GMC SIERRA 3500 · model year

2001 GMC SIERRA 3500

44 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001GMCSIERRA 3500 carries 44 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 SIERRA 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (4) and service brakes (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2001 SIERRA 3500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

44
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

44 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SERVICE BRAKES4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR1

Recalls (3)

04V56200026/11/2004

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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

01V22000026/06/2001

INTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 6.6L DIESEL ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT MAY NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW. I

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 CE

Recent Complaints

20210216FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TRUCK HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR IT'S AGE BUT IT 3 TIMES STARTING IN 2005 IT HAS CAUGHT FIRE IN AND AROUND THE BATTERY/ALTERNATOR. I'VE GIVEN GMC MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT FIRST AND IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY THE OTHER DAY.

20181025ENGINE

SOLD ME A "GOOD RUNNING VEHICLE" THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN, CAUSED NO BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF CENTER DO TO STEERING COMPONENTS, NO SAFETY BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE

Mileage: 98

20181025FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SOLD ME A "GOOD RUNNING VEHICLE" THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN, CAUSED NO BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF CENTER DO TO STEERING COMPONENTS, NO SAFETY BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE

Mileage: 98

20181025STEERING

SOLD ME A "GOOD RUNNING VEHICLE" THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN, CAUSED NO BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF CENTER DO TO STEERING COMPONENTS, NO SAFETY BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE

Mileage: 98

20160512STRUCTURE:BODY

I ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE OTHER DRIVER STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER TO STOP WHEN THE RUSTED LINE BROKE. I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING SPEED LIMIT AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP. I WAS TOWING MY TRAILER LAST WEEK AND ALMOST LOST THE TRAILER BECAUSE THE ENTIRE UNDERBODY IS RUSTED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TRUCKS AND NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION IN BOTH CASES.

Mileage: 240,000

20160512SERVICE BRAKES

I ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE OTHER DRIVER STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER TO STOP WHEN THE RUSTED LINE BROKE. I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING SPEED LIMIT AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO STOP. I WAS TOWING MY TRAILER LAST WEEK AND ALMOST LOST THE TRAILER BECAUSE THE ENTIRE UNDERBODY IS RUSTED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TRUCKS AND NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION IN BOTH CASES.

Mileage: 240,000

20141107CrashSERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED LEADING TO COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE METAL. PLEASE FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20140718FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

Mileage: 19,000

20140514SERVICE BRAKES

THREE WEEKS AGO NOTICED LOW BRAKE FLUID. FILLED RESERVOIR AND DIDN'T SEE AND LEAKS. YESTERDAY I WAS IN TOWN SHOPPING AND WHEN I CAME OUT OF STORE AND LEAVING BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP HAD ENOUGH BRAKE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BOUGHT A QUART OF FLUID AND REFILLED TANK AND CAUTIOUSLY MADE IT THE 25 MILES HOME AFTER REFILLING TWICE. LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND SAW LEAK ABOVE THE FUEL FILTER. THE WHOLE LINE UNDER TRUCK IS TERRIBLY CORRODED AND WILL NEED REPLACING. I LIVE IN HAWAII AND HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 5 YEARS SO NO SALT DAMAGE HERE. *TR

Mileage: 112,609

20130909ENGINE

MY 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 WITH A 8.1L V8 ENGINE STALLED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL A "COOL" DOWN PERIOD. THIS PROBLEM SURFACED AS NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AFTER IT HAD RUN AND THEN SET FOR 30 - 60 MINUTES AND WOULD NOT START UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO START IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST YEAR AND HAS PROGRESSED TO THE STALL ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET AN ENGINE FAILURE CODE FROM THE VEHICLE LISTED AS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THE RECALL FROM GMC (06083 -- CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ENGINE STALL) AND CALLED THE DEALER WHICH INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THEN CALLED GMC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THAT I'M HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEMS LISTED ON THE EXACT VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT ENGINE LISTED. ALSO I HAVE SINCE FOUND 3 OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA OF THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT COVERED. IT IS EVIDENT TO ME THAT

Mileage: 76,000

20120723SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUPTURE OF RUSTED BRAKE LINE, NO WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP BY PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MULTIPLE BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

20111025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE, BACK TWO. THESE BOLTS ARE FAR TOO SMALL FOR THE JOB AND THIS EXPOSES HEAT AND EXHAUST GASES TO THE ENVIRONMENT. CREATING A FIRE DANGER TOO. *TT

Mileage: 69,000

20110124SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING I HAD MY BRAKES FAIL, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS A RESULT OF A BROKEN STEEL BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHAT I FOUND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK WAS ALL THE LINES THAT WENT TO THE ABS UNIT WERE BADLY RUSTED. ONE OF MY COWORKERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS 2001 GMC SUBURBAN BUT HE CHUCKED IT UP TO ALL THE CAMPING TRIPS HE WENT ON WHERE HE LEFT HIS TRUCK PARKED OFF ROAD. MY TRUCK HOWEVER ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF ROAD. I ALSO FLUSH THE BRAKE FLUID ONCE A YEAR AS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, SO THEY CAN'T CLAIM THEY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I DRIVE MY TRUCK EVERY DAY TO WORK ABOUT ONE MILE AWAY. MY DRIVEWAY IS PAVED AND THE PARKING LOT AT MY PLACE OF WORK IS ALSO PAVED. I DON'T PULL ANY HEAVY TRAILERS OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE LINE FAILURE. I AM NOT PUTTING DOWN GM PRODUCTS BECAUSE ALL MY VEHICLES ARE GM VEHICLES INCLUDING TWO ANTIQUES. ONE A 1955 CHEVY WHICH HAD ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES UNTIL I DID A DISC BRAK

Mileage: 31,000

20100825SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AFTER EXPERIENCING ABS BRAKING PROBLEMS ON MY 2001 GMC TRUCK MODEL NK3, I BECAME AWARE OF GM RECALL NO. 05068, 05V379000, WHICH THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THIS ISSUE DOES NOT INVOLVE MY VEHICLE. FOR SAFETY REASONS, I DID REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 61,580

20100701ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 GMC SERRIA 3500 VIN #[XXX]. VEHICLE INTERMITTANTLY STALLS AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR A WHILE. I SEE A RECALL # 07V521000 FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT GM SAYS THIS VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. IT SEEMS THE RECALL DIDN'T INCLUDE ENOUGH VINS. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT. PLEASE REOPEN A FAILURE INVESTIGATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 55,000

20090916ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE ENGINE STALLED; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A COOL DOWN PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AT AN EXPENSE OF $400.59. HE THEN ADDED THAT BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,550. UPDATED 10/13/09 *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE GOING THROUGH HIS FILES, HE DISCOVERED THE CAM CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2004. AT THAT TIME, ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2009. UPDATED 10/14/09. *JB

Mileage: 65,500

20081125SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE WHILE STOPPING FROM 50 MPH. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COULD COST SLIGHTLY LESS THAN $1,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20080818ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SES WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND TYPICALLY RESTARTS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $400 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,500. UPDATED 12/30/08 . *LJ THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/05/09. *JB

Mileage: 52,500

20080729FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MUST WAIT UP TO 20 MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED ON ONE OCCASION, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR THE OTHER THREE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20080729ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, IT SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MUST WAIT UP TO 20 MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED ON ONE OCCASION, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR THE OTHER THREE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 2001GMCSIERRA 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 have?
The 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 has 44 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500?
Yes, the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500?
The most-complained component for the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2001 GMC SIERRA 3500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.