FaultScore

FaultScore report

2011 GMC Sierra Denali problems

Owners have filed 40 complaints about the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali with NHTSA between 2015 and 2021. The largest single group is the other & unspecified. Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 14 worst.

C

FaultScore 47/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GMC Sierra Denali.

How this is worked out

The numbers

40

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

62,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

7%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 90 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 12 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 90
Against the median year of the GMC Sierra Denali. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 12
7% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2011 compares with every other GMC Sierra Denali

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2011 GMC Sierra Denali

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Airbags 10 25.0%

Median failure at 57,625 miles

Body & Structure 9 22.5%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.0%

Median failure at 51,875 miles

Wheels 1 2.5%

Median failure at 99,000 miles

Suspension 1 2.5%

Median failure at 43,750 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 6 21.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 10 35.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 9 32.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 10.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Aug 2015 peak 4 Feb 2021

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 98,500 miles Flatrock, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY

DASH BOARD IS CRACKING IN THREE PLACES . THE MOST CONCERNING ONE IS AROUND THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG. MY PASSENGER COULD BE IMPALED WITH PIECES OF THE DASH IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11398230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deland, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A ISSUE WITH MY DASHBOARD CRACKING ALONG THE AIRBAG MODULE DOOR. I BELIEVE IF I WAS OR INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED THE PIECES OF DASH CAN BECOME FRAGMENTS AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE INJURY AND ALSO COULD DEFLATE THE AIRBAGS UPON EXPANSION. CAUSING MORE INJURY THAN DEEM NECESSARY.

NHTSA complaint #11389159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deland, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

I HAVE A ISSUE WITH MY DASHBOARD CRACKING ALONG THE AIRBAG MODULE DOOR. I BELIEVE IF I WAS OR INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED THE PIECES OF DASH CAN BECOME FRAGMENTS AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE INJURY AND ALSO COULD DEFLATE THE AIRBAGS UPON EXPANSION. CAUSING MORE INJURY THAN DEEM NECESSARY.

NHTSA complaint #11389159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Webster, NH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKED AT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. DECEMBER 22, 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE. I NOTICED IT AS SOON AS I GOT IN TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA complaint #11384605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,250 miles LA Porte City, IA

AIR BAGS

HIT A DEER WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT MADE A NOISE AND SOUNDS LIKED GAS WAS RELEASED. LIKE THE AIRBAGS TRIED TO DEPLOY BUT DIDN'T. NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND SAYS TO CHECK AIRBAG SYSTEM OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

NHTSA complaint #11375913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles BEL AIR, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE RIGHT SIDE DAH PANEL IS CRACKED AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG..

NHTSA complaint #11362302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Fairfax, VT

STRUCTURE:BODY

DASH HAS BEEN CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE BY AIRBAG, NOW I HAVE A CRACK JUST ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES AND THE CRACKS JUST APPEAR OUT OF NO WHERE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROADING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IT IS IMMACULATE OTHER THEN NOW CRACKED UP DASH. IT'S NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11355202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,750 miles Muscat, WA

POWER TRAIN

IN 2017 BEFORE MY VEHICLE COMPLETING TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE AT (70,000 KM) THE VEHICLE START SHUDDERING WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED, WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DUE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE & COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHUDDERING ISSUE, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SO THEY DID REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AFTER FIXING THE TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE I FOUND TRACE OF OIL IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE & AGAIN WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DUE I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LEAK, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE FOUND THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS LEAKING, BUT THEY DIDN'T REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AS THEY SAID IT'S CONSIDERED AS CONSUMABLE PARTS, VERY STRANGE FOR A SHOCK TO LEAK IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS CONSIDERING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN DRIVE IT IN OFFF ROAD, & THIS IS NOT THE FIRST VEHICLE I OWN, ALL THE VEHICLES I OWNED DIDN'T LEAK FOR TWENTY YEARS, SORRY I KNOW IT'S CONSUMABLE PART BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED BY THESE WORDS, THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS, ANYWAY I DECIDED TO NOT REPLACE IT WITH THE OEM SHOCKS I INSTALLED FOUR NEW AFTER MARKET SHOCK, NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SHOCKS TILL TODAY. IN Q4 LAST YEAR 2019 THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING ISSUE STARTED AGAIN & WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE I RAISED A COMPLAIN AGAIN FOR SHUDDERING ISSUE, THIS TIME THEY SAID WE DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WE ONLY HAVE TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH NEW OIL, I THINK IT'S MOBIL 1, & I HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE AGAIN CONSUMABLES & NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, HEY WAIT A MINUTE YES I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE PLUS THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM BUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT DUE YET FOR CHANGE IF YOU HAVE TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEN DO IT, BUT DON'T CHARGE ME BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURER FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #11337567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,750 miles Muscat, WA

SUSPENSION

IN 2017 BEFORE MY VEHICLE COMPLETING TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE AT (70,000 KM) THE VEHICLE START SHUDDERING WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED, WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DUE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE & COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHUDDERING ISSUE, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SO THEY DID REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AFTER FIXING THE TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE I FOUND TRACE OF OIL IN FRONT DRIVER SIDE & AGAIN WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DUE I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LEAK, AFTER DIAGNOSING THE FOUND THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER IS LEAKING, BUT THEY DIDN'T REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AS THEY SAID IT'S CONSIDERED AS CONSUMABLE PARTS, VERY STRANGE FOR A SHOCK TO LEAK IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS CONSIDERING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN DRIVE IT IN OFFF ROAD, & THIS IS NOT THE FIRST VEHICLE I OWN, ALL THE VEHICLES I OWNED DIDN'T LEAK FOR TWENTY YEARS, SORRY I KNOW IT'S CONSUMABLE PART BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED BY THESE WORDS, THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS, ANYWAY I DECIDED TO NOT REPLACE IT WITH THE OEM SHOCKS I INSTALLED FOUR NEW AFTER MARKET SHOCK, NO MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SHOCKS TILL TODAY. IN Q4 LAST YEAR 2019 THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING ISSUE STARTED AGAIN & WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE I RAISED A COMPLAIN AGAIN FOR SHUDDERING ISSUE, THIS TIME THEY SAID WE DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WE ONLY HAVE TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH NEW OIL, I THINK IT'S MOBIL 1, & I HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE AGAIN CONSUMABLES & NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, HEY WAIT A MINUTE YES I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE PLUS THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM BUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT DUE YET FOR CHANGE IF YOU HAVE TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEN DO IT, BUT DON'T CHARGE ME BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURER FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #11337567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Highland HTS, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKING IN 2 PLACES.

NHTSA complaint #11330022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Highland HTS, OH

STRUCTURE

DASHBOARD CRACKING IN 2 PLACES.

NHTSA complaint #11330022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,276 miles Kalispell, MT

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I OPENED UP THE DOOR TO MY GMC SIERRA AND NOTICED THERE WAS A CRACK ABOVE THE AIR BAG AND FROM THE DEFROST VENT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER COVER ON MY DASH.

NHTSA complaint #11277871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Vernon, TX

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS AND THEY ALL TELL ME GM DON'T HAVE A FIX YET SO BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE DOES THIS MEAN MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER LEMON LAW SINCE IT'S 8 YEARS OLD AND THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FIXED THANKS TAKATA I LOVE MY DENALI

NHTSA complaint #11217303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Vernon, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE STARTING AT AIR BAG TOP LEFT CORNER AND CENTER BRACKET BROKE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG INFLATORS GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONE DAY I GOT OFF WORK OPENED MY DOOR I GOT IN SHUT THE DOOR AND CRACK THIS IS STUPID THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF IMPROVEMENT DESIGN TO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #11217302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles BIG Bear City, CA

AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD CRACKED AT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND AT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BROKEN PLASTIC PIECES WILL BECOME SHRAPNEL DURING AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG INFLATION

NHTSA complaint #11186090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles BIG Bear City, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKED AT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND AT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BROKEN PLASTIC PIECES WILL BECOME SHRAPNEL DURING AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG INFLATION

NHTSA complaint #11186090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE SPOTS. PAINT SEEMS REALLY THIN. ORIGINAL PAINT NEVER BEEN ABUSED. AS FOR DASHBOARD I GUESS ITS A COMMON THING RIGHT BY THE AIR BAG AND DRIVER SIDE. SCARY TO THINK ABOUT A COLLISION AND SHARDS OF PLASTIC FLYING TOWARD YOUR FACE.

NHTSA complaint #11180487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE SPOTS. PAINT SEEMS REALLY THIN. ORIGINAL PAINT NEVER BEEN ABUSED. AS FOR DASHBOARD I GUESS ITS A COMMON THING RIGHT BY THE AIR BAG AND DRIVER SIDE. SCARY TO THINK ABOUT A COLLISION AND SHARDS OF PLASTIC FLYING TOWARD YOUR FACE.

NHTSA complaint #11180487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Bernville, PA

AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2011 GMC SIERRA DENALI 1500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD, THEY HAVE APPEARED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN IN THE LAST YEAR AND GOTTEN MUCH LARGER TO THE POINT WHERE A "HOLE" HAS OPENED UP DUE TO A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD BREAKING LOOSE AND FALLING INSIDE OF THE DASH CONSOLE. THE CRACKS AND LOOSE DEBRIS HAVE CAUSED ME CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY DURING A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FLYING DEBRIS/ SHRAPNEL FROM THE DASHBOARD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT IS AN AESTHETIC ISSUE WHICH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ITS OWN FACEBOOK PAGE AND PLENTY OF DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE SOME DASH BOARDS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AT A REDUCED COST. HOWEVER, THIS STILL SEEMS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT PERSONAL INJURY INCLUDING AND UP TO LOSS OF LIFE COULD BE A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #11132067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Bernville, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2011 GMC SIERRA DENALI 1500 HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD, THEY HAVE APPEARED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN IN THE LAST YEAR AND GOTTEN MUCH LARGER TO THE POINT WHERE A "HOLE" HAS OPENED UP DUE TO A PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD BREAKING LOOSE AND FALLING INSIDE OF THE DASH CONSOLE. THE CRACKS AND LOOSE DEBRIS HAVE CAUSED ME CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY DURING A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FLYING DEBRIS/ SHRAPNEL FROM THE DASHBOARD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT IS AN AESTHETIC ISSUE WHICH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ITS OWN FACEBOOK PAGE AND PLENTY OF DOCUMENTED CASES ONLINE. GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE SOME DASH BOARDS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AT A REDUCED COST. HOWEVER, THIS STILL SEEMS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT PERSONAL INJURY INCLUDING AND UP TO LOSS OF LIFE COULD BE A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #11132067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Rose, LA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL , DASH IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, CONCERNED IF AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY THE BROKEN DASH COULD BECOME FLYING PROJECTILES. MAJOR SAFERY ISSUE THAT G MC WILL NOT FIX.

NHTSA complaint #11101279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Rose, LA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL , DASH IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, CONCERNED IF AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY THE BROKEN DASH COULD BECOME FLYING PROJECTILES. MAJOR SAFERY ISSUE THAT G MC WILL NOT FIX.

NHTSA complaint #11101279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,000 miles Maysville, NC

AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD ON MY GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS 2 MAJOR CRACKS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES DASHBOARDS. FIRST CRACK IS OVER THE GAUGES ON THE DASH, AND THE SECOND IS RIGHT OVER TOP OF THE AIR BAG. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH NO RECALLS OR ASSISTANCE FROM VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. THE CRACKS ARE EITHER STARTED VIA DRIVING AND CRACKING DUE TO VIBRATION OF THE ROAD, OR THEY CRACK FROM PREMATURE WEAR VIA THE SUN FADING THE MATERIALS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, SEEING HOW IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY IT WILL SEND MANY SHARP PIECES OF DASHBOARD PLASTIC INTO THE PASSENGER OR MYSELF THE DRIVER. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OR ADDRESS.

NHTSA complaint #11083845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,000 miles Maysville, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD ON MY GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS 2 MAJOR CRACKS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES DASHBOARDS. FIRST CRACK IS OVER THE GAUGES ON THE DASH, AND THE SECOND IS RIGHT OVER TOP OF THE AIR BAG. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH NO RECALLS OR ASSISTANCE FROM VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS. THE CRACKS ARE EITHER STARTED VIA DRIVING AND CRACKING DUE TO VIBRATION OF THE ROAD, OR THEY CRACK FROM PREMATURE WEAR VIA THE SUN FADING THE MATERIALS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, SEEING HOW IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY IT WILL SEND MANY SHARP PIECES OF DASHBOARD PLASTIC INTO THE PASSENGER OR MYSELF THE DRIVER. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OR ADDRESS.

NHTSA complaint #11083845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Savannah, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AROUND SPEAKER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. NOTICED IT AROUND 75K MILES AND HAS SPREAD SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEAR

NHTSA complaint #11048448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.