2001 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability

Brakes

Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

What Owners Say

Antilock system (ABS)

"The front brake calipers have an ABS sensor in them that gets corroded causing the ABS to engage when it is not needed making it very difficult to stop. This is a flaw in this and a few other year models of GMC and GM trucks and it is very expensive to fix. I just use this truck as a farm truck since I got a new truck so I 'fixed' the problem by pulling the 60 amp fuse that controls the ABS. The brake light stays on, but the vehicle stops much better now."

Keith W., NE (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"caused a delay in braking in parking lots with almost several low speed collisions"

Anonymous, MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 5.3-L V8)

"The master brain of the ABS failed, its cost to repair is estimated to be $2000, also an ABS hub wire broke and that is another $250.My mechanic said these are rather common problems on these trucks"

Norman W., MI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

"when I brake sometimes the pedal is very firm"

Anonymous, ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Calipers

"The calipers are being made from cheaper materials which caused the brakes to drag."

Anonymous, AL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Both rear brake calipers seized; caused rapid pad wear."

Anonymous, MD (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Sticking and draging"

Anonymous, OH (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"during state inspection, the left rear caliper froze up locking the brake."

W S., VA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

"sticking, causing drag"

Anonymous, OH (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Rust had acumalated as vehicle was not used for 4 months"

Anonymous, ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

Normal routine brake wear

"NEEDED ROUTINE BRAKES"

Anonymous, MI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"replaced power booster and master cylinder"

Anonymous, FL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3-L V8)

Parking brake

"If your parking brake isn't adjusted up then you can push the parking brake pedal down so far that it locks up the parking brake and won't release until you research the problem and learn how to release the pawl so the brake pedal will release"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Third set of parking brakes needed"

Ray P., AZ (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Premature brake wear

"All brake lines were rusted and needed to be replaced"

P S., WI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Regular brake failure

"The brake lines corroded and broke making stopping in a safe distance impossible."

Keith W., NE (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"fluid leakage in rear brake line"

R N., MN (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Two lines have broken from wear in the last 12 months. Said it was from winter salt put on roads"

Lawrence G., PA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"I had to replace all brake lines, calipers, rotors, pads, brackets"

Anonymous, OH (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

"brake lines rust out"

Anonymous, ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

What Owners Say

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

"clear coat peeling on hood and roof"

W S., VA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

"clear coat is missing in spots"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Clear coat peeling on hood, cab roof and tonneau cover"

Anonymous, CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Clear coat is peeling on roof and hood"

Anonymous, CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

"clear coat is cracking and peeling"

Anonymous, VA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

"Clear coat failed on roof and is beginning to fail on hood. This seems to be common with today's paint systems...but should be corrected"

Michael G., CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

"paint on hood is flaking off"

Anonymous, FL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.3-L V6)

"The clear coat has come off of the hood and top of the cab. The paint has come off in places on the hood and top of cab. In the spots where the paint has come off, the top of the cab has started to rust"

James C., FL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Rust

"The whole underside of the truck leading up to the doors is rusted out. I have a truck and I know 5 other people who have that same truck design. They all are rusting like crazy in the same spots. It is a horrible rust issue on all the trucks."

Sandy T., MI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Rust is overtaking both body and frame"

Paul S., WI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"rocker panels and rear corners of cab are rusted thru"

Anonymous, MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Excessive body rust and all brake lines have been replaced due to rust. Mounts connecting frame to box have also been replaced"

P S., WI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"rocker panels and underside of each door rusted through, replaced and refurbished for $1870.00"

Roger H., IN (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"bad design of wheel wells inhibits proper cleaning out corrosive salts thus rusting them out"

Anonymous, ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 6.0-L V8)

"Rocker panels rusted badly,. and paint chips falling off"

Danny P., ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Engine knock or ping

"Replaced knock sensors"

Anonymous, AL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"My engine is the 5.3L and has developed the piston rattle problem that this engine was notorious for. I have to let it warm up a little and then drive slowly for about a quarter of a block, or until it shifts into 2nd gear, to avoid the ugly noise. This problem is directly attributable to piston to wall clearances when the engine was built."

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Engine knock after cold start. GM has a Technical Service Bulletin that indicates this is normal. It may be normal to GM, but it is annoying to me. It does stop knocking as the engine warms up"

Anonymous, TN (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"oil pump slow at start up"

Anonymous, TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Oil leaks

"Front axle shaft seal, passenger side leaking."

Tim D., CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Head gaskets needed replaced"

Karen K., CO (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT)

"I noticed loss of oil in 2019 which was progressively getting worse. I took it to a local shop to get a cost on repairing it. Initially the estimate was approximately $1100.00 and figured on replacing the rear main seal. When I had the repair work done the main leak was determined to be in a different location that required the transmission to be decoupled from the engine and resealed the rear engine cover. While the area was accessible the rear main seal and camshaft sensor were also replaced. The valve covers and oil coolers gaskets were also replaced."

Anonymous, WA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 6.0-L V8)

"The only issue with oil leaks is the rear main seal on the engine. Price to repair approx. $1000"

Patrick H., NM (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

"Rear main seal has been leaking for years and being replaced as it has gotten worse. Head gasgets seep as well"

Anonymous, TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Electric System

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

What Owners Say

Gauges

"fuel gauge not reading right. switches for ride control and door lights stopped working"

Anonymous, AB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Gas gage does not register 98% of the time"

Anonymous, (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"gas gauge doesn,t read correctly or not at all"

Anonymous, ON (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 6.0-L V8)

Headlights

"light wiring gets hot and burns plastic connector."

Anonymous, AB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"The headlight control switch failed causing all the lights on the exterior of the truck to remain on any time the engine was running. A costly repair for something that should have been simple and cheap"

William P., MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Keyless entry

"would not look door"

Anonymous, NJ (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Wiper motor or washer

"The wiper motor keeps getting out of sync between the two sides. Separate issue, but you didn't have a place for it. Both window regulator motors failed. Replacements have also failed"

Greg L., AK (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Fuel System

Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

What Owners Say

Fuel gauge/sender

"Erratic reading of amount of fuel in tank"

James M., WA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

"The sensors in the fuel tank don't work, therefore the yellow warning light "low fuel" comes on"

Wm W., KS (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Fuel injection system

"Fuel line at the point it met the manifold leaked onto the exhaust manifold."

Anonymous, MA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Fuel pump

"I was leaving a hotel parking lot at 4:00 AM on a Sunday morning, while on a trip, when the engine lost power and stopped running. No previous issues. I had to stay at the hotel a second day and then search for a garage on Monday morning. I found a great little garage that replaced the fuel pump (in the gas tank) and I was back on the road by just after noon."

Anonymous, MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

"Expensive fix, required tank to be drained"

Greg L., AK (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"Fuel pump was replaced. cracked hose on fuel pump assembly"

Dennis M., NM (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Climate System

Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

"Frozen"

Arthur W., GA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Condenser

"condenser had rusted....allowing refrigerant leak"

Robert H., MA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Heater system

"The heater Core went bad. Mechanic said that although it is a minor part, the cost would be around $1000 to fix because the entire dash has to be removed"

Richard E., OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"heater core leaked, couldn't get it fixed and don't need the heater too much in Texas, so simply bypassed the heater core"

Clyde H., TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Refrigerant leaks

"a/c would not cool this year, coolant had leaked out or low"

Anonymous, FL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.3-L V6)

Body Integrity

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Air or water leaks

"windshield leak passenger side bottom of glass,during hard rain, dealer could not find a leak with 6 hrs under a water sprinkler"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 5.3-L V8)

"when parked water leaks in from the bottom right side of windshield"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 5.3-L V8)

"water leak, from windshield to interior, when parked and raining"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 5.3-L V8)

Seals and/or weather-stripping

"weather-stripping around doors needs replaced"

Karen K., CO (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT)

"sometimes the seal for the windshield leaks a little when parked"

Anonymous, OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 5.3-L V8)

Suspension

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

What Owners Say

Alignment

"Normal wear"

James G., AL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Power steering leaks

"Power steering gearbox leaking"

Tim D., CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Springs or torsion bars

"The brace for the leaf springs broke and dented my truck bed.."

Sandy T., MI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Steering linkage (includes rack and pinion)

"The rack and pinion started leaking causing a the power steering pump to whine. I replaced the rack and pinion system"

William P., MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Tie rods

"Normal wear and tear. Vehicle has 200000"

James G., AL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Body Hardware

Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

What Owners Say

Doors or sliding doors

"window regulator on passenger side broke"

Anonymous, VA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

Tailgate, hatch or trunk

"Plastic clips for tailgate rods broke"

Anonymous, CA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

"plastic clip for tailgate handle cracked"

Anonymous, MB (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

"The left hinge of the tailgate rotted out and I had both left and right replaced by an independent mechanic"

Anonymous, MA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Windows

"Both power windows do not work"

Paul S., WI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

In-car Electronics

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

What Owners Say

CD player

"When CD is inserted, (any CD) I get an error message and the cd is ejected."

Richard E., OR (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

"Will not accept CD"

Anonymous, LA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 4.3-L V6)

Radio

"Radio drained battery when truck was not in use, parked in garage. Disconnected radio and battery is good to go. While truck was off and radio is off battery draw was 1.1 amps"

Earl I., GA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 5.3-L V8)

Speakers

"As a child of the 1960's I play my music too loud--it is hard on the speakers"

Sheryl W., TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.

What Owners Say

Transmission rebuild or replacement

"Vehicle had intermittent rough shifting and also made a clacking noise that sounded like something metal was loose in the transmission. The noise would disappear once the transmission warmed up."

Anonymous, (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

"A good friend of mine owns and operates a transmission repair shop w/ 20+ yrs experience. When my trans went out in my normally reliable GMC C3 during my move (argh!!!), he simply told me that I was lucky it had made it past the 100K mileage mark"

James P., VA (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

"Do very little towing or hauling. Transmission will slip between gears going into higher RPMs and not accelerating to higher speeds"

Anonymous, TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 4.7-L V8)

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

What Owners Say

Differential

"Right wheel bearing failed causing strain on the differential which started to fail"

Edward S., NH (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Driveshaft or axle

"Replaced both u-joints"

Anonymous, IL (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3-L V8)

Electrical failure

"Intermittent failure. Stall after warming up. Expensive diagnostic and parts rep!acement."

Anonymous, HI (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.7-L V8)

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

What Owners Say

Catalytic converter

"Service indicator appeared and upon computer inspection by the dealer service determined the catalytic converter is going out and because of the age of the truck suggested the exhaust system be replaced before other problems occurred. They quoted a p"

Anonymous, TX (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.3-L V6)

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

What Owners Say

Antifreeze leaks

"Fixed by replacing intake manifold gasket"

Anonymous, OK (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 SL 4.3-L V6)

Transmission Minor

Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

What Owners Say

Transmission leaks

"Had an extremely minor leak of transmission fluid that developed after engine had over 150,000 miles."

Anonymous, (2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0-L V8)

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

Power Equipment

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

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GMC Sierra 1500

GMC Sierra 1500