There are 24 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2001 GMC Sierrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ON THE DURAMAX DIESEL, WHILE UNDER A LOAD (TOWING, FULL BED) FUEL LINES COLLAPSE CAUSING SEVERAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND VEHICLE TO GO INTO "LIMP" MODE. MUST RELEASE VACUUM IN FUEL SYSTEM (BY LOOSENING THE FUEL FILTER THEN RE-BLEEDING THE FUEL SYSTEM) IN ORDER FOR THE CODE TO GO OFF. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, ONCE WHILE TOWING UP HILL. IF THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A GM SHARE HOLDER. VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE WINTER DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE WINTER DIESEL AND THE VACUUM FUEL SYSTEM. ONCE WHILE ON AN ICY ROAD, ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 4AM. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS. *TR
TWO THINGS STARTED TO HAPPEN 1. THE TRUCK WHEN COMING TO A STOP OF A SPEED OF LESS THEN 25 MPH STARTED TO LOSE ITS BRAKES AND FEEL SPONGY. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I GOT IT IN THE SHOP WHICH WAS ABOUT TWO DAYS. 2. THE TRUCK STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME AS WELL. AFTER I GOT IT IN THE SHOP AND THEY GOT IT UP ON A LIFT THEY FOUND THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES WERE ALL MOST RUSTED THROUGH AND STARTING TO LEAK. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES, FUEL LINES AND SINCE THEY HAD THE FUEL TANK DOWN THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THEY FOUND RUST AND DIRT IN THE OLD PUMP. THE SHOP MECHANIC SAID THE LINES WERE READY TO FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. THE CHEVY DEALER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK OFF OF JUST FOUR MONTHS EARLY HAD JUST INSPECTED IT AND HAD SEEN THE RUSTED LINES AND EVEN REPAIRED A PIECE OF ONE OF THE FUEL LINES BUT LEFT THE REST GO TO FAIL DOWN THE ROAD, THEY GAVE ME LITTLE TO NO HELP. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM, DANGEROUS AS WELL AS VERY EXPENSIVE ONE AND NEEDS LOOKED INTO. IS THERE ANY HELP I CAN GET FOR THIS PROBLEM?? *TR
WHEN MY ISSUES STARTED, I WOULD FILL MY GAS TANK AND THE GAS GAUGE WOULD PLUMMET TO EMPTY. WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD GO TO FULL, BACK TO EMPTY OR BE ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN. AT THAT TIME, THERE NO NO MECHANICAL ISSUES, JUST THE ANNOYING FACT THAT YOU HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL YOU ACTUALLY HAD. THIS WENT ON UNTIL THIS SPRING, WHEN I HAD THE FIRST POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY THE SPEED LIMIT AND THE TRUCK'S ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING. IT HAPPENED JUST AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN THANKFULLY. I WAS ABOUT 50 MILES FROM HOME AND WAS ABLE TO CALL A FRIEND THAT MANAGES THE COLLISION CENTER OF A LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING A TOW OR HIS OPINION AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, IT RESTARTED. I TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM ALL OF THEM: THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT FAIL IN GMC TRUCKS AROUND THE MILEAGE, 95,000 MILES, THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE TRUCK. THE GAS GAUGE IS STILL ERRATIC, I HAVE HAD TWO EPISODES OF THE VEHICLE STALLING AND NOW THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS COMING ON AND WHEN IT IS PUT ON AN ANALYZER IT SAYS EMISSIONS, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIRS REPLACED AND EVERYONE SAYS TO GET A FACTORY MADE PUMP BECAUSE THE CHEAP AFTERMARKETS BREAK DOWN EVEN QUICKER. I GOOGLED THE INFORMATION AND THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FILLER NECK WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,005.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND PROVIDED ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENDING UNIT INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INJECTION PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A GMC 2001 SIERRA 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 10/21/09 *BF UPDATED 10/20/09
THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN JUMPING FROM FULL TO EMPTY REGARLESS OF THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. I TOOK GM'S RECOMMENDATION TO PUT THEIR FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER INTO THE GAS TANK TO CLEAN THE CONTACTS ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW TOLD THAT ONLY WAY TO FIX THE FUEL GAUGE IS TO PULL THE GAS TANK AND REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS FAULTY SENDING UNIT AND THE "QUICK FIX" THAT MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY TRY. APPROXIMATELY $400 TO FIX SENDING UNIT BECAUSE IT'S BUILT INTO THE GAS TANK, AND APPROXIMATELY $1000 TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND PERFORM AS IF IT WANTED TO STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $350 PER FUEL INJECTOR. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR COST. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E043000. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE STALLING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 172,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FLUCTUATED ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE CONSTANT MALFUNCTION WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE FREQUENTLY AND REGISTER IT AS FULL AND THEN EMPTY. GMC STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E043000. THE ONLY NEW EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE WERE THE WHEELS, TIRES, AND WATER PUMP. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN
GAS TANK FILLER NECK LEAKING FUEL. *JB
GASOLINE SENSOR OR COMPUTER INDICATOR SHOWS LOW FUEL AND GAS GAUGE SHOWS NO FUEL WHEN ENGINE COLD AND WEATHER IS COOL OR COLD OUTSIDE, REGARDLESS OF THE QUANTITY OF GAS IN THE TRUCKS TANK (FULL, 1/2, 3/4, ETC). THIS JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED AND ALSO FOUR TO SIX TIMES LAST WINTER. *NM
FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY WHEN FULL, HALF THE TIME. GAUGE WILL SHUT OFF THEN COME ON. THIS PROBLEM STARTED 2 YRS AGO WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES. *TR
GAS FUEL GAUGE-: GAUGE REGISTERS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS FULL. REFUEL LIGHT COMES ON & STAYS ON. GAUGE BOUNCES BACK & FORTH & IS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. HAVE TO WATCH ODOMETER TO FIGURE OUT WHEN TO FILL TANK UP WITH GAS. ON -GOING PROBLEM!!!!! *NM
GAS GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY WITHOUT WARNING, EVEN AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. "LOW FUEL" WARNING STAYS ON WHEN ON EMPTY, EVEN WHEN THERE'S PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, GMC SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THERE CUSTOMERS. THIS IS MY SECOND GMC TRUCK, AND I BOUGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY MY 1ST TRUCK WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WANTS ME TO BUY A TOYOTA NEXT TIME, THAT'S ALL SHE EVER OWNED. GMC TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, OR I'LL WON'T BE COMING BACK FOR A 3RD. *NM
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
FUEL GAUGE HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY( JUMPS FROM 1/2 TANK TO EMPTY) TODAY I WAS DRIVE ON ! 40 EAST AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 75 MPH WITH 1/2 TANK OF FUEL AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN, I DID GET SAFLEY TO THE SHOULDER, TO FIND I WAS OUT OF FUEL ...I T READ 1/2 TANK PREVIOUSLY I HAD HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER GMC OWNERS IN THIS AREA BUT IT WAS THEIR FUEL PUMPS. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE LOCAL REFINERY'S FALT FOR ADDITVIES IN THE FUEL .. AND THIS IS THE ONLY AREA WHERE THE FUEL SYSTEM IS BEING AFFECTED. MY EMPLOYEER HAD 2 FUEL PUMPS PUT IN HER NEW GMC YUKON IN 6 MONTHS, AT HER EXPENSE. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS OR AN VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE FOR THE INTERSATE.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 GMC SIERRA,THE FIRST TANK OF FUEL THAT WAS PUT IN THE FUEL GAGE JUMPS FROM FULL TO EMPTY, IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL THE CURRENT DATE, I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO IN MY AREA WITH SAME VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENT YEARS 1999-2002, EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM, WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT IT IS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO'S VEHICLE"S HAVE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF IT, SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM,VERY UNSAFE!*JB
Showing 1–20 of 24 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026