FaultScore

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 electrical problems

17 of the 364 complaints about the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the electrical system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 124,000 miles.

C

17

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 16 94.1%
Speedometer/Odometer 1 5.9%

Electrical System across every GMC Sierra 1500 year

2003 43 3.8%
2004 81 7.2%
2005 68 6.0%
2006 21 1.9%
2007 22 2.0%
2008 31 2.8%
2009 20 1.8%
2010 10 0.9%
2011 17 1.5%
2014 128 11.4%
2015 94 8.3%
2016 54 4.8%
2017 54 4.8%
2018 42 3.7%
2019 94 8.3%
2020 77 6.8%
2021 73 6.5%
2022 79 7.0%
2023 56 5.0%
2024 40 3.6%
2025 22 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Porterville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ABS Randomly turns on with the traction control light… All windows except for driver window will not go down and sometimes it does not unlock or lock sometimes. It started the beginning of 2022 and has got worst over the years. It is available for inspection. Safety has been and issue because whenever it rains it can lose control on the road haven’t had the money to fix it so don’t really drive it right now.

NHTSA complaint #11756351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Albuquerque, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 119,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 128,000.

NHTSA complaint #11655497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Vernon, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

When I put the truck in 4wd the dash says service stabilitrak and the traction control light and abs light come on

NHTSA complaint #11630263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

- The traction control/stabilitrac malfunctioned causing my truck brake automatically while in motion. - Its causing my truck to brake unexpectedly - My mechanic said its an electrical issue and its becoming common in these trucks - My dashboard messages alternate from "traction control off" and "service stabiltrak"

NHTSA complaint #11505899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Galesburg, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS STAYING ON AND WONT SHUT OFF AT ALL AND I HAD MY JOB LOOK AT IT AND IT IS THE JUNCTION BOX. HOWEVER I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAVE HAD THIS ISSUES

NHTSA complaint #11395352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles ST Louis, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR DEFROST HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FUSE LINE AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD MELTED ON THE PANEL BOX. THE DEALER (DON BROWN CHEVROLET, INC. 2244 S KINGSHIGHWAY BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63110; (314) 222-0363) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER STATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11377482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Missoula, MT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN I TURN THE TRUCK OFF THE DIM HEADLAMPS STAY ON WITH THE KEYS OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THEM GO OFF IS TO PULL THE BATTERY

NHTSA complaint #11376695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,185 miles Birmingham, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ISSUE #1-WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STABLITRAK WARNING LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON. VEHICLES ENGINE POWER WAS SUDDENLY REDUCED TO ABOUT 10 MPH WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN WHICH I FOUND TO BE VERY DANGEROUS! HAD TO PULL OVER, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, LIGHTS WENT OFF, STARTED DRIVING AGAIN, VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING. HAD TO TAKE IN FOR MECHANICAL REPAIRS. ISSUE #2- KEY IGNITION SWITCH JUST STARTED LOCKING UP ON THE VEHICLE, WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO NORMAL TO POSITION, HAD TO REPEATEDLY KEEP JIGGLING FOR OVER 30 MINUTES OR SO TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP?? HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS ALSO. THESE ARE VERY UNSAFE AND COSTLY ISSUES THAT GMC SHOULD BE MANDATORILY REQUIRED TO HAVE RECALLED AND IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC!!

NHTSA complaint #11176160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melrose, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH, WHEN I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WON'T TURN, IT BIND, ITS STOCK, VERY HARD TO TURN.

NHTSA complaint #11100473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 164,000 miles Fort Worth, TX Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I GOT REAR ENEDED AT A STOP SIGN, COMPLETELY STOPPED AND THE LADY JUST SMASHED RIGHT INTO THE BACK OF ME. NO AIR BAGS EVER EVEN DEPLOYED!

NHTSA complaint #11039891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,000 miles Pottstown, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

YESTERDAY AUGUST 20, 2017 IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WHILE DRIVING, MY 2011 GMC SIERRA DEAD STOPPED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . I REMAINED BLOCKING THE ROAD UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIVED TO PUSH MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START EVEN WITH A JUMP. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE AUTO MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS NOT RESPONDING.

NHTSA complaint #11018691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,400 miles Sharpsburg, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND OUT SIDE AIR TEMPERATURE SAYS 55 AND ITS 92 OUTSIDE WHEN MPVEING OR STILL

NHTSA complaint #11005470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aynor, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHORTED RANDOMLY SINCE 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10904382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Clair Shores, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL MY DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY LOCK AND UNLOCK, ALL MY EMERGENCY CHECKS AND SERVICE LIGHT GO ON AND OFF, MY GAUGES ALL DROP TO ZERO, AND MOST RECENTLY MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. BUT IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES IT'S WORSE THAN OTHERS. I RECENTLY HAD TO STEER UP ONTO A CURB BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AND MY GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO AND MY ENGINE COMPLETELY CUT OUT. AND THAT WAS AFTER MY AIRBAGS SHUT OFF AND MY LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS FLICKERED REPEATEDLY. MAYBE THERE'S A SHORT IN A CIRCUIT OR WIRE OR MAYBE IT'S MY ALTERNATOR BUT SERVICES AT A DEALERSHIP ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING IT. AND AL THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR STATIONARY. RAIN OR DRY. DOESN'T MATTER. BUT IT'S CLEARLY UNSAFE. AND I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT'S MY ONLY MEANS FOR TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA complaint #10860011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Denham Springs, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY GET STUCK IN THE START POSITION. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10747859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE GAUGES FAILED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE WASHER FLUID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALTHOUGH THE WASHER FLUID WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 13V315000 (AIR BAGS), AND 14V614000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10692175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,500 miles Cameron, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY STARTER OR FLY WHEEL IS CAUSING MY TRUCK TO NOT WANT TO START, ALSO THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 1500 RPM, AND SOMETHING IS KNOCKING IN THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. ITS A 2011 WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TAKEN WELL CARE OF, NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. LUCKILY STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10563813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

← Full 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 report