IllustrationWHEN CONSUMER PUT ON THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
238 reportsSTEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND FALLS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN WHEN TURNING.
BRAKE PADS OVERLAP THE ROTORS, PART OF THE PADS ARE MISSING FROM THE ROTORS, ALSO, MISSED PART OF THE ROTORS. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. THE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND DEALER. CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CHILD CUT THE END OF HIS FINGER OFF IN THE ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTABLE DRIVER SEAT. *SLC
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
POOR STEERING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS AT 55 MPH. DRIVER BRAKED FOR SLOWING TRAFFIC AHEAD, ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP, VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH, AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. BRAKES STILL DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND DRIVER BELIEVES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT A HIGH SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITH NO INDICATIONS . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BRAKES EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURES, UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM.
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.