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Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2011 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2011 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 63
Latest campaign: Feb 5, 2021

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	2	Feb 5, 2021	21V054000 21V050000
Equipment	1	Apr 26, 2018	18V267000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Oct 19, 2017	17V664000
Electrical system	1	Jul 2, 2014	14V407000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Feb 5, 2021Latest campaign


Feb 5, 202121V054000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V054000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 21V054000 · Feb 5, 2021
Feb 5, 202121V050000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V050000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 21V050000 · Feb 5, 2021
Apr 26, 201818V267000	Equipment In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V267000 What's wrong 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 Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 18V267000 · Apr 26, 2018
Oct 19, 201717V664000	Fuel system, gasoline: storage auxillary tank If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V664000 What's wrong General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank. Risk If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire. Remedy GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399. Campaign NHTSA 17V664000 · Oct 19, 2017
Jul 2, 201414V407000	Electrical system If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle… DetailsHide details for campaign 14V407000 What's wrong General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery. Risk If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260. Campaign NHTSA 14V407000 · Jul 2, 2014

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the GMC recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2011 GMC Sierra 3500? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component63

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

63Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

1Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Air bags	18	29	1	0	0
Unknown or other	13	21	0	0	0
Structure	10	16	0	0	0
Power train	8	13	0	0	0
Engine	8	13	0	0	1
Electrical system	5	8	0	1	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	4	6	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	4	6	0	0	0
Service brakes	4	6	0	0	0
Wheels	3	5	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	5	0	0	0
Suspension	2	3	0	0	0
Seat belts	1	2	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	1	2	0	0	0
Steering	1	2	0	0	0

8 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Power train
“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.”
Filed 08/31/2023 · ODI 11541849
Power train
“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.”
Filed 06/06/2023 · ODI 11525638
Unknown or other
“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.”
Filed 04/27/2023 · ODI 11519351

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2011 GMC Sierra 3500 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500. The most recent, 21V054000 (reported February 5, 2021), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 2 campaigns. Others: equipment (1), fuel system, gasoline (1), electrical system (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 18 complaints out of 63 filed with NHTSA (29%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2011 GMC Sierra 3500?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the GMC recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised GMC dealer.

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