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO CRACK IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MOST NOTABLY A CRACK AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG.
DASH BOARD CRACK AT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND 2 MORE CRACKS AT DRIVERS SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONCERN THAT THE CRACK AT AIR BAG COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN IF EVER DEPLOYED.
WHEN MY 2011 GMC DENALI PICKUP WAS NEARLY 4 YEARS OLD, THE DASH STARTED CRACKING. THE FIRST CRACK WAS AT THE FORWARD, LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OTHER CRACKS HAVE SINCE APPEARED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. THE CRACKS ARE CONTINUING TO GROW. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE DASH IS BECOMING MORE …
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WHEN MY 2011 GMC DENALI PICKUP WAS NEARLY 4 YEARS OLD, THE DASH STARTED CRACKING. THE FIRST CRACK WAS AT THE FORWARD, LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OTHER CRACKS HAVE SINCE APPEARED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. THE CRACKS ARE CONTINUING TO GROW. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE DASH IS BECOMING MORE BRITTLE WITH TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, THE BROKEN, BRITTLE PLASTIC DASH PARTS AROUND THE AIRBAG AREA COULD BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.
MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKING REAL BAD.
LARGE AND NOTICEABLE CRACK BY MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MY DASHBOARD. COULD SEE THIS BECOMING SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING. GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL, NOR TAKE ANY SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR.
DASH CRACKED MAY CAUSE HASSARAD DUE TO AIR BAG.
Official recalls
214V827000 · Electrical System:ignition
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
11V339000 · Steering:linkages
Jun 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.