Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 GMC Sierra 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving the brake and ABS lights on the instrument panel light up. This has occurred while driving of the freeway and on city streets. Sometimes these lights go off and sometimes they remain lighted. When this happens I fear that there is a problem with the brakes and have taken this matter to a mechanic. The brakes were examined and he found nothing wrong. This is very startling to the driver and of great concern. This appears on internet searches and it appears that 100,000 plus individuals have this problem. I have contacted the dealer and obviously this matter has been brought to there attention. Yet they claim they are unfamiliar and want to charge $600 to diagnose and then likely more to fix. This is obviously a lie as there is no way that one could be reading so much about this on the internet if it was not a problem in the GMC Sierra trucks. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 GMC Sierra 2500. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear of the vehicle slightly lowered towards the ground. The vehicle was driven with caution to the contact's residence. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that that the driver side main frame rail was fractured in the center. Additionally, the passenger side main rail was partially fractured. The failure was beyond repair. The contact mentioned that the brake line and rear cross member near the fuel tank were completely corroded. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
Wet surface. Two similar wrecks in two different Chevy pickups. One a 1994 and the other in a 2000 GMC. Trying to stop, standing on the brakes, while both of these vehicles accelerated into the rear of the vehicle in front of me. Following the last incident, I went straight to a large empty parking lot and duplicated the acceleration while standing on brakes.
I was turning around in my driveway, when suddenly the brake peddle went to the floor and all braking power was lost. Tried pumping the brakes multiple times with no success. There was no warning (lights or otherwise) before the incident, and no dash lights lit during the incident either.
I purchased this truck used and was able to use for a bout a month before both rear spring perches broke allowing the springs to rest under the pickup body, after replacing them the brake lines ruptured because of rust another poor quality product from GM !
Periodically, without warning, the brakes malfunction on my 2000 GMC Sierra pickup. After the brakes are applied, the vehicle begins slowing, then you can feel a sensation of the braking action releasing, no mater how hard the brake pedal is pressed. The sensation is like some of the brakes have let go and are not longer being applied. I have had no accidents but there have been several tense close situations at tee intersection, which could have been very bad. This has occurred since the vehicle was new. We have had it in for correction several times, but it has not been corrected. It seems to be a problem in the ABS system. GMC and their representatives were unable to find the problem while the age and mileage of the vehicle were within the warranty limits and now do not want to pay for any diagnosis of the problem and possibly any correction. …
I was returning home from lexington ky when I came around a curve there were two deer in the road. I hit the brakes hard and the pedal went to the floor. I hit one of the deer with a glancing blow. There was no damage to my truck and the deer ran away. Thank god I was not in lexington when this happened and the deer was not a child. I am 72 years old and I don't have the money or the energy to make this repair. Last year my son was backing his 2001 silverado to the lake to load a boat when this same thing happened. The truck went into the water up to the cab before he got it into another gear. After a 1100.00 repair he traded for a Ford. General motors needs to be held accountable for this defect
Tl contact owns a 2000 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle has a leak in the brake line that flows below the framework. This failure causes the vehicle to lose braking ability. While driving 35 MPH in dry conditions, the contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard in order to stop the vehicle. The contact brought the vehicle to the dealer who found recall # 00V345000 for the service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. The contact's vehicle is excluded from the recall. He adds brake fluid everyday to ensure the vehicle stops properly. The current and failure mileages were 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 GMC k2500. The contact referenced a recall but the recall number was unknown. The contact spoke with the dealer and the manufacturer and both stated that the recall repair had previously been performed in 2005. While approaching a stop sign at 5 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and it went to the floorboard. The contact released the brakes and applied them again. The failure continued intermittently. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000. The current mileage was approximately 85,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 GMC Sierra 2500. While driving approximately 5 MPH and applying pressure to the brake pedal it began to vibrate. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be repaired or for diagnostic testing. The dealer was contacted and stated that there was a recall on the brakes, NHTSA campaign id number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock) but the VIN was not included. The contact stated the failure occurred every time pressure was applied to the brake pedal. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with vacuum power, 4-wheel disc brakes. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems." these vehicles were built with a kinked brake booster vacuum supply hose.
Remedy: Dealers will re-route the brake booster vacuum supply hose.
NHTSA investigations
Hydraulic pump shaft failures
The preliminary evaulation is being upgraded.during the ea odi will limitits investigation to only those vehicles equipped with a hydro-boost system, which provides power assist to the braking and steering sytems.vaccuum brake booster vehicles are excluded.odi hasexpanded the scope of the ea to include model years2003 and 2004, asduring the pe, odi learned that the hydroboast pumps were modified in febraury…
Brake complaints in other Sierra 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 GMC Sierra 2500?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 GMC Sierra 2500, 67% of the model year's 48 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-222 (vacuum, Aug 8, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.