2001 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
140 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
97,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 123 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 140 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 110 | 78.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 40 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 37 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Parking Brake | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
Service Brakes: 40; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 37; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Parking Brake: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline: 11; Electrical System: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Wheels: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 40 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 40; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 7; 2006: 12; 2007: 11; 2008: 9; 2009: 6; 2010: 25; 2011: 13; 2012: 13; 2013: 9; 2014: 6; 2015: 7; 2016: 7; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10062736 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080506 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
MY 2001 GMC SIERRA 4X4 PICKUP WAS DESIGNED WITH THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS INSTALLED ON THE FRONT OF THE ROTORS. ANY ROAD DEBRIS THROWN-UP BY THE FRONT WHEELS CAUSES THE REAR BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THE TRUCK HAS 44600 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THE REAR PADS, ON THE OUTSIDE, ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THE REAR PADS, ON THE INSIDE, ARE WORN TO THE METAL. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A NOISE IN THE REAR END WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY.THE REAR BRAKES ALWAYS HANG WHEN YOU STOP, THEN MAKE TWIN POPPING SOUNDS WHEN YOU START-OFF AGAIN.…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179323 · 2007-01-22 (January 22, 2007)
GAS TANK FILLER NECK LEAKING FUEL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370165 · 2010-12-08 (December 8, 2010)
THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN JUMPING FROM FULL TO EMPTY REGARLESS OF THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. I TOOK GM'S RECOMMENDATION TO PUT THEIR FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER INTO THE GAS TANK TO CLEAN THE CONTACTS ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW TOLD THAT ONLY WAY TO FIX THE FUEL GAUGE IS TO PULL THE GAS TANK AND REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY SENDING UNIT AND THE "QUICK FIX" THAT MANY PEOPLE PROBABL…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129550 · 2005-07-21 (July 21, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT NOT ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT, AND THEY WOULD CHANGE THE PARKING BRAKE WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNED DIFFERENTLY. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. INSPECTOR TOLD CALLER HE NEEDED TO GET PROBLEM FIXED OR NEXT YEAR IT WILL PROBABLY NOT PASS INSPECTION. TRUCK IS A SIERRA C15.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172158 · 2006-10-30 (October 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE; THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING FORWARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019441 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR AJAR ALARM TO SOUND AND THE DASHBOARD GAUGES TO MALFUNCTION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316445 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A LITTLE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH MY 2001 GMC 4X4 TRUCK. THERE ARE TWO CERTAIN GROCERY STORES I GO TO AND WHEN I START MY TRUCK BACK AT THESE STORES THE GAS GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY AND THE GAS PEDAL LOCKS UP AND CAN NOT BE PUSHED DOWN.THEN I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE , THEN WHEN I GET THE GAS PEDAL FREED THEN START THE TRUCK BACK THE GAS PEDAL IS OK. I'M THINKING MY TRUCK'S COMPUTER IS GETTING CONFUSED WITH SOME KIND OF MICRO WAVES OR SOMETHING COMING FROM THE STORES ELECTRICAL DEVICES. I'M WONDERING IF ANYONE EL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10316445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206963 · 2007-10-26 (October 26, 2007)
WHILE DRIVING I TILTED MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I FOUND THAT AS I MOVED THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN THERE WAS A SPOT AT WHICH THE LIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP I THEY FOUND THAT A WIRE IN THE JUNCTION BLOCK OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (BLINKER ASSEMBLY) HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512049 · 2013-05-15 (May 15, 2013)
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN LEFT TURN LANE WHEN IMPACTED HEAD ON BY SMALLER CAR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS KNOCKED BACK APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AND 16 FEET SIDE WAYS. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED OR SEAT BELT LOCKED TO PREVENT DRIVER FROM IMPACTING STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD, RESULTING IN FACE ,CHEST, ARM, AND LEG INJURIES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252804 · 2008-12-26 (December 26, 2008)
I HAVE A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500 THAT STALLS ON A CONSTANT BASIS WHILE GOING A LOW SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK A FEW YEARS AGO BUT HAS GOTTEN A LOT WORSE RECENTLY. THE TRUCK STALLS SEVERAL TIMES EVERY DAY NOW WHILE COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK WILL RESTART INSTANTLY UNTIL IT STALLS AGAIN AT THE NEXT STOP. I CHECKED YOUR WEB SITE AND THERE ARE SOME RECALLS FOR CRANK SENSORS FOR GMC SIERRAS, BUT NOT THE 1500 MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. MY TRUCK HAS THE EXACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369946 · 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)
THIS PROBLEM CONCERNS MY 2001 GMC SIERRA AND GM'S RECALL NUMBER 05068. THE RECALL CONCERNS THE ABS AND A RUST PROBLEM. I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED ON OCT. 19, 2005 AND THERE WAS 47,249 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I NOTICED A BRAKING PROBLEM LAST WEEK WITH MY TRUCK. AFTER DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DECIDED IT WAS PROBABLY A ABS SENSOR PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALER THAT DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THEY CHECKED WITH GM REGIONAL MANAGER AND SAID IT WAS ALREADY COVERED ONCE AND WOULDN'T COVER IT A SECOND TIME. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,849 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369946 at NHTSA ↗