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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.

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 →
238Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View 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

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 238 owner complaints · 0 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: 63 reports
  • Steering: 63 reports
  • Power Train: 28 reports
  • Visibility: 24 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 15 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    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

    Other model years Selected year
    190
    1994    261
    1995    246
    1996    238
    1997    190
    1998    600
    1999    443
    2000
    Compare all Sierra years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Structure complaints

    5 reports
    Clear category filter
    39,000 miles · Aug 14, 2008
    Structure

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS GALVANIZED-BRAIDED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT HAVE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS MODEL YEAR WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V066000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESP…

    Read full complaint

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS GALVANIZED-BRAIDED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT HAVE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS MODEL YEAR WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V066000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10238159

    135,705 miles · Oct 23, 2006
    StructureVisibility

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR PINS SHATTERED CAUSING THE DOOR TO MALFUNCTION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE DEALER NEEDED DOCU…

    Read full complaint

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR PINS SHATTERED CAUSING THE DOOR TO MALFUNCTION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE DEALER NEEDED DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE RECALL WORK. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE.

    NHTSA ODI #10171614

    Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
    Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureWheels

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STALL. THEN, SEEP TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED HUBS ON THE FRONT TWO BRAKES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED HUB ASSEMBLY. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED …

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STALL. THEN, SEEP TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED HUBS ON THE FRONT TWO BRAKES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED HUB ASSEMBLY. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ALSO RESURFACED ROTORS. *SCC

    NHTSA ODI #8015487

    Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2000
    Structure

    SPOT WELDS ARE BREAKING FROM FRAME. DEALER HAS WELDED VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS.*AK THE WELD IS NOW BREAKING AGAIN. *YH

    NHTSA ODI #875754

    Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
    Structure

    STEEL CABLE ON TAILATE BROKE FROM BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING IT TO FALL ON TOP OF CONSUMER. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #852208

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No 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.