This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on or reduced engine power message. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P2120, P2122, P2123, P2125, P2127, P2128, and/or P2138. Technician will need to inspect the Accelerator Pedal Position circuits for poor terminal tension.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 GMC Sierra cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2011 GMC Sierra have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Sierra | 3 |
| 2009 Sierra | 6 |
| 2010 Sierra | 5 |
| 2011 Sierra (this page) | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra | 4 |
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 6 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 GMC Sierra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of GMC Sierra in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the installation of Cruise Control on a vehicle which did not come equipped with the option. Technician will need to contact the Techline Customer Support Center to determine if a calibration is available for the vehicle. If they are able to provide a calibration for the vehicle then order steering wheel with cruise control buttons, steering wheel sir coil, and steering column wiring harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the installation of Cruise Control on a vehicle which did not come equipped with the option. Technician will need to contact the Techline Customer Support Center to determine if a calibration is available for the vehicle. If they are able to provide a calibration for the vehicle then order steering wheel with cruise control buttons, steering wheel sir coil, and steering column wiring harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an instrument panel backlighting flashes, flickers or inoperative, unwanted horn activation, radio controls inoperative or unwanted activation, OnStar unwanted activation, and cruise control inoperative. Technician should inspect for a short to ground on the steering wheel near the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint coil connector X2 and make necessary repairs to any shorted circuits and then position the wiring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CADILLAC/GMC/CHEVROLET: INFORMATION ON CRUISE CONTROL BEING INOPERATIVE DUE TO BPP CIRCUIT SIGNAL AND/OR TCC/CRUISE BRAKE PEDAL PARAMETERS, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BUT SHOWS APPLIED. MODELS 2007-2013 ALL ESCALADES, AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, SIERRA, ALL YUKONS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Second report - sudden acceleration. 2011 GMC sierra pu truck. On december 20, 2010 I was traveling to visit friends. While on highway I set the cruise control for 70 MPH. I exited the freeway and traveled approximately 5 miles on city streets. Upon entering a bedroom township known for speed traps I attempted to engage the cruise control for 30 MPH. When pressing the cruise control to set…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 32,601 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.