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2011 GMC Sierra 3500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500, and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
20
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
14–21
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V050000 Reported 2,641,272 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    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…

    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…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V054000 Reported 1,778,128 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    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."…

    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…

  3. Equipment

    NHTSA 18V267000 Reported 6,154 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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…

  4. Auxillary tank (fuel system)

    NHTSA 17V664000 Reported 35,292 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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…

  5. Electrical system

    NHTSA 14V407000 Reported 9,371 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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…

20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,560 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 revers”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2023 · 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. Part availability unknow”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 6, 2023 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2011 GMC Sierra (Sierra 15 Hybrid 2WD, Sierra 15 Hybrid 4WD, Sierra C15 2WD, Sierra C15 XFE 2WD, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14–21 mpg
City / Highway12–20 / 18–23
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 4.3/4.8/5.3/6/6.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 6-spd

Compare GMC Sierra 3500 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra 3500 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1996 GMC Sierra 350001
1997 GMC Sierra 3500110
1998 GMC Sierra 3500212
1999 GMC Sierra 3500119
2000 GMC Sierra 3500226
2001 GMC Sierra 3500236
2002 GMC Sierra 3500220
2003 GMC Sierra 350007
2004 GMC Sierra 3500024
2005 GMC Sierra 3500024
2006 GMC Sierra 3500011
2007 GMC Sierra 3500316
2008 GMC Sierra 3500325
2009 GMC Sierra 350055
2010 GMC Sierra 350052
2011 GMC Sierra 3500520
2012 GMC Sierra 350049
2013 GMC Sierra 3500414
2014 GMC Sierra 350037
2015 GMC Sierra 3500731
2016 GMC Sierra 3500719
2017 GMC Sierra 3500713
2018 GMC Sierra 3500614
2019 GMC Sierra 3500713
2020 GMC Sierra 3500851
2021 GMC Sierra 3500520
2022 GMC Sierra 3500331
2023 GMC Sierra 3500128
2024 GMC Sierra 3500349
2025 GMC Sierra 3500117
2026 GMC Sierra 350024

Checking a specific 2011 GMC Sierra 3500

How do I know if my 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V407000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other GMC models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.