RoadVitals

2001 GMC Sierra Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
15
Latest Jan 11, 2006
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.
6%
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.
2
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 15 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 suspension

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

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
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 7, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE ABS. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIRS, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE RIGHT FRONT HUB. THE HUB HAS BEEN REPLACED ONE TIME ALREADY. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10141969
Incident
Oct 30, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 6, 2005

BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FOUND TO BE WORN OUT. MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE AT TOP FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES. NO STEERING OR BRAKING PROBLEMS WERE DETECTED BEFORE THE CONDITION WAS FOUND AS PART OF THE MISSOURI STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THIS PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE HUB ASSEMBLY. ESTIMATE OF REPAIR COST $1000.00. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131813
Incident
Aug 6, 2005
Mileage
118,172 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed May 4, 2005

CONTACT STATES: AT LOW SPEEDS THE ABS LOCKED UP. THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO CONSUMER'S OTHER GMC SIERRA . DEALER SAID THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB ASSEMBLY WAS THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE ABS KICKED IN IT RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10119885
Incident
Apr 4, 2005
BrakesSuspension
Filed May 3, 2005

CONTACT STATES: AT VERY LOW SPEED ANTI LOCK BRAKES WOULD KICK IN WHEN CONSUMER WOULD BRAKE INSTEAD OF BRAKING THE VEHICLE WOULD KEEP MOVING, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITION IS. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. CONTACT CALLED GM, THEY SAID IT NEEDED TWO NEW HUBS, INCLUDING THE BEARINGS (LEFT AND RIGHT). GM COVERED 1/2 OF THE COST. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10119506
Incident
Dec 18, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Apr 12, 2005
Crash reported

TRUCK EXHIBITS FAILURE OF BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS; PEDAL HARD AND NO BRAKE; HIT BUILDING AT SLOW SPEED MINIMAL DAMGE; TRUCK HAD 38,000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER;THEY SAID KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG; CHANGED OUT LEFT FRONT HUB AND SPEED SENSOR $405.00. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116803
Incident
Apr 7, 2005
Mileage
38,250 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 21, 2003

FRONT LEFT HUB ON 2001 GMC SIERRA 4WD HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT COST. VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT. TRUCK HAS BEEN KEPT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND SERVICED PROPERLY. NO OFF ROAD USE OTHER THAN ON GRASS TO ENSURE 4WD SYSTEM WORKING. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043297
Incident
Oct 17, 2003
Mileage
73,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT END PROBLEMS WHICH MAKES TRUCK VEER TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO THE SECOND ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. *YH...*AK

NHTSA ID
567914
BrakesSeat beltsSuspension
Filed Sep 3, 2002
4 deaths reported

BRAKES WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND THE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE EVEN STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIDE CONTROL WILL NOT GO ON; THERE IS AN INTERNAL SHORT-REPLACED THE RIDE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON-FAULTY SPEED SENSORS, AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT IS NOT RETRACTING. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8017787
Incident
Aug 2, 2002
Suspension
Filed Aug 7, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES UP AND DOWN. VIEW OF THE GLASS IS CLOUDY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015737
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed May 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH OR HIGHER VEHICLE WILL START TO BOUNCE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO STEER. PROBLEM WORSENS WHEN ROAD CURVES.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO DEALER NOT BEING ABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM, CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT VEHICLE IS SAFE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8009622
Incident
Mar 21, 2001
Suspension
Filed Nov 14, 2001

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE LIFTS UP AND KICKS SIDEWAYS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
899130
Incident
May 1, 2001
Powertrain (other)SuspensionTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Aug 12, 2001

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAKES GEAR NOISE IN 1ST AND 4TH GEARS. AT PURCHASE, VEHICLE HAD BAD VIBRATION PROBLEM. DEALER BALANCED WHEELS, WHICH DID NOT ELIMINATE PROBLEM. DEALER TESTED TIRES AND FOUND ONE DEFECTIVE TIRE...THE OTHER THREE HAD TO BE "INDEXED" ON THE WHEELS. DRIVESHAFT, SUSPENSION COMPONENTS/HARDWARE AND PARTS OF THE CHASSIS HAVE SIGNIFICANT RUST. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R16)

NHTSA ID
750267
Incident
Jun 16, 2001
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
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Apr 23, 2001

THERE WAS A LARGE "BOOMING" NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE EVERYTIME CONSUMER DROVE IT. THIS NOISE OCCURRED WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY GREASED DIFFERENTIAL. HE WAS TOLD THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
886428
Incident
Mar 1, 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 .