U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Gmc SIERRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

264 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

61,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 174 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 69 of 264 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	148	56.1%
Steering behavior	14	5.3%
Transmission and shifting	10	3.8%
Engine operation	7	2.7%
Electrical and battery issues	6	2.3%
Fuel system concerns	4	1.5%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Service Brakes

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Parking Brake

Tires

Air Bags:Frontal

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	69
Service Brakes	31
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	13
Parking Brake	10
Tires	10
Air Bags:Frontal	8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	8
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments	8

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 69; Service Brakes: 31; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Parking Brake: 10; Tires: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 50; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 13

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 90 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2000: 1; 2001: 22; 2002: 29; 2003: 14; 2004: 35; 2005: 86; 2006: 19; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 6; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 12; 2015: 7

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 148 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10010991 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)

PURCHASED FROM DEALERSHIP WITH A 2-YR INSPECTION STICKER. AFTER STICKER EXPIRED, WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED. FAILED DUE TO VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. INSPECTOR COMMENTED THAT MANY GMC SIERRAS ARE FAILING DUE TO THIS REASON. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR WHO ALSO AGREED WITH STATEMENT. HE SAID GMC WAS REPAIRING AT NO COST THOSE VEHICLES THAT HAD 36,000 MILES OR LESS. SINCE OURS HAS 55,000 MILES RECOMMENDED CONTACTING GMC. CONTACTED GMC WHO SAID THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010991 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037443 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)

BRAKE PROBLEM W/2001 GMC SIERRA. FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES. ROTORS WERE COMPLELELY RUSTED AT 60K MILES. SEVERE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ALTHOUGH PADS WERE NOT IGNIFICANTLY WORN. THIS CAUSED REPLACEMENT OF 4 ROTORS. GM MECHANIC SAID THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037443 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10091330 · 2004-09-20 (September 20, 2004)

A GMC SERVICE MANAGER CONVEYED TO ME THAT SEVERAL GM TRUCK OWNERS HAVE REPORTED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE STEERING SHAFT LEADING THROUGH THE FIREWALL. WEAR AT A U JOINT OCCURS AROUND 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES DUE TO EXCESSIVE TORQUE ON THE JOINT, AS EXPLAINED TO ME BY A GM SERVICE MANAGER. GM HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BY PROVIDING A NEW STEERING ROD. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT THE OLD PART. HOPEFULLY THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. THIS FIX CAME AT A COST OF $180.00 TO ME. THIS COST, I BELIEVE, SHOULD BE BORN BY GM. IF THE STEERING ROD IS LEFT UNREPL…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10097024 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)

THE HARNESS WIRING ON THE STEERING WHICH CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THEY WERE SO MASHED TOGETHER THAT THEY HAD BEGAN TO RUB AGAINST OTHER WIRES. THE WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097024 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069727 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

ENGINE USES TO MUCH OIL, KNOCKS, SMOKES BODY- TRUCK BED SIDES ARE RIPPELING BECAUSE THE METAL IS TO THIN,& CAN NOT HANDEL THE WEIGHT OF A LUMBER RACK, FRONT BUMPER IS DENTED ON BOTH SIDES BUT IN DIFFERANT PLACES, WAS LIKE THIS AT DELIVERY, ALL THE TRUCKS WERE LIKE THIS BUT ALL OF THEM IN DIFFERANT PLACES.MANUFACTURE DEFECT EXHAUST- LOOSE PARTS INSIDE OF MUFFLER, EXHAUST RATTELS FROM MOUNTING HARDWARE, MUFFLER RETAINS WATER AND LEAKS AT THE SEAMS. PAINT-RUST ON THE TOP OF CAB SEATBELT- DRIVER SIDE BELT WILL NOT RECOIL,BROKEN SEAT BELT BRACKET.(T…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069727 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078767 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)

1. HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES OF ABS SYSTEM IN MY 2001 GMC SIERRA 4X4. THERE WERE NO EXACT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS PROBLEM. 2. FAILURES HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS, BUT HAVE COME CLOSE TO CAUSING ACCIDENTS EITHER SOLO OR WITH OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO STOP. I HAVE FISHTAILED BECAUSE OF THIS, ALMOST HIT A POLE, ALMOST HIT OTHER VEHICLES, ETC. THE ABS SHOULD ENGAGE AND STOP ME, BUT WHEN I BRAKE HARD FOR ANY REASON, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND I DON'T STOP LIKE I SHOULD. THIS IS AT HIGHWAY SP…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113435 · 2005-04-08 (April 8, 2005)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 49,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113435 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113476 · 2005-03-04 (March 4, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT THREE TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022551 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING BATTERY DIED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022551 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071448 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

AFTER FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. *PH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, IT WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED BUT NOT THE CONNECTOR. THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AND QUIT RUNNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH WHICH CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. (THE CAP WAS TIGHTENED) THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS THEN OUT OF WARRANTY. SEVERA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112698 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)

TRUCK WILL RUN FINE UNTIL WARM. PULLING INTO STOP SIGN, GARAGE, TRAFFIC LIGHT,PARKING LOT ETC. TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF. ALTERNATOR GAUGE PULLS DOWN BELOW 9 VOLTS. NEW ALT. BELT, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. SEVERAL BOTTLES OF INJECTOR CLEANER WERE USED OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. NOTHING HELPED SO FAR. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. THE LAST ONE WAS ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE ENGINE STOPED AND I ENDED UP OUT INTO THE SOUTH OBUND LANES OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS COMING.*AK…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112698 at NHTSA ↗