2000 GMC Sierra 3500 Owner Complaints

Previous years of my truck with the Allison “branded” transmission have been reported to lock up while driving. From what I can gather there was a recall. Instead of fixing the issues with the transmission a program was installed to put the transmission in limp mode during the failure. My model, a 2023 apparently came with the limp mode feature already installed. When my transmission failed it took the truck out of gear and locked up for a moment before I could safely pull over.

NHTSA ID

11655960

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

FAULTY INSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND MECHANICISMS.THE DOOR HANDLE ITSELF WILL BREAK OR THE CONNECTING MECHANISM WILL BREAK NOT ALLOWING THE OCCUPANTS ANY ABILITY TO LEAVE FROM THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE CAUSING THEM TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN A FIRE, SUBMERGED IN WATER OR WINDOWS FREEZING SHUT FROM ICE OR SNOW.

NHTSA ID

11080683

Incident

Nov 15, 2017

Mileage

260,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC 3500 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE LT245/75/R16. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12T019000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) AND WENT TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES CHANGED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO RETURN TO THE TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NEVER REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10478701

Incident

Sep 25, 2012

EXITING THE HIGHWAY ON AN OFF RAMP, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. FOUND A BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED AND BURST. HAD TO REPAIR ALONG THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10427501

Incident

Jul 31, 2009

2000 GMC K3500 REG. CAB PICKUP 4X4 -- BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES. VEHICLE HAS EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES ON DRY PAVEMENT. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AFTER RE-APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY "PUMPING" THEM. PEDAL ALSO GOES TO FLOOR WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT OF ABS SYSTEM AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR THREE (3) YEARS BUT THIS TIME VEHICLE WAS INTENTIONALLY DRIVEN INTO A SNOWBANK TO PREVENT A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ON 06/24/2010 DRIVER REAR BRAKE LINE (STEEL) ROTTED THROUGH WHERE IT TOUCHED FRAME AND EXPELLED ALL BRAKE FLUID FROM MASTER CYLINDER ALSO CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE.OTHER LINES ALSO SHOWING PREMATURE CORROSION. BRAKES ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT AND SPONGY FEEL EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF FLUID AND BLEEDING OF ENTIRE SYSTEM. PARKING BRAKE CABLE (FRONT) ALSO SNAPPED DUE TO CORROSION AT UNDERSIDE OF CAB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372633

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

Mileage

29,567 mi

BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED AND RUPTURED IN MY 2000 GMC 3500 3 TIMES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. LAST REPLACEMENT LASTED ONLY 23 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354109

Incident

Sep 7, 2010

Mileage

48,000 mi

STEEL BRAKE PIPE THAT CARRIES FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES RUPTURED NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK. FLUID IS LEAKING AND POOLING ON THE FLANGE OF FRAME. STOPPING PERFORMANCE IS DEGRADED, AND NO WARNING HAS REGISTERED VIA THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OR IDIOT LIGHTS. LINE IS BADLY CORRODED, WHICH PERHAPS IS TO BE EXPECTED GIVEN THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I FIND IT IRONIC THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL YET THE BRAKE LINES ARE NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD OTHER BRAKE-RELATED FAILURES THAT GM REFUSED TO CORRECT, DESPITE HAVING RECALLED CONTEMPORARY VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. IT IS AN UNUSUAL BUILD - OLD (GMT400)BODYSTYLE, MODEL YEAR 2000, 1 TON CREW CAB LONGBOX. I BELIEVE GM FORGOT THEY BUILT THESE AND THUS THEY NEGLECT TO INCLUDE TRUCKS OF THIS TYPE IN THEIR PRIOR RECALLS. REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT GM WILL REMEMBER TO INCLUDE SUCH TRUCKS IN THE ONGOING PE OVER THE BRAKE PIPE CORROSION ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339869

Incident

Jun 19, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE FAILS LOCAL SAFETY INSPECTION CAUSE WAS SAID TO BE BAD MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE LINE CONSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332628

Incident

May 28, 2010

Mileage

57,007 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC 3500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE BRAKING AND STEERING FUNCTIONS BECAME INOPERABLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE CONTACT MUST JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE OR WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10260008

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi

ABS BRAKES ACTIVATE INAPPROPRIATELY AT LOW SPEEDS (UNDER 10 MPH) ON SMOOTH DRY SURFACES. THIS LENGTHENS THE STOPPING DISTANCE AND CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH WHEN AVAILABLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED. THE DESIGN IS FLAWED IN THAT 1) NORMAL CORROSION, EXPECTED DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, FREQUENTLY LEADS TO THIS FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND 2) WHEN THIS NORMAL, EXPECTED CORROSION OCCURS, THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT 'FAIL TO SAFE', BUT INSTEAD FAILS IN A MANNER THAT REDUCES BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE ONCE PROBLEM BEGAN, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. DEALER REMOVED THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FROM THE WHEEL BEARINGS, CLEANED CORROSION OFF THE MOUNTING SURFACE, AND REINSTALLED THE SENSORS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME FAILURE MODE, SAME ROOT CAUSE, SAME CORRECTIVE ACTION AS DESCRIBED IN GM'S EXISTING PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL #05068C, HOWEVER GM REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL BECAUSE, AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE SMALL NUMBER OF TRUCKS BUILT AT THE FLINT PLANT. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN THE AFFECTED TIME FRAME, WITH THE SUSPECT COMPONENTS, AND EXHIBITS EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT GM HAS THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND WITH REGARD TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE A BATCH OF AFFECTED VEHICLES BUILT AT FLINT. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED AND GM SHOULD BE ASSESSED PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR THE SHAMEFUL WAY THEY ARE TREATING CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THEIR VEHICLE FIXED. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND GM HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. GM REP ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THAT I FILE THIS COMPLAINT, AS HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS NOT EMPOWERED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A NHTSA COMPLAINT HISTORY TO JUSTIFY ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247896

Incident

Oct 1, 2008

Mileage

74,000 mi

TRIED TO STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT DUE TO ABS MALFUNCTION, THE TRUCK WASN'T ABLE TO STOP. WE HAVE HAD MANY INCIDENTS WHERE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE DEATH DUE TO BRAKING SYSTEM. THE ABS WOULD CALCULATE WHEEL LOCK UP EVEN WHEN THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE "LOCK UP" AND ENGAGE SYSTEM NOT ALLOWING TRUCK TO STOP. MAILMAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF TRUCK COULDN'T SLOW DOWN, BUT DID AVOID ACCIDENT. RAN A STOP SIGN ONCE. ALMOST RAN INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INCIDENT'S, I KNOW OF THREE OR MORE VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEMS, ALL ARE MADE BY GM. WHEEL BEARINGS AND SPEED SENSORS MUST BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY AXLES BECAUSE THERE IS A RING GEAR THAT EMITS SIGNAL TO WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, RING GEAR IS ON AXLE OR WHEEL BEARING. WHEEL BEARING COST 265.00 A SIDE ON MY FAMILY'S 2000 GMC SIERRA 3500 4X4 CREW CAB LONG BOX DUALLY. AN EASY ZERO COST TO FIX THIS IS TO PULL OUT THE 30 AMP TO 60 AMP FUSE IN POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER UNDER THE HOOD. THIS DISABLES THE ABS AND DOES NOT ALLOW IT TO OPERATE. ABS LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON TO NOTIFY THIS. THIS MAY SHOCK YOU, BUT I DON'T LIKE ABS ANYWAY AND IF YOUR A SAFE DRIVER YOU DON'T NEED ABS IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN FRONT OF YOU THAT ISN'T CONTROLLABLE, YOUR GOING TO HIT THEM OR IF YOUR SMART, YOU WILL GO FOR THE DITCH. ANYWAYS WITH THE FUSE PULLED YOU WILL HAVE THE SAME BRAKES THAT YOU HAD BEFORE, ONLY THAT THE ABS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU STOP IN A CASE WHERE THERE IS WHEEL LOCK UP, NOT THAT IT WAS HELPING ANYWAY (THIS IS WHY I AM WRITING TO YOU). AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RUNNING INTO THINGS OR RUNNING STOP SIGNS. AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEMS SINCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184394

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

127,000 mi

ROAD DEBRIS BOUNCED UP AND BROKE OFF THE SHIFTER CABLE RENDERING MY SHIFTER INOPERABLE. I HAD TO CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK AND SHIFT IT BY HAND TO GET IT TO A PLACE TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. VERY DANGEROUS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166045

Incident

Feb 19, 2006

Mileage

19,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE CABLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED AND BROKE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO RUSTED AND WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000 REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: BODY: TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161498

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

66,000 mi

DT: A 2000 GMC 3500 DUMP TRUCK WHICH WAS PASSING BY STRUCK THE CONSUMER WHO WAS ON A BICYCLE. THIS RESULTED IN A CRACKED BICYCLE HELMET AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE WAY BY THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10132913

Incident

Jun 24, 2005

A 2000 GMC C3500 SIERRA PICK UP TRUCK ROLLED OVER CAUSING THE ROOF TO COLLAPSE WHICH CAUSED BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE DRIVER'S HEAD WHICH RESULTED IN HIS DEATH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132290

Incident

Nov 5, 2002

Mileage

143,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 GMC DESIL TRUCK. FOR TRHE PAST TWO YEARS THE TRUCK ENGINE WILL STOP WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LASTING RESULTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093353

Incident

Sep 29, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC WAS WAITING FOR CONFORMATION APPROVAL TO REPLACE THE BRAKES PADS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079962

Incident

Jun 25, 2004

TRUCKS ENGINE DIES, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE TRUCK LOOSES ALL POWER, INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *PH 2000 GMC 3500 EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRUCK ENGINE DIES. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING AND BRAKE EQUIPMENT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. DURING THE TEST DRIVE VEHICLE DIED 8 TIMES WITHIN ONE MILE RADIUS OF TRAVEL. DEALER REPLACED INJECTOR PUMP FOR THE SECOND TIME.*MR

NHTSA ID

10048417

Mileage

38,000 mi

I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE PURCHASED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE CENTER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. NOW THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE BOOSTER CABLES TO START THE CABLES BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE COPPER WIRES MELTED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CABLES BEFORE THE OTHER CAR IGNITED I WAS BURNED. ADDITIONALLY THE TRUCK KEYS WERE NOT IN THE ON POSITION. THAT IS I HAD NOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE YET. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023496

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

500 mi

THE SHAFT PUMP BROKE, WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE LOSING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010035

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

33,000 mi

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, BUCKET SEATS, AND DIFFERENTIAL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

568072

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND NO BRAKES TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDER FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023230

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID

8022135

Incident

Oct 27, 2002

BRAKES ARE WEAK AND THEY PULL RIGHT OR LEFT AT DIFFERENT TIMES THEY ALSO SQUEAL AND SOME TIMES SMOKE. WHEN PULLING A TRAILER THE TRAILER BRAKES HAVE TO DO MOST OF THE WORK TO MAKE BOTH STOP PROPERLY. THE BACK BRAKES DONT SEEM TO WORK AT ALL. THE DIVING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

760206

Incident

Apr 3, 2002

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, 24575R16. HE TOOK VEHICLE TOOK FIRESTONE, AND THE ATTENDANT REPLACED TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

873907

Incident

Oct 6, 2000