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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

83 reports
14,000 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND MASTER CYLINDER A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND MASTER CYLINDER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10442574

210,000 miles · Dec 29, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. ALSO OWN AN 87 & 83 MERCEDES BENZ, NO ISSUES WITH CORROSION ON ANY FUEL OR BRAKE LINES. BRAKES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS, THIS IS NEGLIGENT CORPORATE BEHAVIOR. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441620

197,000 miles · Oct 27, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE FLUID LOSS DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10433375

85,000 miles · Jul 12, 2011
Structure

RUSTED FRAME AND SIDE PANELS THIS IS A 1997 GMS SIERRA Z71. 85,000 MILES. FRAME IS RUSTED TO THE POINT IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS NOT ROAD SAFE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND SO FEW MILES. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411967

60,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OXIDIZED PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OXIDIZED PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 12/16/11

NHTSA ODI #10400782

112,033 miles · Mar 27, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 25 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO DRIVE OVER SMALL BRIDGE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I DEPRESSED BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT THE VEHICLE STOPPING. I FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM STEEL BRAKE LINE ALONG DRIVERS SIDE REAR FRAME RAI…

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DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 25 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO DRIVE OVER SMALL BRIDGE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I DEPRESSED BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT THE VEHICLE STOPPING. I FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM STEEL BRAKE LINE ALONG DRIVERS SIDE REAR FRAME RAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10393449

67,550 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE WIPERS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. MOST RECENTLY, THE WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE WIPERS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. MOST RECENTLY, THE WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,550. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,836.

NHTSA ODI #10336382

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

175,000 miles · Jun 25, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING,TRIED TO START THE TRUCK WITH NO LUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. TRUCK RA FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN GOT TO WHERE IT WOULDN'T RUN AND NOW IT WONT EVEN START. I HAD IT TOWED BACK IN AND THEY TESTED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WAS GOOD. THE DEALERSHIP RESEARC…

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THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING,TRIED TO START THE TRUCK WITH NO LUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. TRUCK RA FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN GOT TO WHERE IT WOULDN'T RUN AND NOW IT WONT EVEN START. I HAD IT TOWED BACK IN AND THEY TESTED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WAS GOOD. THE DEALERSHIP RESEARCHED THAT YEAR AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR STICKING CAUSING IT TO DO THAT. THERE WAS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT OUT WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE PARTS ARE WELL OVER $700. NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THE TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE UNTIL IT GETS FIXED. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THESE VEHICLES SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274994

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

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.