10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
120,993 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 GMC Sierra 1500 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 GMC Sierra 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Dec 102021

Sierra 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Truck has just over 150k miles. Maintained well and garaged when possible. 1) Noticed a fuel smell from the driver side door area and after parking for a long weekend, a small pool of liquid formed in front of the driver side rear wheel. It was fuel dripping from the line leaving the evap canister that had rusted through. Resulted in a $600 repair to replace all rusted fuel lines so as to eliminate the risk of fire. 2) When approaching an intersection to make a left turn and slowing down the brake pedal pushes to the floor with no stopping power at all. Used the engine/trans in manual mode to slow the truck down and avoid an accident. Driver side brake lines are blown out in multiple spots near the ABS module due to corrosion. Potential cost based on research is in the $1000 ballpark. This level of rust on critical vehicle components is irresponsible and potentially deadly. GM needs to take this more seriously and realize that their cost-cutting measures are putting people and their families in grave danger.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #39

Sep 012019

Sierra 1500

  • 98,000 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. I am not able to drive my truck long distances due to concerns of safety and possibly of ABS warning light, break issues, and fuel gauge! I was driving my truck to pick one of my daughters up from school to lose power while pushing on gas then some jerking and a foul smell of rubber burning coming from the front right tire area. I then had someone look at the truck and was told that what ever it was happening that everything looked okay and it was possible just a break sticking. It has happened 3 different times. My truck still has approximately 98,000 or so miles on it. This truck also has bad corrosion on bottom baseboards of the truck. I saw below that I am asked for specific date of issues. I can not provide specific dates since there has been so many things wrong which has happened at different times.

- Moberly, MO, USA

problem #38

Oct 312017

Sierra 1500

  • 122,000 miles
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. I called GMC and they indicate there was no such recall and suggested I call NHTSA. I have now noticed that my brakes lock up and do not have the antilock system operating.

- Debary, FL, USA

problem #37

Mar 102018

Sierra 1500

  • 189,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brake lines rusted out under drivers side cab. Truck stuck in driveway. Lucky it did not happen on highway will cost almost as mush as truck is worth to have all new brake lines installed

- Coatesville, PA, USA

problem #36

Feb 152018

Sierra 1500

  • 145,000 miles
Rusted out fuel lines. Had to replace all fuel lines. Rusted out brake lines. Brakes gave out while driving. Luckly no accident. Had to replace all brake lines.

- West Jefferson, OH, USA

problem #35

Jan 192017

Sierra 1500

  • 238,000 miles
Lost all brakes on my 01' GMC Sierra 1500 sle 4X4 while braking on an off ramp, pedal went all the way to the floor. Brake lines appear to be completely rusted out, which doesn't make sense when I have a 5 year older Honda civic, with 110K more miles on it, and the brake likes do not look near as bad. Both spent their lives in Minnesota / Wisconsin. After doing some googling, it appears this is extremely common with 2000-2003 GM trucks. If this wasn't a manufacturing defect, wouldn't all uncoated brake lines rust out at similar rates, in the same conditions? mind boggling that GM is able to get away with not having to spend the cash to correct this problem. As if that money is worth more then the persons life.

- Superior, WI, USA

problem #34

Sep 072016

Sierra 1500

  • 110,356 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was on my way home, when I went to turn left onto my road. My brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I had to accelerate across a main road because a vehicle came up over the hill at me and I could not stop the truck. I coasted down a hill until the truck stopped rolling. When it was towed to a service station the mechanic noted a rusted out hole in my brake line. This is the 2nd time this has happened. The last time was in 2013. Yet the manufacturer does nothing to address this!!!!!!!

- Hudson, MI, USA

problem #33

Jun 032016

Sierra 1500

  • 165,000 miles
While driving in downtown city area, vehicle in motion, attempted to apply brakes and pedal went straight to floor almost causing an accident. There was no warning to loss of braking system. Vehicle was brought to residence and reviewed. Brake lines from master cylinder have suffered rust damage and caused a failure of the braking system. Upon further review all brake lines on vehicle are exhibiting extreme corrosion to a system that should not be rusting.

- Lagrange, KY, USA

problem #32

May 012016

Sierra 1500

  • 86,000 miles
Takata recall ABS & parking brake light coming on. Clean connections, lights went out. Went down the road about 3 miles, lights came back on. Sometimes starting up in the morning, lights will be off. Get down the road about 3 to 5 miles lights come back on. According to internet there is a bad soldering connection in the control module. Has this been a recall at any time. When lights come on, electric brakes to trailer are in optimal.

- Rathdrum, ID, USA

problem #31

Apr 192016

Sierra 1500

  • 145,000 miles
Brake line failure. I had complete brake line failure while coming to a stop at a busy road. I was lucky I was able to honk my horn and go through the light. I drive this truck almost every day and had this happened on my normal daily commute this could have been a disaster. It is ridiculous that stainless steel lines were not used on such a vital part of the vehicle. Now I am looking at a lot of money to replace all the lines. I do not have a bill to upload at this time as the repair work has not been completed yet.

- Grand Ledge, MI, USA

problem #30

Nov 052015

Sierra 1500

  • 89,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Anti-locking brakes coming on when stopping. No regular brakes 100 feet pass stop on highway and once turning while parking space, hit a fence in front of me when brakes failed.

- Camden, TN, USA

problem #29

Jan 202016

Sierra 1500

  • 167,000 miles
Second brake like failure in as many years. Again, rusted at a bend just as the rear line turns down into the center hose going to the rear axle differential. Luckily, I was just finishing pulling straight into a parking spot when it popped just as a I stopped. Fortunately, I was able to hit the parking brake so I didn't hit anything.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #28

Nov 242015

Sierra 1500

  • 80,000 miles
The brakes failed due to rusted out steel brake lines while driving.

- Fox River Grove, IL, USA

problem #27

Jan 012013

Sierra 1500

  • 97,000 miles
At low speeds when a person hit the brakes the ABS engages and the vehicle will not stop. All equipment is original and is not due to recall regarding aftermarket equipment. Local garage says this is a problem with corroded speed senser. My problem is I almost ran through my house the first time this happened. Another problem is the brake lines on these trucks corode and break without notice. This has nothing to do with previous paragraph as I replaced them and ABS is still messed up. Chevrolets inferiour parts usage regarding brake lines cause them to burst prematurely. I also have several friends with identical trucks who all report the same problem. Both problems are ongoing problems. I fixed the brake lines but I had to remove the ABS module to keep the ABS from engaging and causing an accident.

- West Liberty, KY, USA

problem #26

May 142015

Sierra 1500

  • 88,000 miles
Brake line rusted into other lines are rusty also truck had been kept in garage for at least 6 years only drove on beach maybe 5 times always washed off afterwards.lines should have been S/S

- South Mills, NC, USA

problem #25

Mar 052015

Sierra 1500

  • 107,000 miles
Applied brakes to stop at a traffic light and the brakes went to the floor, got vehicle to a parking lot to find all lines under the truck rusty, all lines including the fuel lines are gonna have to be replaced.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

problem #24

Jan 282015

Sierra 1500

  • 200,000 miles
Brake lines are so rusty they leak.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #23

Nov 292014

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
On 11-29-2014, while driving home with my 2 sons, attempting to slow down to turn into our neighborhood, the brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance. This is the second time I have had a brake line burst due to exterior corrosion (rust). The first time a brake line burst in this truck was approximately 1 1/2 years ago. At that time, while driving with my 2 young sons, approaching a stop light, the brake pedal went to the floor with no resistance and I was, fortunately, able to immediately turn right, into a parking lot. At that time, I reported the issue online at some website, but I cannot recall the name of the site. This time I came to this website. I now have to have the truck towed, and have to have all rigid oem brake lines replaced, right here before christmas. This most recent incident, the rupture came from outside the frame rail, under the driverside seat. All oem rigid brake lines are severely rusted. The problem in the past (the first incident) came from the last 3 inches of the brake line going to the left rear wheel before it attaches to the flexible hose. Note that this truck has never been in the mud or sand, nor has it put any boats into the water. Also, it has never pulled/towed another vehicle. I definitely would not pull anything in this model of GMC truck without replacing all oem rigid brake lines.

- Smithfield, VA, USA

problem #22

Sep 102014

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 230,000 miles
Rear brake line burst and had no stopping power.had to roll to a stop.

- Fremont, OH, USA

problem #21

Jul 132014

Sierra 1500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
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.

- Oakdale, MN, USA

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