Model year record

2001 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls & problems

The 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 has 5 safety recalls and 140 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (63 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints140filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

WheelsDec 17, 2007

Hub

Recall 07E106000130,000 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Risk: WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

Service brakes, airJun 6, 2006

Service brakes, air

Recall 06E0500006,800 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELD INTERFERING WITH THE ABS SENSOR CORD. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED DESPITE THIS INTERFERENCE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE ABS SENSOR AND THE TONE WHEEL MAY BE ALTERED. THIS MAY WEAKEN THE OUTPUT OF THE ABS SENSOR. DIMINISHED OUTPUT COULD RESULT IN AN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING DISTANCE COULD BE AFFECTED.
Risk: IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND WILL EITHER CREDIT THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT OR REPLACE THE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-563-8507 EXT 3530.

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Equipment adaptive/mobilityNov 26, 2004

Equipment adaptive/mobility

Recall 04V5620001,660 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.

EquipmentApr 10, 2001

Other › Labels

Recall 01V12500077,485 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Sierra 1500 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.8 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.8 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Sierra 1500 4WD

11mpg combined

City / highway	10 / 13 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

6 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $6,100/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	63	5	0	76,158 mi
Service brakes	40	2	0	110,356 mi
Parking brake	13	0	0	60,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	12	0	0	77,000 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash	7	0	0	62,000 mi
StructureBody; Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments	6	1	1	148,000 mi
Wheels	4	1	1	107,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	4	0	0	—
Power trainAxle assembly; Automatic transmission	3	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	3	0	0	113,000 mi
Air bags	3	2	2	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
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…
Dec 10, 2021
Air bags
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...
Feb 5, 2021
Service brakes
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…
Sep 1, 2019 · 98,000 miles
Service brakes
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 NHTSA. I HAVE NOW NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES LOCK UP AND DO NOT HAVE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM OPERATING.
Oct 31, 2017 · 122,000 miles
Service brakes
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
Mar 10, 2018 · 189,000 miles
Service brakes
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.
Feb 15, 2018 · 145,000 miles
Steering
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.…
Aug 30, 2017 · 146,650 miles
Service brakes
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…
Jan 19, 2017 · 238,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosedLed to recall 05V161000
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA 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…
EA04011 · opened Apr 9, 2004 · closed May 10, 2005
PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosed
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…
PE03057 · opened Dec 8, 2003 · closed Apr 9, 2004