Truck has just over 150k miles. Maintained well and garaged when possible. 1) Noticed a fuel smell from the driver side door area and after parking for a long weekend, a small pool of liquid formed in front of the driver side rear wheel. It was fuel dripping from the line leaving the evap canister that had rusted through. Resulted in a $600 repair to replace all rusted fuel lines so as to eliminate the risk of fire. 2) When approaching an intersection to make a left turn and slowing down the brake pedal pushes to the floor with no stopping power at all. Used the engine/trans in manual mode to slow the truck down and avoid an accident. Driver side brake lines are blown out in multiple spots near the ABS module due to corrosion. Potential cost based on research is in the $1000 ballpark. This level of rust on critical vehicle components is irresponsible and potentially deadly. GM needs to take this more seriously and realize that their cost-cutting measures are putting people and their families in grave danger.
The worst 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes108
- Fuel system17
- Electrical7
- Body6
- Engine5
- Wheels4
- Airbags3
- Transmission3
- Steering2
- Tires2
- Acceleration1
- Seat belts1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
Recalls 2
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1‑908‑231‑1804 or mobilityworks at 1‑800‑769‑8267.
Recall number 04V562000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: certain 2-wheel drive pickup trucks fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." the problem was caused by a computer error that resulted in the certification label listing tire size and inflation pressure information that differ from the tire size and the inflation pressure information for the tires on the vehicle. If the vehicle owner or someone servicing the vehicle inflates the tires according to the pressure specified on the label versus the appropriate pressure for the tires, the tires could be under-inflated or over-inflated depending on the tires mounted on the vehicle.
- Risk
- If the tires are under-inflated, it could reduce the tread life of the tire, and the tire could degrade to a point of allowing sudden air loss. If the tires are over-inflated, it could reduce the tread life of the tire and increase susceptibility to road hazard damage. If sudden air loss or a road hazard causes damage to a tire, control of the vehicle could be adversely affected and could result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with a new label and installation instructions. However, a dealer can install the label if the owner so desires. Owner notification began may 31, 2001. Owners who do not receive the label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782.
Recall number 01V125000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
Defect investigations
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated april 20, 2005, gm notified the federal safety agency that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to gm, some of these vehicles may have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.gm's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles.dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the pbr parking brake system and install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly on vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system. A total of 58 non-duplicative complaints were received by odi and gm concerning the approximately 59,000 my 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series pickup trucks with the pbr parking brake system.these included 22 alleged rollaway incidents, resulting in a rate of 38.5 rollaway incidents per 100,000 vehicles.odi is aware of 24 complaints regarding the my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series manual transmission trucks recalled by gm, including 5 alleging rollaway incidents.though the conditions described in gm's letter are also present in the c/k trucks with automatic transmissions, the rollaway rate in those vehicles was similar to those observed in peer vehicles studied by odi in this investigation.this engineering analysis is closed. For additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA04011
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake system's torque below that needed to immobilize the vehicle.gm has attributed this accelerated wear to foreign material intrusion and a failure of the brake shoe to properly self-center within its brake drum.effective with the start of my 2003 production, a newer reduced force hold-down clip was introduced to facilitate brake shoe disengagement from the drum surface.this part is also available at the service level for the my 1999-2002 vehicles.gm has indicated that the paking brake is intended to operate in conjunction with the transmission to immobilze parked vehicles, and that in many cases, accelerated parking brake lining wear is caused by rough use, vehicle modifications, and driving with the parking engaged. Odi has upgraded the preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis to gather further information concerning parking brake usage factors and the circumstances surrounding the seventeen reported vehicle crashes.
PE03057
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 136
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- Electrical system
- Unknown or other
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves...
- This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
2001 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 14-15 | 18-20 | 16-17 |
| 4.8L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 18 | 15 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 13-14 | 16-18 | 14-15 |
| 4.8L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 16 | 14 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 16 | 14 |
| 6.0L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 10 | 13 | 11 |
What 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My anti lock keep kicking in, the panhead by gas tank is completely shot and there is a box by the gas tank for emissions and not able to get 1 and the frame in the front is shot also along with the body that's completely shot and the gas gauge keeps telling empty 1 time and then it goes to full to empty even after I fill it up...
The ABS and break system warning light has been coming on and staying on. I lost my breaks leaving a parking spot at my local walmart as I was pulling out of a parking spot! We then made appointment for the break system to be checked/repaired. The ABS control system light went off for awhile but then comes back on even after the repair of said repair to break lines. My truck also has no fuel gauge that does not work. With these issues on my vehicle makes it very scary to drive and makes driving limited. I am not able to drive my truck long distances due to concerns of safety and possibly of ABS warning light, break issues, and fuel gauge! I was driving my truck to pick one of my daughters up from school to lose power while pushing on gas then some jerking and a foul smell of rubber burning coming from the front right tire area. I then had someone look at the truck and was told that what ever it was happening that everything looked okay and it was possible just a break sticking. It has happened 3 different times. My truck still has approximately 98,000 or so miles on it. This truck also has bad corrosion on bottom baseboards of the truck. I saw below that I am asked for specific date of issues. I can not provide specific dates since there has been so many things wrong which has happened at different times.
Abs message light came on consistently and due to the safety issue explained by my mechanic shop, I had the wheel speed sensor changed and now about 6 months later the ABS message light is now appearing in the message board again intermintently. I read where gmc started a recall on september 22,2005 for this same problem which called( gm recall # 05068) but only for "salt belt states" "service brakes, hydraulic:antilock".interestingly my state was left off of the list. I called gmc and they indicate there was no such recall and suggested I call the federal safety agency. I have now noticed that my brakes lock up and do not have the antilock system operating.
Brake lines rusted out under drivers side cab. Truck stuck in driveway. Lucky it did not happen on highway will cost almost as mush as truck is worth to have all new brake lines installed
Rusted out fuel lines. Had to replace all fuel lines. Rusted out brake lines. Brakes gave out while driving. Luckly no accident. Had to replace all brake lines.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 gmc sierra 800 (na). On several occasions, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the steering gear assembly. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to hiley buick gmc (3535 w loop 820 s, fort worth, tx 76116 (817) 632-8800 where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. On another occasion, the contact noticed that the leakage from the steering gear assembly failed again. The vehicle was taken back to hiley buick gmc where it was then diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. During the third failure, the contact parked the vehicle in his garage and noticed a trail of fluid on the ground. Upon further inspection, he noticed fluid coming from the steering again. The vehicle was then taken back to hiley buick gmc where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but with a different part number (19330428). The failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 146,650.
Lost all brakes on my 01' gmc sierra 1500 sle 4x4 while braking on an off ramp, pedal went all the way to the floor. Brake lines appear to be completely rusted out, which doesn't make sense when I have a 5 year older honda civic, with 110k more miles on it, and the brake likes do not look near as bad. Both spent their lives in minnesota / wisconsin. After doing some googling, it appears this is extremely common with 2000-2003 gm trucks. If this wasn't a manufacturing defect, wouldn't all uncoated brake lines rust out at similar rates, in the same conditions? Mind boggling that gm is able to get away with not having to spend the cash to correct this problem. As if that money is worth more then the persons life.
Manifold bolt(s) broken. Heard it's a common thing. Really disappoints me about my trust in gm.
Was on my way home, when I went to turn left onto my road. My brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I had to accelerate across a main road because a vehicle came up over the hill at me and I could not stop the truck. I coasted down a hill until the truck stopped rolling. When it was towed to a service station the mechanic noted a rusted out hole in my brake line. This is the 2nd time this has happened. The last time was in 2013. Yet the manufacturer does nothing to address this!!!!!!!
Compare the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
Is the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
Owners have filed 140 complaints about the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500, fewer than a typical Sierra 1500 model year.
What is the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 year score?
The 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 scores 85 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the GMC Sierra 1500: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500?
Brakes, with 108 complaints, typically around 96,000 miles. Next is fuel system (17).
How many recalls does the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
2 recalls, covering equipment adaptive/mobility and equipment.
What year does the GMC Sierra 1500 have bad brakes?
The GMC Sierra 1500 model years with the most brakes complaints are 2015 (229 complaints), 2014 (144 complaints) and 2000 (131 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 get?
Official estimates for the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 range from 11 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 14-15 city and 18-20 highway.
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Check its historyGMC Sierra 1500 in the news
- Safety regulators investigate 2022-2024 GMC Sierra 1500 for upper grille deflector detachment
- Chevrolet recalls 2016-2017 Silverado 1500, 2016-2017 Sierra 1500 and 2016 Silverado 2500 and other models over air bags inflator problem (1,559 vehicles)
- Safety regulators investigate 2021-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2021-2026 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2021-2026 GMC Sierra 1500 and other models for loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy