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1997 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra years

Owner complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →
238Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
1994261
1995246
1996238
1997190
1998600
1999443
2000
Compare all Sierra years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
63Steering
63Power Train
28Visibility
24Engine And Engine Cooling
15
All reported categories
Electrical System
12Suspension
11Fuel System, Gasoline
9Tires
9Seats
6Unknown Or Other
6Service Brakes, Air
5Structure
5Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Seat Belts
3Engine
1Wheels
1

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: 49 of 238 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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports5 fire reports4 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
160,000 miles · Jun 7, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED DISLOCATED KNUCKLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075747

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH ON A SMOOTH DIRT ROAD BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. GMC WILL REPLACE AIRBAGS FREE OF CHARGE ONLY IF CONSUMER WILL SIGN RELEASE. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY WILL NOT BE LIABLE. AIRBAG SENSOR WAS SENT TO DETROIT, NO PROBLEM FOUND. VEHICLE AT DEALER SINCE INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886918

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1999
Air BagsInjury

WHILE DRIVING 25-35-MPH OVER SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER. PREVIOUSLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON / OFF. DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG CHIP, AND THEY WOULD NOT DEPLOY. BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY DID. *AK *YC

NHTSA ODI #842129

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1998
Air Bags

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STRUCK A LIGHT POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH; BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825663

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.