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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.

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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

Fuel System, Other complaints

4 reports
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85,066 miles · Nov 21, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherVisibility

THE VEHICLE STALLED 5 TIMES IN ONE MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE WEATHER WARMED UP OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE RAN AND STARTED FINE. THE NEXT EVENING THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE, I GOT 1/2 BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD IT STALLED AGAIN. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT RAN FINE. THE NEXT MORNING IT STARTED FINE AND I DROVE IT FOR MILES, H…

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THE VEHICLE STALLED 5 TIMES IN ONE MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE WEATHER WARMED UP OUTSIDE AND THE VEHICLE RAN AND STARTED FINE. THE NEXT EVENING THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE, I GOT 1/2 BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD IT STALLED AGAIN. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT RAN FINE. THE NEXT MORNING IT STARTED FINE AND I DROVE IT FOR MILES, HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING. WE CALLED GMC TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, BECAUSE THE WIPERS WOULD WORK WHEN THEY WANTED TO WORK. NOT WHEN YOU NEEDED THEM TO WORK. THEY HAD TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN IGNITION COIL PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK-THEY CALLED THE GMC DEALER THAT WAS TO DO THE RECALL WORK. A FAULTY IGNITION COIL CAN GIVE THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHEN WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. THE GMC DEALER TOLD US IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE FUEL PUMP, THE DEALER TOLD US THE FUEL PUMPS IN THIS VEHICLE GO OUT "FREQUENTLY." BUT, HE OFFERED US TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOR $450.+ INCLUDING LABOR. OR SELL US ONE OVER THE COUNTER FOR APPROXIMATELY $425.00 + TAX. AND WE COULD INSTALL IT OURSELVES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR HOUSE AND NOW ARE DECIDING WHAT TYPE OF FUEL PUMP SHOULD BE BOUGHT FOR A VEHICLE THAT THE FUEL PUMP GOES OUT FREQUENTLY IN. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS TRUCK HAS 85,066 MILES ON IT, AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. WHY ARE THE VEHICLES FITTED WITH FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. THE PUMP CAN CATCH ON FIRE, OR GO OUT IF YOU HIT TOO MANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THAT IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM OF A FAULTY PRODUCT. PLEASE LET US KNOW, HOW MANY FUEL PUMPS WE SHOULD PLAN ON REPLACING IN THE NORMAL LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047326

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS TWICE, THE SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH THE FUEL PUMP, WIRE ASSEMBLIES AND FLOAT, THE WIRES AND FITTING PLUGS BURNED, THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE. *YD

NHTSA ODI #563896

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

ENGINE WOULD STALL DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN STALLING. WHEN DEALERSHIP EXAMINED FUEL SYSTEM NOTICED THAT CONTACT WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP LOCATED IN FUEL TANK WERE CHARRED, AND INSULATION FOR WIRES MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE…

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ENGINE WOULD STALL DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN STALLING. WHEN DEALERSHIP EXAMINED FUEL SYSTEM NOTICED THAT CONTACT WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP LOCATED IN FUEL TANK WERE CHARRED, AND INSULATION FOR WIRES MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899926

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2001
Fuel System, Other

SENDING UNIT WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO FUEL SYSTEM IS GETTING BURNED INSIDE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH PERVENTS VEHICLE FROM MOVING WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #898668

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.