2001 GMC Sierra engine problems

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10576461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2001 GMC SIERRA THAT HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS JUST WANDERING WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

NHTSA complaint #10575996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CONFIRMED THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

NHTSA complaint #10454362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF SO THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP; THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,320.

NHTSA complaint #10327575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, SOME SECONDS LATER IT RESTARTED. TWICE SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT THEN STARTED SOMETIME LATER. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT SHARON CHEVROLET, THEY FOUND A CODE THAT INDICATED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CKP) WAS AT FAULT. THIS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO GM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT ON RECALL. THIS COST ME $356.30 TO REPAIR, AND IT IS EXACTLY WAS IS ON ID #07V521000 RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10288636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #10252096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 2001 GMC SIERRA HAS A TENDENCY TO USE OIL. IT HAPPENS AFTER ABOUT 3000 KMS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO TRY A DIFFERENT BRAND OF OIL. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT MY TRUCK ROLLS AHEAD WHEN I START IT IN COLD WEATHER. THEY SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THAT IS THEIR ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING!!! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, WHEN A VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT SHOULD NOT MOVE WHEN YOU START IT!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10115949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR TESTING, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10113435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10072289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 complaint #10069727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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 complaint #10069727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE KNOCKS WHEN STARTING COLD AND WHEN PULLING A TRAILER OR UNDER A LOAD. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT ALL THE 5.3 LITER ENGINES WILL EVENTUALLY DO IT. ALSO SAID THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A CARBON BUILD UP. SO THEY HAD THE DEALER DO A DECARBONASATION WHICH REMOVES THE CARBON BUILD UP. WHEN IT WAS FINISHED, IT WAS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THEY WORKED ON IT. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS BACK AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PISTONS ARE SMALLER THAN NORMAL AND THAT THEY ARE SLAPPING AROUND IN THE CYLINDER WALLS CAUSING THE KNOCKING NOISE, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT DOING ANY DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. THEY OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TRAIN AND I DECLINED IT. I PAID FOR A QUIET RUNNING GAS MOTOR, NOT ONE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. THE KNOCKING NOISE DECREASES THE TRADE IN VALUE, REGARDLESS IF IT IS DAMAGING THE MOTOR OR NOT. IF I WANTED A DIESEL I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE. I HAVE BEEN GOING ROUND AND ROUND WITH GM AND THE DEALER FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND HAVE GOT NOWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #10066102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) IS USED IT TAKES AT LEAST EIGHT MINUTES FOR THE COOL AIR TO FLOW. THERE IS A FOUL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS THAT SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. ALSO, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A GAS ENGINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. THERE IS A IRRITATING NOISE THAT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL. *AK ENGINE BURNS 3 QTS. OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES AND THE FUEL GAUGE ISN'T ACCURATE. *PH *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10046311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK WITH 13,000. MILES ON IT , RAN GREAT. AT 30000. MILES MOTOR STARTED TO PING LIKE A LIFTER WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT, THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT MAKE NOISE. TOOK SERVICE WRITER OUT AND STARTED TRUCK, ENGINE MADE LOAD KNOCKING NOISE. HE STATED THAT GMC SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT ENGINE AND THAT IT STARTS AT 10,000.-19,000. MILES. BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GMC. THEY STATE IT WON'T HURT MOTOR,I DON"T NO WHY IT WOULDN'T, METAL AGAINST METAL WILL WEAR WITH TIME!!!!!!!!THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000. MILES !!!! I DON"T WANT IT I WANT MY TRUCK FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY 3YR/36,000 THAT I HAVE. IF THEY WON'T HONOR THAT WARRANTY WHAT MAKES ME THINK THEY WILL HONOR 100,000. WARRANTY. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10025152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THERE IS EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE, THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IS ENGINE LIFTERS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP GM HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN OIL PUMP ISSUE. THEY SAY THAT SUFFICIENT OIL IS NOT PUMPED TO THE ENGINE, SO THERE IS A LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE RESULT IS A TYPICAL "LIFTER STICKING" NOISE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED ANY SORT OF A RECALL YET! IN FACT THEY SAY THERE IS NOT AN ADVERSE EFFECT OR DAMAGED BEING CAUSED TO THE ENGINE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AS PROPER LUBRICATION IS CRUCIAL TO MOTOR LONGEVITY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE, AND THE LONG GM WAITS TO DIAGNOSE AND RECALL THIS PROBLEM, DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE WILL ONLY WORSEN. IF ALL ALLOWED TO GO LONG ENOUGH, I WOULD THINK GM WOULD BE LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE MOTOR BLOCKS, RATHER THAN INSTALLING AN OIL PUMP THAT CAN HANDLE THE TASK OF GETTING OIL TO THE CRANK CASE. *TS *NLM ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****761983

NHTSA complaint #10008813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

MY VEHICLE TAPS VERY LOUD WHEN I FIRST CRANK COLD ENGINE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS CARBON BUILD-UP BECAUSE OF NEW EMMISIONS REGULATIONS AND WONT HARM ENGINE. MY DEALER SAYS THEY CAN PERFORM A TREATMENT FOR APPROX. $100.00 THAT WILL CORRECT BUT NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY 20000 MILES. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY BUT THEY SAID THIS SERVICE IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIEND EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE NEW GENERAL MOTORS ENGINE. THANKS

NHTSA complaint #10005615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 GMC SIERRA Z71 WITH 5.3L VORTEC ENGINE. ENGINE KNOCKS LOUDLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS ON EVERY COLD START. CALLED THE DEALER AND SPOKE WITH SERVICE DEPARTMENT. PERSON I SPOKE WITH STATED THAT "ALL 5.3 LITER ENGINES DO THAT" AND THAT IT WAS "NORMAL". I EMAILED GMC WITH MY CONCERN AND THEY REPLIED: WE HAVE CONTACTED YOUR DEALER TO REVIEW THIS CONCERN. ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED AND THAT WE HAVE HERE, THIS TICK IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THIS TICK IS NOT INDICATIVE OF ANY DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE ENGINE AND DOES NOT COMPROMISE THE LONGEVITY OR DURABILITY OF THE ENGINE OR ITS COMPONENTS. YOUR DEALER MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MATTER. TS

NHTSA complaint #10000321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

EXTREME NOISE IN ENGINE FOR FIRST 20-30 SECONDS AT COLD STARTUP. REGIONAL FACTORY REP. STATES "PERFECTLY NORMAL" AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO FIX AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #759159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE KNOCK AT START UP FOR APPROX 10-30 SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #752799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE RADIATOR TURNS TO A GEL LIKE SUBSTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. A TECHNICIAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #894839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE SAFTY DEFECT IS THAT THE ENGINE JUST QUITS AT ANY SPEED. THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TWO TIMES. ONCE AT 3793 MILES ON APRIL 5, 2001 AND THEN AGAIN AT 6340 MILES ON MAY 15, 2001. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE BEGAN TO PING AND THEN JUST STOPPED RUNNING. BOTH SITUATIONS HAPPENED WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A SHOULDER LANE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE SAFETY PROBLEM IS IF THE TRUCK SHOULD STOP AT A LOCATION WHERE ROAD REPAIRS ARE IN PROGRESS AND THE SHOULDER LANES ARE BLOCKED BY CEMENT BARRIERS TO NOT ALLOW ME TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY LANES WITH HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL, I DRIVE HWY 35 BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND DALLAS AND THE HIGHWAY IS ALLWAYS UNDER REPAIR, THE CEMENT BARRIERS ARE UP AND THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC IS THERE. THE DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN IS THE TRUCK STALLING AT THESE LOCATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #746307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.