RoadVitals

2001 GMC Sierra Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest May 1, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 264 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 GMC Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed May 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. WHILE SELF-SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10713981
Incident
Dec 31, 2014
Mileage
124,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+7 more
Filed Jan 11, 2006

MANY PROBLEMS: 4 WHEEL DRIVE SENSOR, FRONT END SUSPENSION, PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, SPEED SENSORS, RADIO, CENTER CONSOLE, ENGINE NOISE RAPPING WHEN STARTING, TAILGATE CABLES, ANTI-THEFT SENSOR, AND NOW THE BATTERY VOLTAGE GAUGE NEEDLE EXCESS DROPPING WHEN STOPPING, ENGINE IDLING TO LOW WHEN STOPPING. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS NORMAL. LET'S TEST DRIVE A NEW TRUCK AND SHOW ME IT IS NORMAL. THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON IN MY EYES!*JB

NHTSA ID
10147501
Incident
Jan 11, 2006
Mileage
49,274 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2005

DT: 2001 GMC SIERRA TRUCK. THERE WAS RECALL 04V129000 CONCERNING THE TAILGATE LATCH/CABLE FAILURE. RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. TAILGATE FAILED THREE TIMES, AND THE CABLES FAILED ONCE. THE CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS ON OCTOBER 14, 2002 AND REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS ON DECEMBER 13, 2004 AND REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE THIRD FAILURE WAS ON AUGUST 8, 2005. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. IN THE FINAL RECALL LETTER THE MANUFACTURER INCLUDED A COSTUMER CLAIM FORM. THE CONTACT FILED THE CLAIM FORM ON DECEMBER 13, 2004 FOR $663.87, ON JANUARY 5, 2005 , AND THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133071
Incident
Aug 8, 2005
Mileage
41,611 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 30, 2005

MY 2001 GMC SIERRA PU TRUCK AFTER THE SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP BEGAN TO EMIT HOWLING SOUNDS FROM THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAB'S INTERIOR. GRADUALLY THE NOISE GOT WORSE. TODAY IT IS AN ALMOST CONSTANT HOWLING SOUND AS IF WIND IS COMING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I WILL RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK FOR A RECHECK. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER, SIMILAR GMC AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ID
10127163
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 16, 2004

THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL. THE NEW CABLES WERE UNEQUAL IN LENGTH WHICH PLACED ALL OF THE WEIGHT ON THE TAILGATE ON ONE CABLE. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10095440
Incident
Oct 7, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Oct 14, 2004

04 V 129 000/TAILGATE SUPPORT : THE CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN THAT THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUPPORT CABLES, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR THE TAILGATE LATCH. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE TAILGATE WILL NOT CLOSE/LOCK PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10096913
Incident
Feb 15, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Feb 25, 2004

TAILGATE CABLE SNAPPED UNDER A WEIGHT BEARING LOAD CONDITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10058988
Incident
Nov 20, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 25, 2004

FAILURE OF BOTH TAILGATE CABLES, CAUSING THE PERSON STANDING ON THE TAILGATE TO FALL TO THE GROUND.*AK

NHTSA ID
10058942
Incident
Feb 14, 2004
Mileage
39,800 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2004

WHEN IT RAINS WATER COLLECTS IN THE ELBOW OF THE RUBBER SLEEVE COVERING THE SUPPORT CABLE HOLDING THE TAILGATE UP. THE WATER IN THE ELBOW CAUSED BOTH CABLES TO CORRODE AND BREAK. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10046075
Incident
Oct 30, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

ENGINE USES TO MUCH OIL, KNOCKS, SMOKES BODY- TRUCK BED SIDES ARE RIPPELING BECAUSE THE METAL IS TO THIN,& CAN NOT HANDEL THE WEIGHT OF A LUMBER RACK, FRONT BUMPER IS DENTED ON BOTH SIDES BUT IN DIFFERANT PLACES, WAS LIKE THIS AT DELIVERY, ALL THE TRUCKS WERE LIKE THIS BUT ALL OF THEM IN DIFFERANT PLACES.MANUFACTURE DEFECT EXHAUST- LOOSE PARTS INSIDE OF MUFFLER, EXHAUST RATTELS FROM MOUNTING HARDWARE, MUFFLER RETAINS WATER AND LEAKS AT THE SEAMS. PAINT-RUST ON THE TOP OF CAB SEATBELT- DRIVER SIDE BELT WILL NOT RECOIL,BROKEN SEAT BELT BRACKET.(THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE) TIRES-BELOW 1/32 TREAD LEFT AT 23,000 MILES(THIS IS ALSO A SAFTY ISSUE) TRANSMISSION-MAKES A CLUNCKING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS,TAKES A LONG TIME TO SHIFT WHEN RUNNING THE A/C ALSO MAKES A HOWLING NOISE,TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

NHTSA ID
10069727
Incident
Jul 15, 2001
Mileage
7,250 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 11, 2003
1 injury reported

2001 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICK-UP AILGATE CABLES SNAPPED (BOTH) WHEN I SAT ON THE TAILGATE. I AM NOT TOO HEAVY THE CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE BY ALLOWING WATER THE SEEP INTO THE CABLE AND RUST WHILE NOT SHOWING ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEM UNTILL THE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049575
Incident
Jun 18, 2003
Mileage
39,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2001
Crash reported

BACKING UP AT ABOUT 2MPH HIT A PIPE STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND. THE PIPE WAS ABOUT 3 FT. HIGH. IT HIT THE REAR BUMPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE BUMPER WAS BENT SO BADLY THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF ALMOST $600.00. I THINK THIS BUMPER SHOULD HAVE WITHSTOOD THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
749676
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 3, 2001

VEHICLE WOULD LEAN TO LEFT, AND ALSO PULLED LEFT WHILE DRIVING. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP , AND HAD 2 STEP COIL SPRINGS/ INSULATOR , AND BODY SHIMS REPLACED ON LEFT SIDE. BROUGHT VEHICLE 1/8 INCH ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. LATER VEHICLE WAS HIGH LEFT AND LOW REAR LEFT. *AK

NHTSA ID
887403
Incident
Feb 3, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .