Home · 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd · Complaints

What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (106)Crash / fire / injury (4)Airbags (30)Body & structure (19)Electrical system (12)Engine (12)Transmission & drivetrain (12)Speed control (7)Brakes (5)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)Fuel system (4)Steering (4)

19 of 106 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Aug 16, 2024Body & structure

The contact called on behalf of a Fire Department that owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while the Fire Department technician was performing a routine maintenance on the vehicle, the technician became aware that the sub frame was rusted with a hole in the sub frame. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 19-NA-255. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 29,252.

NHTSA ODI 11608925

Aug 16, 2022Body & structure

Dash is cracked in multiple spots making it a safety concern when airbag is deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11479602

Jul 11, 2021Body & structure

Unlocked driver door will not open from the inside and trapping the occupant.

NHTSA ODI 11424304

Oct 4, 2020Body & structure

TRUCK FRAME AND UNDER BODY HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST

NHTSA ODI 11362676

Jul 2, 2020Body & structure

MY DASHBOARD CRACKED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT IS CRACKING ABOVE THE GAUGE PANEL. IT CRACKED THE FIRST TIME WHEN I GOT IN IT AND STARTED HOME FROM WORK.THE SECOND CRACK ABOVE THE GAUGE PANEL I HAD JUST NOTICED A WEEK AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11337209

Jan 14, 2019Body & structure

DASH CRACKED IN TWO PLACES IN FRONT OF DRIVERS SEAT TOP OF DASH. REASON IS DASH IS SINGLE PIECE DOESN T ALLOW FOR ANY FLEX

NHTSA ODI 11169838

Oct 11, 2017AirbagsBody & structure

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMAPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD FRACTURED IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED JERRY'S BUICK GMC (3100 FORT WORTH HWY, WEATHERFORD, TX, 76087) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL REGARDING THE FRACTURED DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11032883

Aug 10, 2016AirbagsBody & structure

I GOT IN MY TRUCK YESTERDAY AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE DASH AT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE BAG DEPLOYS, THE CRACK IN THE DASH COULD BECOME A PROJECTILE OR CUT THE AIR BAG RESULTING IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY. MY TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT AND IS NOT EXPOSED TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

NHTSA ODI 10894866

Jul 23, 2016Body & structure

BROKEN DASH BOARD AT PASSENGER AIRBAG

NHTSA ODI 10887940

Jun 26, 2016AirbagsBody & structure

THE DASH IS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WITH SHARP PIECES OF BROKEN DASH BEING PROPELLED TOWARDS OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA ODI 10876683

Jun 25, 2016Body & structure

CRACKED DASH BY PASSENGER AIR BAG.

NHTSA ODI 10876557

Apr 8, 2016Body & structure

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.

NHTSA ODI 10854398

Oct 14, 2015Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED LARGE CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS WERE EXPOSING PART OF THE AIR BAGS AND HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AFFECTING THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10782032

Apr 2, 2015Body & structure

THE DASH PANELS ON MY 2011 GMC SIERRA HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED IN 6 PLACES. 1 DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, ANOTHER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NOW IN 4 PLACES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE WINDSHIELD. IN ANY SORT OF IMPACT I AM FEARING THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING WILL CAUSE THE DASH TO TURN FROM HARD PLASTIC TO HARD MOVING PIECES OF PLASTIC AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURY ABOVE AND BEYOND IN A NORMAL CRASH. GM HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THIS MATTER AND CALLS IT A COSMETIC ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703335

Mar 13, 2015SuspensionBody & structure

SEVERE FRAME CORROSION (ALL SECTIONS OF FRAME). THE UNDERCOATING IS FLAKING OFF IN ALL SECTIONS EXPOSING BARE METAL WHICH IS RAPIDLY CORRODING THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE TRUCK IS IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE. GM STATED THAT "RUST" IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY ACTIVE WARRANTY. THIS IS A FAULTY COATING APPLICATION OR A FAULTY METAL ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE WILL BE UNSAFE SOON AND IT JUST HIT 12,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS "GM CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" TRUCK TWO WEEKS AGO FROM THE GM DEALERSHIP AND JUST REALIZED THAT MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694211

Nov 7, 2014AirbagsBody & structure

DASHBOARD CRACKING SEVERELY ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DASHBOARD RATTLING SEVERELY CAUSING DASH TO VIBRATE AND COVER TO AIRBAG TO VIBRATE SUBSTANTIALLY. CONCERN THAT DASH WILL COMPLETELY FALL CAUSING AIR BAG FAILURE IN CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10653454

Oct 24, 2014Body & structure

CRACK IN DASHBOARD AT UPPER LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10649766

Aug 21, 2014Body & structure

THE FRONT BUMPERS PLASTIC FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE AND FALLS OFF. THIS CAN CAUSE CRASH AND ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF FALLING OFF PARTS FROM CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PLASTIC BUMPER PARTS FOR THE FOG LIGHTS. THE SUGGESTION IS TO REPLACE THIS WITH A CHROME OR METAL BUMPER SO THAT PLASTIC PEACES DO NOT BECOME WARPED AND BREAK OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT THE BOLT POINTS FOR THE FRONT BUMPER FOG LIGHT HOLDER ENTIRE PLASTIC PEACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627141

Mar 3, 2014AirbagsBody & structure

DASH HAS A CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566902

Working with the data? Download all 106 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd verdict →