IllustrationBRAKES INSUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT, LOCK ON WET ROADS AND DON'T APPLY ENOUGH STOPPING POWER TO ACTIVATE ABS. QCAW
1997 GMC Sierra 2500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →14Owner complaints
Model-year median: 46
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1997 GMC Sierra 2500
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 14 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7 reports
- Tires: 2 reports
- Visibility: 2 reports
- Fuel System, Diesel: 1 reports
- Latches/locks/linkages: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 2500 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Limited mileage data: 7 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reportsBRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. WOULD ROLL 6 TIMES OR MORE BEFORE SLOWING DOWN. SPEED VARIES. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. BEEN TO DEALERS 8-10 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. AN INTERMITTENT BRAKING PROBLEM. *AK
WAS PREPARING TO STOP AT ABOUT 30 MP IN DRY CONDITONS DURING NORMAL STOPPING OPERATION, BUT BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT PEDESTRIAN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
RECALL RELATED 97V037000, SEAT, NOTICED IN MARCH 1997, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PERFORM RECALL DUE TO THE TIME FACTOR INVOLVED, THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
Recall campaigns
297V176000 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.