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1997 GMC Sierra 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 16

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
199610
199712
199819
199926
2000
Compare all Sierra 3500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Steering
4Power Train
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seat Belts
1
All reported categories
Seats
1Structure
1Visibility
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: 1 of 10 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE…

Read full complaint

BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH

NHTSA ODI #871983

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 1997
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE BECAME DETCHED FROM VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. BOLTS FROM THE MFR PLANT WERE MISSING. THIS OCCURRED WITH ONLY 300 MILES ON THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807041

Official recalls

1

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.