2001 GMC Sierra: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 264 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (35% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 264 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Went to stop at traffic light and experienced brake line rupture due to excessive rust. Had to use emergency brake to coast to a stop. Fortunate no cars were in lane.$1200.00 for repair of lines.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2015
“Brake pedal moved all the way to floor with no apparent hydraulic pressure which failed to engage brakes when shifting into drive. Inspection of brake lines beneath drivers side door revealed excessive rust and a hole in steel brake line leaking fluid.”Owner report · Service Brakes · May 2015
“Brake line failed and broke, upon inspection all brake lines were corroded and brittle, had to replace all brake lines. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the ABS failed and the vehicle started to pull to the right. The contact determined that the cause of the failure was a defective wheel speed sensor. The VIN was not affected by NHTSA campaign number: 05v379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 105,000. ...updated 06-11-15 *bf updated 11/23/2015*js”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra. While self-servicing the vehicle, the contact discovered that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000. The VIN was unavailable.”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2014
“Heading into parking spot at walmart , applied brakes would not stop , heading head on into parked car , slammed emergency brake , put into neutral , finally stopped . Had to have towed to mechanic brake lines all burst due to rust , mechanic said cost to fix , approx. $1000 or more ? Which I don't have . Thank god I was going slow and didn't cause any injury , pour design and pour quality parts per mechanic on gm's part , notice a lot of complaints on these era of trucks. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2014
“I pulled into my driveway and approached the garage, applied brakes and all they did was vibrate and make that pulse noise. No mater how hard I pushed the pedal, the truck would not stop and I went through the garage door and also knocked over my harley that was in the garage. I cant believe the amount of common story's about this brake issue. There should be a class action lawsuit. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the brake pedal was entirely depressed and the vehicle rolled into an intersection. The contact stated that the emergency brake was applied in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 227,570.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra. The contact was driving approximately 2 mph when the brakes failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the brakes failed to respond. The contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the brake lines had rust build up. The independent mechanic repaired one brake line. The manufacturer had not been notified. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 30 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CAN OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY OR FAIL COMPLETELY. IF THE SENSOR OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, THE SES LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE MAY RUN ROUGH. THE ENGINE MAY STALL, AND IF SO, MAY RE-START IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A COOL DOWN PERIOD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO THE TRUCK BED IS NOT ENGAGING FULLY IN THE STAKE POCKET OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.
Remedy: DURAKON WILL ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THAT COULD HAVE PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE BEDLINER. IF YOU PURCHASED EITHER A DURAKON ALLSTAR OF PATRIOT OVERRAIL BEDLINER SINCE AUGUST 1, 2003, FOR 1999 TO 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO OR GMC SIERRA TRUCKS, OR PURCHASED ONE OF THESE PICKUP TRUCKS WITH EITHER BRAND BEDLINER ALREADY INSTALLED, YOU SHOULD RETURN TO AN AUTHORIZED DURAKON DEALER SO THAT THE BEDLINER CAN BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED TOGGLE WING FASTENING SYSTEM, OR IF REQUIRED, REPLACED WITH A NEW BEDLINER FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE CALL THE DURAKON HOTLINE AT 1-800-933-4200 TO FIND THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DURAKON DEALER.
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sierra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 GMC Sierra reliable?
NHTSA has 264 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 GMC Sierra. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (35% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 GMC Sierra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 62,000 miles or less.
Does the 2001 GMC Sierra have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.