2001 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 3500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 GMC Sierra 3500. That ranks 3rd out of 31 Sierra 3500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (10 complaints, 28%), typically at around 52,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 36owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 28% | 52,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 17% | 67,250 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 11% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 11% | 95,305 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 8% | 232,825 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 6% | 38,049 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 6% | 153,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 6% | 19,657 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | 98 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 3% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 98 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | 35,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
Fix: 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.
Interior lighting
Problem: 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. In addition, when the brake fluid is low, the vehicle may not meet the partial system requirements of fmvss no. 105.
Risk: These conditions could result in reduced braking capability, which could lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will change the location of a wire connection in the underhood bussed electrical center. Owner notification began july 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Crank position sensor failure - stall (EA06016) — opened Sep 14, 2006, closed Nov 9, 2007, led to recall 07V521000.
- Hydraulic pump shaft failures (PE04004) — opened Jan 8, 2004, closed Apr 30, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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
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…
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
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…
Other GMC Sierra 3500 years
← 2000 Sierra 3500 · 2002 Sierra 3500 →
See all GMC Sierra 3500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 GMC Sierra 3500?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 GMC Sierra 3500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 GMC Sierra 3500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 3500 model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.