2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

112Air Bags complaints

39.6%Of all 283 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS112 · 39.6%

Unspecified / other72 · 25.4%

STRUCTURE:BODY38 · 13.4%

POWER TRAIN21 · 7.4%

ENGINE16 · 5.7%

Share of the 283 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“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 — filed 07/15/2017

“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE…”NHTSA complaint 10991447 — filed 05/24/2017

“TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART FOR THE…”NHTSA complaint 10979263 — filed 04/19/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500: 112 of 283 complaints on file (39.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 have in total?

283 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.