2001 Gmc SIERRA 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,540 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 36 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 47.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
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, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10013878 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
FAILURE OCCURS BELOW 15MPH WHILE DOING A NORMAL STOP ON BOTH WET AND DRY ROAD (WITH NO CONTAMINANTS ON THE ROAD TO AFFECT BRAKING). THIS HAS HAPPENED EIGHT TIMES IN THE 8500 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE, WITH THE EIGHTH TIME RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. EVENT COURSE IS THAT I AM COMING TO A NORMAL STOP, AND WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE I PUSH SLIGHTLY MORE ON THE PEDAL IN AN INSTANCE WHERE A LITTLE MORE BRAKE IS NEEDED TO STOP BEFORE WHERE I HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS KICKS IN (I CAN HEAR A WHIRRING SOUND BUT THE BRAKES …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120267 · 2005-05-09 (May 9, 2005)
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THIS TRUCK, I WAS DOING LESS THAN 20 MPH SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A LIGHT. I HIT A SMALL DUMP THEN I HEARD THE ABS COME ON AND I ROLL RIGHT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT MUST BE MY DRIVING. AFTER SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS, I HAD THE ABS DISCONECTED AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER FAILURES.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147760 · 2006-01-14 (January 14, 2006)
ABOUT APRIL OF 2005 MY TRUCK STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AT THIS TIME IT WOULD RESTART AUTOMATICALLY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS MISSING A STALL CODE AND THAT THEY HAD UPDATED IT. IN SEPTEMBER IT STARTED TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I HAD ASKED SOME MECHANICS I KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN IGNITION PROBLEM. WE STARTED CHECKING ALL IGNITION CONNECTIONS, FUSES, GROUNDS ETC. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND STARTED DOING IT AGAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238758 · 2008-08-18 (August 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SES WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND TYPICALLY RESTARTS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $400 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,500. UPDAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173791 · 2006-11-18 (November 18, 2006)
INJECTOR FAILURES ON 2001 GMC DURAMAX 6.6 DIESEL ENGINE. INJECTORS FAILED AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 167,000 MILES, FAILED AGAIN AT 197,000 MILES AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. G M CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY IF THEY FAILED AGAIN IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. INJECTORS FAILED AT 234,000 MILES AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE RENIGGED ON THEIR WORD. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD FAILURES IN 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES. THEY ARE REPLACING PARTS WITH REMANUFACTURED PARTS AND THEY ARE NOT LASTING. GM DEALERS ARE CHARGING $3600.00 TO $…
Owner-reported narrative. 232,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236224 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MUST WAIT UP TO 20 MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED ON ONE OCCASION, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR THE OTHER THREE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215820 · 2008-01-23 (January 23, 2008)
GMC 2001 SIERRA C3 PARKING BRAKE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AS IT SHOULD. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST IT (FROM WHAT I CAN TELL). A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN 05V161000 ALLUDED TO THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS. THIS IS NOT LOGICAL AS THE MECHANISM IS THE SAME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396402 · 2021-02-16 (February 16, 2021)
THE TRUCK HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR IT'S AGE BUT IT 3 TIMES STARTING IN 2005 IT HAS CAUGHT FIRE IN AND AROUND THE BATTERY/ALTERNATOR. I'VE GIVEN GMC MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT FIRST AND IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY THE OTHER DAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11396402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142741 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
SOLD ME A "GOOD RUNNING VEHICLE" THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN, CAUSED NO BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF CENTER DO TO STEERING COMPONENTS, NO SAFETY BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE
Owner-reported narrative. 98 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142741 at NHTSA ↗