IllustrationABS BRAKES/LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IN ADDITION, STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
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 FADES OUT, MOVES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN, BUT DOES NOT IMPAIR THE DIRECTION OF THE TIRES.
WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT OR RIGHT SIDES.
ABS BRAKES DO NOT STOP IN CASE OF A SUDDEN STOP, 3-4 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE IT STOPS. PULLS TO THE LEFT ON EMERGENCY OR FAST STOPS. NO ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER IF ABS LIGHT DOES NOT APPEAR THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT, WHEN THERE IS EXTREME MOISTURE PRESENT UPON RELEASING THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, THE REAR BRAKES ARE LOCKED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS.
BRAKES FAILED.
BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE COLLISION.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY LOOSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
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.