What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 GMC Sierra

Typical pattern

13.7% of complaints about the 2001 GMC Sierra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (102 complaints), typically at 4.6 yr or about 50,000 miles.

Complaints
313
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
50,000 n=218
Crash / fire / tow
14.4% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes, hydraulic
102 reports · 50,000 mi
4.6 yr
12.7%
Service brakes
31 reports · 134,000 mi
13.1 yr
9.7%
Engine cooling
21 reports · 46,000 mi
2.7 yr
14.3%
Suspension
17 reports · 49,274 mi
4.3 yr
17.6%
Tires
15 reports · 49,274 mi
2.4 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07V521000 2007-11-07
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 ENGINE, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CAN OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY OR FAIL COMPLETELY. IF THE SENSOR OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY, THE SES LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE MAY RUN ROUGH. THE ENGINE MAY STALL, AND IF SO, MAY RE-START IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A COOL DOWN PERIOD.

IF THE SENSOR BECOMES COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING AND WILL NOT RE-START. EITHER OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28
Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

05V379000 2005-08-29
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.

THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

05V161000 2005-04-22
Parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

04E022000 2004-03-23
Equipment

AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO THE TRUCK BED IS NOT ENGAGING FULLY IN THE STAKE POCKET OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.

THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS.

04V129000 2004-03-17
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 6 mo in service
THERE WAS A LARGE "BOOMING" NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE EVERYTIME CONSUMER DROVE IT. THIS NOISE OCCURRED WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY GREASED DIFFERENTIAL. HE WAS TOLD THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Suspension mileage not reported 5 mo in service
VEHICLE WOULD LEAN TO LEFT, AND ALSO PULLED LEFT WHILE DRIVING. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP , AND HAD 2 STEP COIL SPRINGS/ INSULATOR , AND BODY SHIMS REPLACED ON LEFT SIDE. BROUGHT VEHICLE 1/8 INCH ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. LATER VEHICLE WAS HIGH LEFT AND LOW REAR LEFT. *AK
Suspension mileage not reported 9 mo in service
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKES GEAR NOISE IN 1ST AND 4TH GEARS. AT PURCHASE, VEHICLE HAD BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS, WHICH DID NOT ELIMINATE PROBLEM. DEALER TESTED TIRES AND FOUND ONE DEFECTIVE TIRE...THE OTHER THREE HAD TO BE "INDEXED" ON THE WHEELS. DRIVESHAFT, SUSPENSION COMPONENTS/HARDWARE AND PARTS OF THE CHASSIS HAVE SIGNIFICANT RUST. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R16)
Tires mileage not reported 9 mo in service
CONSUMER WAS DISSATIFIED WITH RECALL AND CALLED IT FRAUD IF TIRES ARE OVER INFLATED/ UNDER INFLATED, OR COLD PRESSURE . *AK

Other Sierra model years

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