YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Denali Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

88/100

#2 most-complained of 9 Denali years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 GMC Denali has 11 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 88 out of 100 — #2 highest of 9 Denali model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (5 complaints, 45% of the total).

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 GMC Denali problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other8 (73%)
  2. Airbags5 (45%)
2011 GMC Denali complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2017May 2017Aug 2017Nov 2017Jul 2018Jun 2020
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Jun 2020; peak May 2017 (5).

2011 GMC Denali recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 compared with other Denali years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200720082009201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009No verdict1320—
2010Caution6350—
2011Avoid88110—
2012Avoid7560—
2013Good3850—

All GMC Denali years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 GMC Denali a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 GMC Denali ranks #2 of 9 among Denali model years (Complaint Index 88/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 11 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 GMC Denali?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 114,239 miles.
Does the 2011 GMC Denali have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2011 GMC Denali in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.