2011 GMC Sierra 1500 airbags problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

21 owners have reported airbags problems with the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, 28% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 79,000 mi.

Airbags complaints
21
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Related recalls
2
Median mileage
79,000 mi

Specific components reported

Airbags covers: Frontal, side and curtain airbags, sensors and warning lights.

ComponentComplaints
Air bags20
Air bags:srs malfunction warning lamp/light1

Airbags complaints across GMC Sierra 1500 years

32005314520082511201021192012191120143282016362018662020632022222024
Airbags complaints by model year. The 2011 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

Under 10k10k–30k30k–60k360k–100k2100k–150k150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

  • Recall 21V054000Feb 5, 20211,778,128 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

  • Recall 21V050000Feb 5, 20212,641,272 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

What owners say

  1. Filed Oct 25, 2023MOAirbagsBody & StructureSuspension
    Rear shock holder rusted through cross member on frame making top of shock stay forced against bottom of the bed of the truck.
    NHTSA complaint #11551912 · source
  2. Filed Oct 19, 2022IDAirbags
    Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
    NHTSA complaint #11489964 · source
  3. Filed Mar 24, 202272,000 miNMAirbags
    The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the front passenger's side air bag was replaced; however, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could be associated with the front driver's side air bag; however, there was no recall…
    NHTSA complaint #11458152 · source
  4. Filed Oct 29, 2021MDAirbags
    Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
    NHTSA complaint #11438642 · source
  5. Filed Oct 1, 2021112,000 miMIAirbags
    The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver’s side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11435128 · source
  6. Filed Sep 27, 2021MIAirbags
    Three of the vehicles airbags went off during last night while parked in driveway. Shattered windshield, ripped head liner, tore up interior courtesy light. Nothing had touched the vehicle when this happened.
    NHTSA complaint #11434530 · source
  7. Filed Aug 11, 2021VIAirbags
    Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact was currently stationed in St. Croix and was unable to find a local dealer to perform the recall repair. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11428714 · source
  8. Filed Aug 9, 2021OKAirbags
    This recall was issued 6 months ago yet there is still no remedy for this issue which seems to be a safety hazard. This issue is not being corrected in a timely manner.
    NHTSA complaint #11428456 · source
  9. Filed Jun 2, 2021OHAirbags
    Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact contacted the local dealer and was informed that the recall remedy was still pending. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware…
    NHTSA complaint #11419312 · source
  10. Filed May 12, 2021TNAirbags
    Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 gmc sierra 1500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v054000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. Wyatt johnson buick gmc (2600 wilma rudolph blvd, clarksville, tn 37040, [phone removed]) was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
    NHTSA complaint #11416257 · source
  11. Filed Mar 26, 2021TXAirbags
    Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 gmc sierra 1500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v050000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to capitol chevrolet (6200 s ih 35 frontage rd, austin, tx 78745, [phone removed]) where it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11405013 · source
  12. Filed Mar 18, 2021TXAirbags
    Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 gmc sierra 1500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v050000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called all star autoplex (1216 e palestine ave, palestine, tx 75801) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of…
    NHTSA complaint #11403664 · source

Other 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problem areas

  • Other / Unknown (21)
  • Body & Structure (17)
  • Transmission & Drivetrain (8)
  • Electrical System (7)
  • Brakes (5)
  • Suspension (5)
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (4)
  • Lighting (3)
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (3)
  • Engine (3)
  • Steering (2)
  • Seats & Seat Belts (1)
  • Wheels & Tires (1)

Back to all 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology