RoadVitals

2001 GMC Sierra Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
151
Latest Dec 21, 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.
57%
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.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. 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. 151 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 151, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Dec 21, 2015
Crash reported

05068A PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION. MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL IN 2006 WHICH INVOLVED REMOVING AND CLEANING THE ABS SENSOR AND REINSTALLING IT. NO REDESIGN WAS CREATED TO IMPROVE THIS FLAWED DESIGN. I'M HAVING THE SAME FAILURES DESCRIBED AND COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHILE MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS IN DRY CONDITIONS ABS KICKS IN AND INCREASES MY STOPPING DISTANCE. I HIT A PARKED CAR IN A PARKING LOT DUE TO THIS DEFECT. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT <5MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN THE BREAKS WENT INTO 'ABS MODE' AND HIT A STATIONARY PARKED CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WHEN I CONTACTED GMC I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL IN 2006 AND THAT THE ISSUE WAS THEREFORE CLOSED. IN MY CASE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS NOT ADEQUATE AND MY CAR BREAKS STILL FAILED EVEN THOUGH SERVICED IN 2006. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T START TO OCCUR WITH ALL OF THE VEHICLES THAT WERE SERVICED ~10 YEARS AGO WHICH IS WHY I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT. LINK TO RECALL: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/ACM5671334/RCRIT-05V379-9258.PDF

NHTSA ID
10811477
Incident
Dec 20, 2015
Mileage
250,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 16, 2015

WENT TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND EXPERIENCED BRAKE LINE RUPTURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COAST TO A STOP. FORTUNATE NO CARS WERE IN LANE.$1200.00 FOR REPAIR OF LINES.

NHTSA ID
10764366
Incident
Sep 9, 2015
Mileage
134,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 6, 2015

BRAKE PEDAL MOVED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH NO APPARENT HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGE BRAKES WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. INSPECTION OF BRAKE LINES BENEATH DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUST AND A HOLE IN STEEL BRAKE LINE LEAKING FLUID.

NHTSA ID
10723781
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
145,050 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE ABS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A DEFECTIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. ...UPDATED 06-11-15 *BF UPDATED 11/23/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10700640
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 2015

BRAKE LINE FAILED AND BROKE, UPON INSPECTION ALL BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND BRITTLE, HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692429
Incident
Feb 26, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSORS ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10671006
Incident
Oct 15, 2012
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 2014

HEADING INTO PARKING SPOT AT WALMART , APPLIED BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP , HEADING HEAD ON INTO PARKED CAR , SLAMMED EMERGENCY BRAKE , PUT INTO NEUTRAL , FINALLY STOPPED . HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO MECHANIC BRAKE LINES ALL BURST DUE TO RUST , MECHANIC SAID COST TO FIX , APPROX. $1000 OR MORE ? WHICH I DON'T HAVE . THANK GOD I WAS GOING SLOW AND DIDN'T CAUSE ANY INJURY , POUR DESIGN AND POUR QUALITY PARTS PER MECHANIC ON GM'S PART , NOTICE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THESE ERA OF TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667811
Incident
Dec 22, 2014
Mileage
219,844 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 2014
Crash reported

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND APPROACHED THE GARAGE, APPLIED BRAKES AND ALL THEY DID WAS VIBRATE AND MAKE THAT PULSE NOISE. NO MATER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE PEDAL, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AND I WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND ALSO KNOCKED OVER MY HARLEY THAT WAS IN THE GARAGE. I CANT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF COMMON STORY'S ABOUT THIS BRAKE ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667607
Incident
Dec 21, 2014
Mileage
223,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2014

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 SOUTH IN VIRGINIA ON THE HOV LANES AT ABOUT 1:30 PM APPROACHING THE ROUTE 1 EXIT. TRAFFIC WAS DEAD STOPPED IN FRONT OF A MODERATE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EVERYONE QUICKLY SLAMMED THE BRAKES (INCLUDING ME) TO SLOW AND STOP TO PREVENT REAR ENDING THE STOPPED CARS. TRAFFIC WAS FLOWING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I SLAMMED MY BRAKES. THE BRAKES GRABBED MOMENTARILY AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR; THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE GONE. NO PRESSURE WAS AT THE PEDAL EVEN AS I PUMPED IT. THE ONLY WAY OUT WAS TO HIT THE SHOULD AND BERM AND TAKE THE ROUTE 1 EXIT TO COAST TO A STOP; WHICH I DID. NO FLUID LOSS WAS EVIDENT AT THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND I COULDN'T SEE EVIDENCE OF A BLOWN LINE OR BRAKE CALIPER UNTIL I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THE METAL (STEEL) BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROL VALVE/MODULE WAS LEAKING AT A PIT IN THE LINE CAUSED BY RUST. THE POINT WAS UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PAN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME AND PARALLEL WITH THE FRAME. IT BLEW A RUSTED PITTED SPOT ON THE LINE UNDER PRESSURE.. *JS

NHTSA ID
10661777
Incident
Nov 24, 2014
Mileage
154,976 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENTIRELY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,570.

NHTSA ID
10639374
Incident
Sep 24, 2014
Mileage
227,570 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 27, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUST BUILD UP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED ONE BRAKE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10628713
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
170,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 2014

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM AN EVENT THIS PAST SATURDAY HEADING TO DROP OFF MY SON. AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF I CONTINUED HOME. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AND I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND WAS TERRIFIED WHEN IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALTHOUGH I HAVE AS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT I HAVE AS STILL TERRIFIED. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN WITH A HEART CONDITION AND COULD HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK. I HAD MY TRUCK LOOKED AT BY MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST AND IT WILL COST ME AROUND $1000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD MANY MANY CARS AND TRUCKS IN MY LIFETIME AND NEVER EVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. IT SEEMS TO ME THE MANUFACTURE WOULD ALLOW FOR THESE NORTHERN CONDITIONS WITH THE PARTS THEY USE IN PRODUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628182
Incident
Aug 23, 2014
Mileage
94,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10619248
Incident
Aug 6, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2014

EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 15MPH AND IN AN AREA THAT WASN'T CONGESTED WITH TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE ROADSIDE BERM BANKING AND AVOIDED ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY GM DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED SO BADLY IT CAUSED THE LINES TO RUPTURE RESULTING IN AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. JUST DAYS EARLIER I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED AT A DIFFERENT GM DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THIS CONDITION NOR THE PREVIOUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER OWNERS AS NOTED ON THIS WEB SITE. EVEN IF GM OR THE NHTSA DOES NOT DEEM THIS ISSUE FREQUENT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A TSB, AT MINIMUM A SERVICE WARNING/RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE ISSUED TO GM DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER REGISTERED SERVICE PROVIDERS ALERTING THEM TO INSPECT FOR THIS CONDITION WHILE SERVICING THE BRAKING SYSTEMS FOR THESE MODEL YEARS. DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY CAN AND MOST LIKELY WILL OCCUR AS THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES FROM THESE MODEL YEARS STILL ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610057
Incident
May 10, 2014
Mileage
72,495 mi
Brakes
Filed May 1, 2014

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOD, HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING TRUCK, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10585834
Incident
Apr 30, 2014
Mileage
149,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 12, 2014
Crash reported

IT WAS SNOWING AND ICY OUTSIDE. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR AN UPCOMING RED LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. I STEERED TO THE CURB TO AVOID TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION. I JUMPED THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP AGAINST A POWER POLE. DAMAGE TO THE POWER POLE AND TO THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. ONE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES RUPTURED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, ALL THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568693
Incident
Feb 24, 2014
Mileage
135,052 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR BOARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING FLUID DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
10550519
Incident
Oct 31, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 15, 2013

STEPPED ON BRAKES APPROACHING YELLOW LIGHT ,SAILED RIGHT THOUGH LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548012
Incident
Oct 14, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2013

METAL BRAKE LINES RUSTED CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL AND REPLACEMENT OF MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521500
Incident
Nov 9, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 8, 2013

THE FIRST DAY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLOSER TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTIVATED. THE SECOND DAY THE PEDAL NEARLY TOUCHED THE FLOOR AND THEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD INDY TIRE CENTER WHERE THEY QUICKLY DETERMINED BRAKE LINE FAILURE NEAR THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY CAUSING A HOLE AND RAPID LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. A NEW TEFLON COATED MAIN BRAKE LINE AND FITTINGS WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID. OTHER BRAKE LINES WERE EXAMINE AND FOUND TO BE RUSTED BUT NOT COMPROMISED. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $461.38. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515788
Incident
Jun 7, 2013
Mileage
86,740 mi
Brakes
Filed May 28, 2013

BRAKES HYDRAULICS FAILED WHEN TRYING TO STOP. TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH TOWARDS A BUSY INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, HE WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. THE REAR BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE RUSTED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513827
Incident
May 28, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2013

REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED, LEAKING. ANTILOCK SPEED SENSOR ENGAGES DURING LOW SPEED STOPPING - EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK WAS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512751
Incident
May 19, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 2013

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS APPROACHING A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. PUSHED DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WHEN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM "D" TO "3" AND AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 35 MPH, DOWN SHIFTED TO "1" SLOWED DOWN MORE AND THEN SHIFTED TO "2". AT THAT POINT, I WAS APPROACHING A CAR AHEAD OF ME, WAITING AT THE RED LIGHT, AND I BEGAN SLOWLY APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP, NARROWLY MISSING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER PULLING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND DETERMINED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM A BRAKE LINE LOCATED IN THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507343
Incident
Apr 5, 2013
Mileage
134,950 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Feb 25, 2013

FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED. COMPLETELY RUSTED, IT BLEW OUT INSIDE ONE THE CLIPS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE. HORRIBLE DESIGN. TRUCK IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR BRAKES. ESTIMATE WAS OVER 1500, JUST TO REPLACE THE LINES, WITH COATED STEEL, NOT STAINLESS. FUEL LINES ARE ALL RUSTED AS WELL. ALL NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499973
Incident
Feb 22, 2013
Mileage
180,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2013

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE PEDAL SEEMED TO GO DOWN FURTHER THAN NORMAL. WAS EXITING FREEWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BUT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I THEN PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE EXIT RAMP AND GET VEHICLE TO STOP BY PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE THEN PARK. IT NOW HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT A BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. THIS ONE LINE FAILURE CAUSED BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NOT TO APPLY AT ALL. AFTER INSPECTING FURTHER NOTICED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAVE SEVERE CORROSION AND LOOK LIKE THEY COULD FAIL AT ANYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498250
Incident
Feb 15, 2013
Mileage
141,000 mi

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 .