Most common 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Share of the 26 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 3500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 3500 years: 2012, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025, 2022. Compare all years →
2000 GMC Sierra 3500 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.
Steering › Linkages › Drag › Link › Connection
Vehicle description: chassis cabs. The tapered hole in the drag link end that attaches to the pitman arm tapered ball stud May be machined too deep causing the hole to be oversized. A drag link with an oversized hole May not "seat" the pitman arm tapered ball when assembled.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering linkage assembly and, if necessary, replace the drag link and the pitman arm.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2000 GMC Sierra 3500:
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…
What 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 owners say
Brakes
2000 GMC k3500 reg. Cab pickup 4x4 -- brake pedal goes to floor and ABS system engages. Vehicle has extended braking distances on dry pavement. Brake light comes on and goes off after re-application of brakes by "pumping" them. Pedal also goes to floor without engagement of ABS system and vehicle will not stop. Problem has been recurring for three (3) years but this time vehicle was intentionally driven into a snowbank to prevent a collision with another vehicle. On 06/24/2010 driver rear brake line (steel) rotted through where it touched frame and expelled all brake fluid from master cylinder also causing brake failure.other lines also showing premature corrosion. Brakes always have a soft and spongy feel even after replacement of fluid and bleeding of entire system. Parking brake cable (front) also snapped due to corrosion at underside of cab.
Steel brake pipe that carries fluid to the rear brakes ruptured next to the fuel tank. Fluid is leaking and pooling on the flange of frame. Stopping performance is degraded, and no warning has registered via the instrument cluster or idiot lights. Line is badly corroded, which perhaps is to be expected given the age of the vehicle. However, I find it ironic that the exhaust system is made of stainless steel yet the brake lines are not. This vehicle has had other brake-related failures that GM refused to correct, despite having recalled contemporary vehicles with identical problems. It is an unusual build - old (gmt400)bodystyle, model year 2000, 1 ton crew cab longbox. I believe GM forgot they built these and thus they neglect to include trucks of this type in their prior recalls. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Previous years of my truck with the Allison "branded" transmission have been reported to lock up while driving. From what I can gather there was a recall. Instead of fixing the issues with the transmission a program was installed to put the transmission in limp mode during the failure. My model, a 2023 apparently came with the limp mode feature already installed. When my transmission failed it took the truck out of gear and locked up for a moment before I could safely pull over.
The front end of the vehicle vibrated. The transmission, brakes, bucket seats, and differential unit malfunctioned.
Engine & cooling
Trucks engine dies, while driving at any speed without warning. As a result the truck looses all power, including steering and brake. The dealership ran a diagnostic test, but no failure code was found. 2000 GMC 3500 experiencing problem with engine equipment. While driving at any speed and without warning truck engine dies. As a result vehicle loses all power including the steering and brake equipment. Vehicle was taken to the dealership where it was test driven. During the test drive vehicle died 8 times within one mile radius of travel. Dealer replaced injector pump for the second time.
Tl contact owns a 2000 GMC 3500. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shut off and the braking and steering functions became inoperable. When the failure occurs, the contact must jumpstart the vehicle or wait until the vehicle cools down in order for it to be restarted. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure because it could not be duplicated. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 58,000 and current mileage was 62,000.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Sierra 3500 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 3500 at the same age. It is one of the Sierra 3500 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2000 GMC Sierra 3500?
The brakes — 12 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2000 GMC Sierra 3500, 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 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2014 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2022. See the full GMC Sierra 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 47% 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.