Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 284 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 6 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V050000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V054000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V267000 Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V007000 REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FRACTURE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V643000 REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FRACTURE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 113 complaints
- Unknown or Other 72 complaints
- Structure 45 complaints
- Power Train 24 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Engine 16 complaints
Of the 284 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 284 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 exhibits significant concerns with air bags, evidenced by a high complaint count and recalls. Other areas like power train and suspension also have numerous issues, but evidence outside recalls on airbags is limited. Overall, reliability data indicates a below-average performance based on complaint and recall frequencies.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| suspension | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Battery check and replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning lights
- Rough shifting or slipping
- Rear axle noises
- Unusual tire wear
- Electrical system failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.