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1997 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 45 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

25 reports
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120,950 miles · Jan 30, 2017
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE WILL MOVE RIGHT AND LEFT WITHOUT NO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. ALSO, MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP,LOCK UP START WORKING AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE CHANGE ALL FRONT TIE RODS TWICE, STEERING GEAR BOX, FOUR TIMES AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES. THIS I…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE WILL MOVE RIGHT AND LEFT WITHOUT NO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. ALSO, MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP,LOCK UP START WORKING AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE CHANGE ALL FRONT TIE RODS TWICE, STEERING GEAR BOX, FOUR TIMES AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS ISSUE !!!! MANY DRIVERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAS EXPRESSED IT ON THE INTERNET. GMC HAS NOT PUT OUT ANY RECALL TO FIX IT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROBLEM IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION! IF YOU WANT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION PLEASE CALL AAMCO 770-823-1142..PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES DUE THIS STEERING ISSUE!! BTW THIS STEERING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE TO CALL THE MEDIA TO GET SOME ANSWERS. REPLY THE SOONEST!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948581

120,695 miles · Jan 29, 2017
Steering

WHILE TURNING A LEFT TURN ON A HIGHWAY JANUARY 28 THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAVE REMOVED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES, GEARBOX FOUR TIMES, ALL THE TIEBARS AND COMPONENTSD TWICE. GMC IS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND HAS NOT RECALLED ANY VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS! THIS STEERING PROBL…

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WHILE TURNING A LEFT TURN ON A HIGHWAY JANUARY 28 THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAVE REMOVED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES, GEARBOX FOUR TIMES, ALL THE TIEBARS AND COMPONENTSD TWICE. GMC IS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND HAS NOT RECALLED ANY VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS! THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS VERY SEVERE ISSUE AND A EXTREME HAZARD ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY; WHEN THE LOSE OF POWER STEERING HAPPENS ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU WANT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION PLEASE CALL AAMCO (678) 619-0817. THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM WILL KILL SOMEONE. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST TWO (ALL THE PARTS ARE NEW, NOT REBUILT) BTW, THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND MAKES THE DRIVER OVER CORRECT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE REPLY THE SOONEST *TR

NHTSA ODI #10948351

96,000 miles · Mar 24, 2012
Steering

GOING INTO A TURN MY STEERING WILL JUMP AUTO STORE SAID IT WAS A STEERING SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452853

165,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

THE TROUBLE I AM HAVING IS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM . IT HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE BRAKES LOCKOUT AT SLOW SPEEDS AND I HAVE TO USE 2 FEET TO PRESS DOWN THE PEDAL AND STOP THE TRUCK . IF I WERE DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM .HOWEVER IF I WERE THEN TO RELEASE T…

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THE TROUBLE I AM HAVING IS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM . IT HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE BRAKES LOCKOUT AT SLOW SPEEDS AND I HAVE TO USE 2 FEET TO PRESS DOWN THE PEDAL AND STOP THE TRUCK . IF I WERE DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM .HOWEVER IF I WERE THEN TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND APPLY IT AGAIN THE ABS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE AND I BASICALLY CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I DID HIT SOMEONE ONCE BUT IT DIDN'T DO MUCH DAMAGE BECAUSE I WAS GOING SLOW UNDER 5MPH. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK 5 YEARS AGO BUT I FIGURED IT WAS HOW THE TRUCK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS UNDER 15 MPH. YOU CAN HEAR THE ABS MOTOR ACTIVATE BUT THE FEELING YOU GET FROM THE RESPONSE OF THE PEDAL IS HARD LIKE THE VACUUM BOOSTER IS BAD BUT ONLY TEMPORARY. IF YOU GET THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS THAT IF I RELEASE THE PEDAL AND TAP IT THE BRAKES WILL RETURN BUT ONE DAY IT WILL BE TOO LATE AND THERE MAY BE SOMEONE LYING UNDER MY TRUCK. I MUST ALSO SAY THAT I AM A MECHANIC AND POLICE OFFICER SO I DO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT VEHICLE HANDLING RESPONSE AND REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326392

100,000 miles · Apr 9, 2009
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING FELT AS IF IT WERE TURNING MORE THAN IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING FELT AS IF IT WERE TURNING MORE THAN IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10264793

60,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Steering

VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEEMS MORE PREVALENT IN COOLER WEATHER. LACK OF POWER ASSIST AT TIMES, TOO MUCH ASSIST AT OTHER TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088901

30,000 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Steering

1997 GMC TRUCK. WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES THERE IS NO RESISTANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRUCK CAN VEER (HARD RIGHT) AT ANY SPEED. THE SLIGHTEST WEIGHT OF YOUR HAND CAN UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE HARD RIGHT TURN. FAULTY E.V.O. ROTATION SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER ON 06/25/98, 5/24/99 AND 8/27/99. GM EXTENDED …

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1997 GMC TRUCK. WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT, SOMETIMES THERE IS NO RESISTANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRUCK CAN VEER (HARD RIGHT) AT ANY SPEED. THE SLIGHTEST WEIGHT OF YOUR HAND CAN UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE HARD RIGHT TURN. FAULTY E.V.O. ROTATION SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER ON 06/25/98, 5/24/99 AND 8/27/99. GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS SENSOR TO 65,000 MILES. SENSOR IS STILL DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT CAN AND PROBABLE HAS CAUSED SEVERE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATH. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CURRENT DEFECTIVE PART IS IN USE NOW. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078397

37,063 miles · May 11, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TURNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER I…

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WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TURNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AROUND RIGHT CURVES AT 35-45 MPH. THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIVATE TIRE SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN THERE KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES ON OTHER GM PICK-UPS. A NEW SENSOR WAS INSTALLED AND THE PROBLEM WAS ALLEVIATED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10067249

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2004
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054393

25,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
SteeringVisibility

POWER STEERING ASSIST TENDS TO PULL THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WITH TOO MUCH ASSIST AFTER BARELY TURNING THE WHEEL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER (HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS SINCE NEW). WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ACTING UP WHEN ACTIVATING THE WASHER MECHANISM. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T WORK, SOMETIMES THEY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE W…

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POWER STEERING ASSIST TENDS TO PULL THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WITH TOO MUCH ASSIST AFTER BARELY TURNING THE WHEEL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER (HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS SINCE NEW). WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ACTING UP WHEN ACTIVATING THE WASHER MECHANISM. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T WORK, SOMETIMES THEY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WIPE CYCLE. THE DATE BELOW IS A REQUIRED FIELD, BUT THE INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW.

NHTSA ODI #10053064

Official recalls

3

98V187000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Aug 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THIS MOVEMENT CAN CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE AND, OVER TIME, CAN WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT POINT OF CONTACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR AND, EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.

97V176000 · Seats

Oct 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. ONE OR TWO OF THE FRONT SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, A SEAT WITH THIS CONDITION WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND INSTALL ANY MISSING BOLTS.

97V037000 · Seats

Mar 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.