Most common 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 140 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019. Compare all years →
2001 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (2)
Equipment adaptive/mobility
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500:
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…
Parking brake failure
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…
What 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Brakes all 108 →
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. …
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. …
Fuel & propulsion system
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. …
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. …
Electrical system
It started with the fuel gauge fluctuating between full and empty with a full tank of gas and the ABS and brake light on dash lighting up for apparently no reason. Then it started giving me trouble starting and making a weird whining noise. I checked all the fluid levels and fuses, everything was OK. I was at the camp(middle of nowhere) at night when I noticed that there were sparks coming from around the area of the starter when my husband tried to start it.(it just happened to be dark and I was sitting with a view of the right wheel well) I checked the wires and found what might have been a break in the insulation, taped it and the sparks quit. Had no choice but to drive it home the next day as there was no phone service. Started right up , and drove fine, except for the low whinny noise that no one could pinpoint. I was almost home when the transmission started to slip. …
First thing was that my gas gauge started to fluctuate. Up until the point that I didn't know how much fuel I had in my tank. Then my instrument cluster started to go. It started to fluctuate then dies from time to time. RPM's , speed, gas, oil press, park, neutral, reverse, drive, 1,2,3, and miles driven cannot see anymore. Everything died the first time when I was driving home from work in the middle of the night on a dark road. Called dealer and dealer said it will cost me almost $600, which is ridiculous considering the fact that I just paid off the vehicle. I know that this is a repetitive problem with GM vehicles and am still wondering why GM won,t recognize it except only for '03 and '04 model trucks with under 70,000 miles. I bet you if people knew that one day their cluster would die under 7 years they would rather place their investment in a vehicle elsewhere. …
2001 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 10 / 13 / 11 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Sierra 1500 rates better than average: 46% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sierra 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500?
The brakes — 108 complaints, 77% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (17) and electrical system (7).
How many recalls does the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500, the most recent from November 26, 2004 (equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019. See the full GMC Sierra 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 97,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.