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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

63 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. BEARINGS IN THE DRIVETRAIN ARE DEFECTIVE/ ALIGNMENT/BRAKES REPAIRED/REAR END REPLACED, AND OTHER PROBLEMS DEVELOPED DUE TO THE BEARING. AN AUTHORIZED GMC REPAIRMAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT'S THE WAY GMC MAKES VEHICLES. CONSUEMR INSISTED THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT BAD EXPRIENCES WITH THE V…

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CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. BEARINGS IN THE DRIVETRAIN ARE DEFECTIVE/ ALIGNMENT/BRAKES REPAIRED/REAR END REPLACED, AND OTHER PROBLEMS DEVELOPED DUE TO THE BEARING. AN AUTHORIZED GMC REPAIRMAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT'S THE WAY GMC MAKES VEHICLES. CONSUEMR INSISTED THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT BAD EXPRIENCES WITH THE VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865836

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN FIRST PURCHASED, WE CONTACTED GM. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 SHOPS, BUT THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. OUR WARRENTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, AND NOW THE BRAKES, ALL 4 ARE COMPLETELY LOCKING UP WHEN GOING SLOW. IT PULLED AND GRIPPED PREVIOUSLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ETC. THIS IS WHEN IT WAS FIRT REPORTED. WE CAN NOT GET ANY HELP, A…

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WHEN FIRST PURCHASED, WE CONTACTED GM. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 SHOPS, BUT THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. OUR WARRENTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, AND NOW THE BRAKES, ALL 4 ARE COMPLETELY LOCKING UP WHEN GOING SLOW. IT PULLED AND GRIPPED PREVIOUSLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ETC. THIS IS WHEN IT WAS FIRT REPORTED. WE CAN NOT GET ANY HELP, AND ARE QUITE AGGRAVATED CONSIDERING THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 28,000 MILES!! WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS SAFTETY DEFECT ASAP> IT IS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY NOW, PROBABLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE ASAP, OR WILL CONTACT A LAWYER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #725213

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER STATE'S THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE HYDRO- BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CAUSES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. AK

NHTSA ODI #848707

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I HAVE 5# OF PAPER WORK ON THIS ONE,HAD TROUBLE WITH THIE STEERING GEAR BOX AT 1150 MILES, HAD ROCKER AND LIFTERS DONE AT 4407 MILES, AGAIN AT 6344 MILES, BRAKES AGAIN AT 15986 MILES,24116 DRIVE SHAFT OUT OF BALANCE, I'M STILL HAVEING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SOME TIMES IT IS LIKE ON BRAKE AND SOME TIMES IT'S LIKE THEY LOCK UP TH…

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I HAVE 5# OF PAPER WORK ON THIS ONE,HAD TROUBLE WITH THIE STEERING GEAR BOX AT 1150 MILES, HAD ROCKER AND LIFTERS DONE AT 4407 MILES, AGAIN AT 6344 MILES, BRAKES AGAIN AT 15986 MILES,24116 DRIVE SHAFT OUT OF BALANCE, I'M STILL HAVEING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SOME TIMES IT IS LIKE ON BRAKE AND SOME TIMES IT'S LIKE THEY LOCK UP THE BACK WHEELS AT THE SPEED OF 5MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT OR WHAT EVER SURFES, OR AT THE STOP SIGN WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE,YOU CAN HERE THE ABS. I HAVE TRYED DEALING WITH BBB, AND GMC PUT GOT NO WHERE, I WROTE TO THE ATT GEN'S OF BOTH MN AND TX, BUT GOT NO WHERE.I HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK FROM DAY ONE, I"M PAYING OVER 40.000.00 FOR THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716764

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE HARD TO PRESS, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. ALSO REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851141

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT APPOXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP FOR NO REASON WHEN HITTING A BUMP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLID WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL. MECHANICS CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. *YC

NHTSA ODI #851477

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BACK BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850407

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND VERY QUICKLY/FADING. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548911

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOOSTER FAILED WHILE TRAVELING INTERSTATE. THIS WAS A CLASS 9 SYSTEMS FAILURE (LOSS OF POWER) WITHOUT WARNING. FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A SPLIT DIAPHRAM.

NHTSA ODI #711932

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEARING TOO FAST; ONLY HAD TRUCK FOR ONE YEAR AND ALREADY HAVING TO REPLACE A SECOND TIME; IT IS ONLY DRIVEN 5 MILES TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY, AND REGULAR EVERYDAY USE; ALSO, TWO TIRES FAILED AT SAME TIME AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #710935

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.