IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT THERE'S AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *SCC
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra years →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
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
63 reportsCONSUMER STATED THAT ANTI LOCK BRAKE CAME ON 3-5 MILES PER HOUR AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. *YD
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
BRAKES FELT SPONGY, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO NOTICED FRONT ROTORS WERE DISINTEGRATING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
BRAKES FAIL AT TIMES. *AK
EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED A NOISE IS HEARD AND IT CONTINUES TO GO FOR A DISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE ON.
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES THEY FELT AS IF THEY WERE BRAKING. HOWEVER, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS BADLY FRAYED AND COMING APART. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ENGINE KEPT REVVING. *AK
BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATING FROM HUB, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR, VIBRATIONS; ULTIMATELY THE WHEEL WILL FALL OFF
CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOE KIT AND STATED THAT FRONT BRAKES WERE DOING ALL THE WORK, 3 MONTHS LATER A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, IN JANUARY OF 2000 MORE FRONT…
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CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOE KIT AND STATED THAT FRONT BRAKES WERE DOING ALL THE WORK, 3 MONTHS LATER A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, IN JANUARY OF 2000 MORE FRONT NOISE WAS HEARD AND DEALER INSTALLED CYLINDER, VALVE KIT, DRUM ASSEMBLY, SPRING KIT, PIN KIT, AND SHOE KIT, BRAKES ALSO CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT, 12-08-00, CALIPER KIT AND PAD KIT WERE INSTALLED AND 7 DAYS LATER ALL BRAKE FLUID WAS LOST BECAUSE OF A FAULTY CALIPER KIT, DEALER REPLACED A SEAL WHICH HAD CRACKED. *SLC
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.