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1997 GMC C/K Pickup

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 25 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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180,000 miles · Feb 16, 2011
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

1997 GMC PICK UP DRIVERS DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LOCATION WAS THE ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH THE TRUCK WAS UNOCCUPIED.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10383009

91,500 miles · Sep 18, 2007
EquipmentVisibility

SIR OR MA'AM, I BOUGHT A 1997 GMC SIERRA C/K SERIES 1500 PICKUP IN 1999. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND SEEMS TO FIX ITSELF AFTER THEY DRY OUT. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT GMC RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITS …

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SIR OR MA'AM, I BOUGHT A 1997 GMC SIERRA C/K SERIES 1500 PICKUP IN 1999. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND SEEMS TO FIX ITSELF AFTER THEY DRY OUT. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT GMC RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITS VEHICLES FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACT GMC AND THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN I KNOW IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DRIVER HAS NO VISIBILITY, WHILE RAINING, WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HERE IS THE INFORMATION FOR MY VEHICLE: 1997 GMC SIERRA C/K1500 PICKUP I THINK GMC SHOULD REPAIR THIS BEFRE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY SERIOUSLY INJURE SOMEONE. THANKS ROBERT JONES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203369

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2007
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTIVE - BOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE WIPERS TO NOT WORK. GMC ISSUED A RECALL OF WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED?, AND THAT GMC WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE DEFECT…

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WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTIVE - BOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE WIPERS TO NOT WORK. GMC ISSUED A RECALL OF WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED?, AND THAT GMC WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192082

86,000 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Visibility

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AT TIMES DURING OPERATION. ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECALLED UNDER RECALL #03V159000 OR GM RECALL 03023. BUT AFTER CHECKING MY VIN A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONTEND THAT ALTHOUGH SOME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR …

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APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AT TIMES DURING OPERATION. ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECALLED UNDER RECALL #03V159000 OR GM RECALL 03023. BUT AFTER CHECKING MY VIN A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONTEND THAT ALTHOUGH SOME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, MINE AND SOME OTHERS WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE (I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SUCH NOTIFICATION) RECEIVE "SPECIAL NOTIFICATION" OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. MY CONCERN IS HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE ANY MORE RISK FOR ONE VEHICLE THAN ANOTHER THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DISPARITY IN THE LEVEL OF MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138751

120,000 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Visibility

I OWN A 1997 GMC SIERRA EXTENDED CAB PICKUP (GMC K15), [XXX]. MY PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE NHTSA HAS A CAMPAIGN# 03V-159 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO A RENOTIFICATION RECALL EARLIER IN 2005. UPON CHECKING WITH GMC I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER 1997 GMC PICKUPS…

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I OWN A 1997 GMC SIERRA EXTENDED CAB PICKUP (GMC K15), [XXX]. MY PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE NHTSA HAS A CAMPAIGN# 03V-159 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO A RENOTIFICATION RECALL EARLIER IN 2005. UPON CHECKING WITH GMC I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER 1997 GMC PICKUPS AND SUVS WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I RECEIVED A RECALL EARLIER IN 2003, WHICH I STILL HAVE, THAT ALLOWED FOR A RECALL. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. AFTER THE 2003 RECALL PERIOD HAD CLOSED I BEGAN HAVING THE MOTOR FAILURE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO LATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RENOTIFICATION SHOULD NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE NOW SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE EARLIER RECALL IN 2003. I CONTINUE TO HAVE WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS WHICH OCCUR MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND AN ADMITTED DEFECT BY GMC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. PLEASE REPLY TO MY EMAIL WITH YOUR RESPONSE. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10135676

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2005
Visibility

THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS ON OUR GMC Z-71 TRUCK HAVE STOPPED WORKING (OR WORK INTERMITTANTLY). I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL FROM MY NEPHEW AND CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON YOUR SITE AND THERE IS ONE, SO NOW WHERE DO I GO?

NHTSA ODI #10129759

110,400 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Visibility

(1) RAIN STORM IN LUBBOCK , TEXAS (2) TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK. (3) CHECKED FUSE. FUSE WAS GOOD. TRIED ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER AND THE WIPERS WORKED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER TURNING ON AND WHEN THEY DID TURN OFF THEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO "HOME" POSITION. SOMET…

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(1) RAIN STORM IN LUBBOCK , TEXAS (2) TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK. (3) CHECKED FUSE. FUSE WAS GOOD. TRIED ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER AND THE WIPERS WORKED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER TURNING ON AND WHEN THEY DID TURN OFF THEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO "HOME" POSITION. SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE WASHERS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES AND AT TIMES WORK FINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093775

97,852 miles · Sep 15, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS STOPPED AND WILL NOT WORK. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL OF THE CREW CAB MODEL OF MY VEHICLE, BUT, MY VEHICLE IS A CLUB CAB (EXTENDED CAB) I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES OF THIS CLASS USE THE SAME WIPER/WASHER MOTOR IF THEY HAVE INTERMITTENT WIPERS, SO THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN T…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS STOPPED AND WILL NOT WORK. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL OF THE CREW CAB MODEL OF MY VEHICLE, BUT, MY VEHICLE IS A CLUB CAB (EXTENDED CAB) I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES OF THIS CLASS USE THE SAME WIPER/WASHER MOTOR IF THEY HAVE INTERMITTENT WIPERS, SO THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091043

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083758

90,000 miles · May 5, 2004
Visibility

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAINWINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST STOP. THEY MAY WORK AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES OR THEY MAY NOT. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY 1997 GMC K PICK UP WAS NOT RECALLED FOR A WIPER PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068374

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

2

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

PE98060 · Erratic Steering Boost While Driving

Opened Nov 13, 1998 · Closed May 12, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

ALLEGED THAT THE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING UNIT INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDES FULL BOOST TOT HE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS.