IllustrationINTERMITTENT UNEXPECTED STEERING MOVEMENT AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
1997 GMC Sierra 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 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
20–25K
725–50K
750–75K
675–100K
11100–150K
5150K+
38 reports with mileage · 45 unknown
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.
- Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 13 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Steering complaints
25 reportsWHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 50, 60, 70 MPH, THE STEERING LOOSENED UP. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY KIND OF A RIGHT CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL GOES SLACK, YOU GET 3-4 INCHES OF FREE PLAY. THE DEALER /GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. TRUCK IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND CANNOT BE CORRECTED FREE OF CHARGE. …
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WHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 50, 60, 70 MPH, THE STEERING LOOSENED UP. ALSO, WHEN MAKING ANY KIND OF A RIGHT CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL GOES SLACK, YOU GET 3-4 INCHES OF FREE PLAY. THE DEALER /GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. TRUCK IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND CANNOT BE CORRECTED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK
ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, SHAKING AND BURNING GAS LIKE A GAS GUZZLER, TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID THAT TWO INJECTORS WERE DAMAGED, REPLACED ONE AND REPAIRED THE OTHER. AT IDLE (750 RPM)SPEED ENGINE IS INTERMITTENT . AS FOR THE STEERING, WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING 45-65 MPH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, STEERING FELT LIKE …
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ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, SHAKING AND BURNING GAS LIKE A GAS GUZZLER, TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID THAT TWO INJECTORS WERE DAMAGED, REPLACED ONE AND REPAIRED THE OTHER. AT IDLE (750 RPM)SPEED ENGINE IS INTERMITTENT . AS FOR THE STEERING, WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING 45-65 MPH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, STEERING FELT LIKE A FEATHER IN THE AIR, UNCONTROLLABLE. UNIT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER IN THREE DIFFERENT OCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, EVERY TIME WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AS I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE PERSONS. ON JULY 16/98 DROVE IT TO A DIFFERENT GMC DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM A WEEK AFTER I PICK IT UP AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE PS PUMP. STILL, TO PARK THE VEHICLE IS A NIGHTMARE, YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, LIKE THE OLD TIMES WHEN TRUCKS DID NOT HAVE PS. SEEMS LIKE A HAVE A LEMON BUT SINCE IN PR THERE IS NO LEMON LAW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE PAYING GMAC IN ORDER TO PROTECT MY CREDIT.
WHILE DRIVING WOULD EXPERIENCE A LACK OF CONTROL IN STEERING WHEEL. AT HIGHER SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL CANOT BE CONTROLLED, AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM. SOMETIMES STEERING WHEEL GOES LIMP. VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-65 VEHICLE WILL PULL TO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLEY AND STRONGLY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL FOR COUPLE SECONDS, AND BE PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. DEALER HAS REPLACED STEERING BOX/SENSOR/GEAR AND PUMP ASSEMBLY. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK
Official recalls
398V187000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Aug 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THIS MOVEMENT CAN CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE AND, OVER TIME, CAN WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT POINT OF CONTACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR AND, EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
97V176000 · Seats
Oct 7, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. ONE OR TWO OF THE FRONT SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, A SEAT WITH THIS CONDITION WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND INSTALL ANY MISSING BOLTS.
97V037000 · Seats
Mar 7, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
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.