VehicleVerdict

2001 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

A typical year for this model

The 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 171 owner complaints run below the Sierra 1500 median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 68% of all reports (116 of 171), far ahead of fuel system at 17.

171

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

2

Investigations

14

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2001 compare to other Sierra 1500 years?

See all Sierra 1500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes11668%
Fuel System1710%
Electrical System74%
Tires & Wheels64%
Body & Structure64%
Engine53%
Airbags32%
Other32%
Transmission32%
Steering21%
Speed Control11%
Suspension11%
Seat Belts11%

Does the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E106000Tires & WheelsDecember 17, 2007 · 130,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

Consequence

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

06E050000BrakesJune 6, 2006 · 6,800 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELD INTERFERING WITH THE ABS SENSOR CORD. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED DESPITE THIS INTERFERENCE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE ABS SENSOR AND THE TONE WHEEL MAY BE ALTERED. THIS MAY WEAKEN THE OUTPUT OF THE ABS SENSOR. DIMINISHED OUTPUT COULD RESULT IN AN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING DISTANCE COULD BE AFFECTED.

Consequence

IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND WILL EITHER CREDIT THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT OR REPLACE THE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-563-8507 EXT 3530.

06E043000Fuel SystemMay 19, 2006 · 88,303 units

Defect

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

04V562000OtherNovember 26, 2004 · 1,660 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

01V125000OtherApril 10, 2001 · 77,485 units

Defect

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 FROM THE TIRE SIZE AND THE INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION FOR THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE OWNER OR SOMEONE SERVICING THE VEHICLE INFLATES THE TIRES ACCORDING TO THE PRESSURE SPECIFIED ON THE LABEL VERSUS THE APPROPRIATE PRESSURE FOR THE TIRES, THE TIRES COULD BE UNDER-INFLATED OR OVER-INFLATED DEPENDING ON THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE.

Consequence

IF THE TIRES ARE UNDER-INFLATED, IT COULD REDUCE THE TREAD LIFE OF THE TIRE, AND THE TIRE COULD DEGRADE TO A POINT OF ALLOWING SUDDEN AIR LOSS. IF THE TIRES ARE OVER-INFLATED, IT COULD REDUCE THE TREAD LIFE OF THE TIRE AND INCREASE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE. IF SUDDEN AIR LOSS OR A ROAD HAZARD CAUSES DAMAGE TO A TIRE, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2001 GMC PICKUP WHEN THE LINE OF VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STARTED SLOWING DOWN,I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO SWERVE TO MY LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE MOMENTUM OF THE TRUCK TOOK ME THROUGH A SMALL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 19, 2009 · crash

MY ANTI LOCK KEEP KICKING IN, THE PANHEAD BY GAS TANK IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND THERE IS A BOX BY THE GAS TANK FOR EMISSIONS AND NOT ABLE TO GET 1 AND THE FRAME IN THE FRONT IS SHOT ALSO ALONG WITH THE BODY THAT'S COMPLETELY SHOT AND THE GAS GAUGE KEEPS TELLING EMPTY 1 TIME AND THEN IT GOES TO FULL TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · February 5, 2021

MY ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ABS IS DISABLED AND COSTS $1000 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE BRAKES CAN LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT OR ABS IS DISABLED AND MAY CAUSE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE ABS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND THE MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 17, 2013

AS FAR AS I KNOW THE TRUCK WENT AROUND CORNER AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD IN TO A SNOW BANK DUE TO BLACK ICE AND INTO A TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF TRUCK .IT WAS A HARD HIT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK .WHEN I GET THE ACCIDENT REPORT I WILL PUT EXACT SPEED. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · March 9, 2015 · crash

AS FAR AS I KNOW THE TRUCK WENT AROUND CORNER AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD IN TO A SNOW BANK DUE TO BLACK ICE AND INTO A TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF TRUCK .IT WAS A HARD HIT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK .WHEN I GET THE ACCIDENT REPORT I WILL PUT EXACT SPEED. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · March 9, 2015 · crash

2001 GMC Sierra 1500 — common questions

Is the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?

It is close to typical for the Sierra 1500: 171 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and 2 investigations on file.

What are the most common 2001 Sierra 1500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (116 complaints), fuel system (17 complaints), electrical system (7 complaints).

Does the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Sierra 1500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sierra 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2020, 2023, 2017, 2016, 2008, 2024, 2018, 2011, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2012. The cleanest record among Sierra 1500 years belongs to 1995.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.