2001 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the brakes, and two themes dominate: rusted steel brake lines that leak or burst, and the antilock system kicking in at low speeds. Brake-line complaints arrive across a wide mileage spread, from around 45,000 to well past 200,000 miles, and are frequently described as appearing without warning. A smaller group of reports covers a fuel gauge that reads empty when the tank is full and body rust.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Rusted brake lines leaking or bursting

   • 53 complaints (38%)
   • median 105,175 mi at 11.8 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2021

   Complaints describe steel brake lines along the frame rusting through and losing brake fluid, sometimes at a 90-degree bend or above the fuel tank, which leaves the pedal going to the floor. Owners often say the loss came without warning while driving, slowing for a light or turning, and several report repeat failures on a second line after the first was replaced. Repair shops and dealers quoted replacement of all the lines, and some owners noted the truck was garaged or not driven on salted roads. Scattered broadly from about 45,000 to over 230,000 miles, with many reports in the 75,000 to 150,000 mile range.

   What to check: Have the truck put on a lift and inspect the full length of the steel brake lines for rust and seepage, especially along the frame and above the fuel tank. Ask whether any lines have already been replaced and keep the fluid level and pedal feel in mind on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was backing my boat into the water,stepped on brakes and pedal went to the floor.the brakes were gone. Quickly put in drive and four wheel drive and pulled up ramp(up hill ramp so brakes were not so important used emergency brake to stop).the complete system failed,there were no hydraulic brakes at all as all the lines corroded.”

   NHTSA complaint #10617246, filed 2014-07, 86,000 miles

   “Driving at approximately 35 MPH, applied brakes when approaching a red light. Brake pedal went down to the floor, truck went into the intersection and finally came to a stop. There were no indication of problem before this occurred. Truck taken to a repair shop. All brake lines were rusted and were replaced. I requested that the service station save the rusted parts which are now in my garage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10364380, filed 2010-11, 101,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS activates at low speed, longer stopping

   • 25 complaints (18%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2019

   Owners describe the antilock system engaging during light braking at roughly 5 to 10 mph, with a growling or pulsing pedal and the truck rolling further than expected, often when turning into a parking space or approaching an intersection. Several complaints say the ABS light stays on or comes on intermittently. Dealers and shops commonly cleaned or replaced wheel speed sensors or the front hub assemblies; some owners reported the symptom returning after repair, and a few noted their vehicle was not covered by the antilock recall that applied to certain VINs. Reported from about 27,000 miles upward, most commonly in the 50,000 to 130,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, brake gently at very low speed in a straight line and while turning, and watch whether the ABS light stays on. Ask whether the wheel speed sensors or hubs have been serviced and whether any antilock recall work was done for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11096402, filed 2018-05, 122,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11288368, filed 2019-12, 98,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads empty or jumps

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2021

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge dropping to empty or swinging between full and empty regardless of how much fuel is in the tank, with the low-fuel light staying on. Some owners say the reading is worse in cold weather or after a cold start, and several resorted to tracking mileage to know when to refuel. Dealers diagnosed a faulty sending unit inside the tank, and one owner reported that a fuel-system cleaner recommendation was followed by a plugged catalytic converter. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 105,000 miles, with several noting cold weather made it worse.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank and watch the gauge over a short drive, and check whether the low-fuel light behaves normally. Ask whether the fuel sending unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gas gauge goes to empty without warning, even after filling up the tank. Low fuel warning stays on when on empty, even when there's plenty of gas in the tank. This should not be happening, Gmc should take care of there customers. This is my second Gmc truck, and I bought this one because of the quality my 1st truck was good. My wife wants me to buy a toyota next time, that's all she ever owned. Gmc take care of this problem, or I'll won't be coming back for a 3rd.”

   NHTSA complaint #10171935, filed 2006-10, 70,111 miles

   “I own a 2001 Gmc SIERRA 1500. I have always taken exceptional care of my vehicle. The motor has always had a knock when you start it,which devalues the truck & it also has always used oil. The rack & pinion has started leaking. I have always owned a truck & have never had a rack & pinion go out let alone at 152000 miles.it also is losing antifreeze but there are no leaks. The fuel gauge has never worked properly,now its also flashes low coolant light when its not low. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10381712, filed 2011-02, 152,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Parking brake will not hold the truck

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 57,500 mi at 4.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2008

   Owners report the parking brake pedal feeling soft or going near the floor and the truck still rolling on an incline with the brake set. In some cases dealers found the parking brake friction material worn away and the rear rotors damaged, and one owner said the release cable stop came off. Several complaints note a recall existed for this problem but their vehicle's VIN was not included. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 60,000 miles, often described as present since the truck was fairly new.

   What to check: Park on a slight slope and set the parking brake to see whether it holds, and ask whether the parking brake shoes or rear rotors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since the vehicle was new, the parking brake pedal has been soft (goes to the floor when pressed), and parking brakes have failed to hold vehicle on inclines of greater than 25 - 30 degrees. I have had the vehicle in the shop and have spent hundreds of dollars trying to fix with adjustment and new parts; all resulted in little or no success. One occasion the truck actually rolled down a hill with the parking brake set. Fortunately, no damage or injuries. I don't trust the p-brake at all; I always chock the tires when parked on any incline.”

   NHTSA complaint #10203129, filed 2007-09, 60,000 miles

   “Parking brake fails to hold vehicle from rolling. Dealer stated parking brake pads were worn and damaged rear rotors of disk brake system. He stated that there was a recall for this problem but not for my vehicles VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10166997, filed 2006-08, 27,854 miles

Buying note. Brake condition is the main thing to verify on this model year: inspect the steel lines end to end for rust and confirm the ABS behaves normally at low speed before buying. A service history showing recent brake-line or wheel-sensor work is worth more here than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.