RoadVitals

2011 GMC Sierra 3500 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Aug 31, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 18, 2011

What this page shows

Our database holds 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–20 of 20

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2023

my 2011 fmc sierra 3500 drw denali suffered a failure of the Transmission Control Module (TCM). I could barely move the vehicle and almost got into an accident merging into traffic. Forward and reverse was affected. The transmission reverts to top gear after the failure, and makes driving very difficult. There was no warning for this failure Luckily I was minutes from my dealership. This problem could be bad.

NHTSA ID
11541849
Incident
Jul 5, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 6, 2023

Apparently a common issue. The TCM (Transmission Control Module) failed and the vehicle will not start or shift. Vehicle went into limp mode on highway while towing a trailer. Part availability unknown and on backorder for a year.

NHTSA ID
11525638
Incident
Feb 22, 2023
Filed Apr 27, 2023

Safety factor dash is cracking manly. around air bag on passenger side. across dash behind instrument panel. If air bag deploys it would send plastic before air bag, destroying your face even eyes. the GMC dealer said cracking happens on all chevy and GMC trucks.

NHTSA ID
11519351
Incident
Oct 16, 2020
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to accelerate, lost braking functionality and was difficult to steer before the failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the injection pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ID
11437503
Incident
Oct 18, 2021
Mileage
106,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 13, 2021

DASH IS CRACKING IN THREE SPOTS

NHTSA ID
11387945
Incident
Apr 12, 2018
Other / unspecifiedSeat belts
Filed Mar 5, 2020

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN THE DEALER THEY PUT TIRES SMALLER THAN WHAT IT REQUIRES AND A TIRE EXPLODED IN THE FREEWAY, THOSE WHO HELP THE TRAFFIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE TIRE WAS SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE TRUCK, THE SAME THING THEY TOLD ME IN THE TIRE PLACES (CLEGG AUTO SALE - 1485 N MAIN ST SPANISH FORK UTAH )

NHTSA ID
11316464
Incident
Mar 3, 2020
Mileage
10 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 4, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:16V381000(AIR BAG) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING BOTH THE LOCAL DEALER HOHEN CARLSBAD GMC LOCATED AT (5334 TASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11307062
Incident
Feb 4, 2020
Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT CROWN BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 5237 34TH ST N, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33714, (877) 887-8560) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11292072
Incident
Jul 2, 2016
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 2019
Fire reported

RECALL #14260 COVERS 2007-2011 GMC 3500 TRUCKS WITH DUAL BATTERIES AMD COVERS VEHICLES THROUGH JUNE 22ND OF 2011, MINE WAS MADE IN JULY 07/11 AND I WAS DRIVIND 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES AFTER GETTING HOME MY TRUCK WSELF IGNITED INDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK ABIVE TJE REAR PART OF THE SPARE TORE. I BELIEVE THE POSITIVE WIRE TO THE TRAILER WIRING PLUG IN GROUNDED AND THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW CAUSING THE GROUNDED WIRE TO IGNITE THE WIRING HARNESS AND SPRAY IN BED LINER BURNING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK, I BELIEVE YOUR RECALL COVERS MORE TRUCKS THAN LISTED. MINE IS WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS FROM THE RECALL END DATE, AND THE RESULTS ARE EXACTLY HOW THE RECALL IS EXPLAINED, THE ONLY WIRE WITH. 10 GUAGE WIRE WITH CONSTANT POWER TO IT THAT WOULD HAVE ENOUGH VOLTAGE TO IT IS THE TRAILER POSITIVE CHARGING WIRE, AND ONCE SHORTED SHOULD BLOW THE FUSE PROTECTING THE VEHICLE FROM FIRE. IF THIS WIRE GROUNDS AND THE FUSE DOES NOT BLOW IT WOULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEAT WHERE THE GROUND HAPPENED UNTIL A FIRE WAS CREATED, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY CASE. SHOULD I HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY ( ALLSTATE) LOOK INTO THIS CLAIM AGAINST GMC ? OR WHAT IS YOUR PLAN OF ACTION? I HAVE $50,000.00 DOLLARS INVESTED IN THIS TRUCK WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $10,000.00 IN REPAIRS, PLUS THE OVERHEAD IN MY GARAGE, SMOKE DAMAGE MOSTLY, SOME BUBBLED PAINT ON A FRONT FENDER OF THE MUSTANG PARKED BEHIND ME AND THE INSULATION PANNELS ON MY ELECTRIC GARAGE DOOR, AS WELL AS NEEDING A RENTAL CAR WHILE THOS GETS FIXED. ITE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY OPEN BAY GARAGE AND THE FIRE WAS NOTICED 30 MINUTES AFTER RETURNING HOME.

NHTSA ID
11173177
Incident
Jan 22, 2019
Mileage
97,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 23, 2018

TAKATA RECALL, I HAVE CONTACTED THE GMC DEALER ABOUT REPLACING THE AIR BAGS UNDER RECALL 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS ARE AVAILABLE. STILL NOT AVAILABLE, WHAT NOW?

NHTSA ID
11142179
Incident
Oct 3, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2017

RECALLED IN MAY 2016 HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY GM BECAUSE OF NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR

NHTSA ID
11044920
Incident
May 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL BUT HAVE YET BEEN CONTACTED OR ABLE TO HAVE THE BAGS REPLACED. HEARING OF MULTIPLE DEATHS, IS MY CAR SAFE TO DRIVE?

NHTSA ID
11044291
Incident
Nov 7, 2017
Body & structure
Filed Nov 6, 2017

CRACKED DASHBOARD LOCATED BY AIRBAG

NHTSA ID
11043662
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Mileage
47,001 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - 5/27/2016 NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AS OF YET. HOW DO I GET THIS RESOLVED?

NHTSA ID
11041820
Incident
May 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2017

THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN A NUMBER OF PLACES. MY FEAR IS THAT IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS THAT SHARDS OF PLASTIC COULD BECOME AIRBORNE AND THE PROJECTILES COULD INJURE MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. SOME OF THE CRACKS ARE AT THE AIRBAG LOCATION. I HAVE CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND GM WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE DEDICATED TO IT WITH MANY MANY MEMBERS.

NHTSA ID
11019882
Incident
May 4, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jan 17, 2017

BAD TIRES ALL WAY AROUND. AND THE OTHER COMPANY TRUCKS I USE HAS BAD BRAKES AND A LOT OF OTHER USDOT INSPECTION WOULD FAIL. I AM CERTIFIED DOT DRIVER AND I AM SCARED THIS COMPANY IS PUTTING COMPANY PROFITS ABOVE HUMAN LIFE

NHTSA ID
10945805
Incident
Jan 13, 2017
Mileage
153,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 3500. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON BOTH SIDES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/22/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFRERDTO SPILT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
10860819
Incident
Apr 8, 2016
Mileage
57,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 29, 2015

WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF. COULD NOT START IT AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS IT TOOK OVER 2 WEEKS AND 2 DIFFERENT GM DEALERS TO FIGURE OUT IT WAS A FUEL INJECTOR PUMP THAT EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO CODES ON THE TRUCKS COMPUTER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK EVEN AFTER IT WOULD NOT START. COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE WE'RE DIDFERENT. 5 MILES EARLIER AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON AN EXPRESS WAY.

NHTSA ID
10730877
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
104,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 4, 2015

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN ACCESS ROAD COMING UP TO INTERSTATE OFFRAMP. RIGHT BEFORE YIELD SIGN BOSCH CP4 PUMP FAILED STOPPING MOTOR. BRAKES AND STEERING AFFECTED. JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FIGHT TRUCK INTO ADJACENT PARKING LOT RIGHT AFTER RAMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714457
Incident
Apr 27, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 18, 2011

WHILE DRIVING A GMC 3500 DENALI HD 4X4 EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH LESS THAN 90 MILES ON IT, THE REAR ADJUSTMENT BRACKET FOR THE LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT LESS THAN 20MPH. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE PART MOUNTS NEAR OR IN THE CROSSMEMBER BRACE AND IS USED TO ADJUST THE PRELOAD ON THE TORSION BAR. AFTER THE PART BROKE AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE HAD A NOTICEABLE LIST TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE PART IS A CAST PART THAT APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN OVERLOAD (UNDERDESIGNED) OR DUE TO HIGH STRESS CONCENTRATIONS (POOR FIT/TOLERANCE ISSUES). AT CITY SPEEDS I WOULDN'T EXPECT MUCH MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HOWEVER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH A LOADED TRUCK OR TOWING A TRAILER, THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN CONTROL ISSUES AND THEREFORE, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AND HAD A NON-GMC FACILITY "REBUILD" THE FRONT SUSPENSION. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, GMC HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE BROKEN PART AND POSSIBLY THE ORIGINAL PART FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *LN

NHTSA ID
10383247
Incident
Jan 23, 2011
Mileage
88 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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