2001 GMC Sierra fuel system problems

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10499973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT. GOT TO END OF STREET AND SUSPECTING A PROBLEM BEGAN SLOWING EARLY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE AND VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER. WENT BACK TO HOUSE AND FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WHERE THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING. OPENED THE HOOD TO LOOK AT BRAKE RESERVOIR AND FOUND IT EMPTY BUT ALSO REALIZED ALL HARD BRAKE LINES IN VIEW WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND CRUSTED. LEAK WAS FROM BURST HARD LINE BELOW DRIVER. ALL HARD LINES ARE HEAVILY CRUSTED AND CORRODED NEAR THE POINT OF FAILURE IF NOT ALREADY FAILED. SOME FUEL LINES ALSO CORRODED.

NHTSA complaint #10475801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10471305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

STATE INSPECTION, FAILED DUE TO ROTTED FUEL FILLER NECK. WAS TOLD FOR AWHILE IT WAS DUE TO GAS CAP, REPLACED THAT, LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF. WHEN IT WOULD NO LONGER GO OFF TOOK BACK TO DEALERS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FUEL FILLER NECK, ALONG WITH VALVE/SENSOR AT A COST OF OVER $500. GM WILL NOT HELP AS THEY CLAIM IT WAS DUE TO "ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS" (WE LIVE IN MA). ALSO, PARKING BRAKE BACKING PLATES RUSTED OUT, E-BRAKE CABLES FROZEN, HAD TO REPLACE THOSE AT ANOTHER $850. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE, DEALER REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10246093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW - SOMETIMES WORKS PROPERLY, BUT OTHER TIMES READS EMPTY WHEN TANK IS FULL, READS MORE FUEL THAN IN TANK, ETC. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE THIS GENERATION OF GM FULL-SIZE TRUCK (GMC SIERRA, CHEVY SILVERADO, GMC YUKON, CHEVY TAHOE - GMT800 SERIES), AND MOST OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT.

NHTSA complaint #10183294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE GAS GAUGE GOES UP AND DOWN, AND THE FUEL LIGHT FLASHES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10164308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

MY GAS GAUGE DANCES CONSTANTLY OR JUST STAYS ON EMPTY WITH GAS GAUGE ALWAYS ON GMC SIERRA 2001. SOMETIMES IT SHOWS THE GAS LEVEL CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER GETTING GAS THEN IT MOVES AROUND OR GOES TO EMPTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT EMPTY.

NHTSA complaint #10150966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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!

NHTSA complaint #10147501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, WITH A QUARTER OF TANK OF FUEL REGISTERED ON THE FUEL GAUGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10107213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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!

NHTSA complaint #10104050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10102812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

AFTER FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. *PH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, IT WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED BUT NOT THE CONNECTOR. THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AND QUIT RUNNING NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH WHICH CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. (THE CAP WAS TIGHTENED) THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS THEN OUT OF WARRANTY. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND NO GAS PRESSURE AND REPLACED THE PUMP. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN UPON HIMSELF TO GO UNDER THE VEHICLE AND WIGGLED THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR HARNESS. (THE CONNECTOR WAS BURNED AND PITTED) *SC

NHTSA complaint #10071448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL INTO THE OIL, AND OVERFLOW WHEN THE INJECTORS STUCK OPEN. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 14 TIMES. VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE, AND WOULD REACH CERTAIN RPMS WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #10003838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK INJECTOR PUMP FAILED, TRUCK WOULD RUN BUT FUEL WOULD RUN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH IT RUNNING ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, POSSIBLE FIRE CONDITION. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK INJECTOR PUMP FAILED, TRUCK WOULD RUN BUT FUEL WOULD RUN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WITH IT RUNNING ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, POSSIBLE FIRE CONDITION. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.