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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.

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOOSE BODY BOLTS;REPAIRED BY DEALER. HAD EVO SENSOR REPLACED AT A CHEVY DEALER SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED THIS NEW FEATURE, ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE WAS NEW IN 1997. THE TRUCK WAS DANGAROUS TO DRIVE, FELT LIKE A GO-CART, ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY CHEVY DEALER ALSO BURNED IN A NEW PROGRAM FOR MIXTURES AND T…

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LOOSE BODY BOLTS;REPAIRED BY DEALER. HAD EVO SENSOR REPLACED AT A CHEVY DEALER SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED THIS NEW FEATURE, ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE WAS NEW IN 1997. THE TRUCK WAS DANGAROUS TO DRIVE, FELT LIKE A GO-CART, ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY CHEVY DEALER ALSO BURNED IN A NEW PROGRAM FOR MIXTURES AND TIMING WENT THEY REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS AND CLEANED THE EGR VALVE. DID I PAY TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS DUE TO A BAD PROGRAM?? I THINK I DID. WHAT IS WARRENTY ON EMISSION SYSTEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER.??? *AK

NHTSA ODI #717230

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I HAVE 5# OF PAPER WORK ON THIS ONE,HAD TROUBLE WITH THIE STEERING GEAR BOX AT 1150 MILES, HAD ROCKER AND LIFTERS DONE AT 4407 MILES, AGAIN AT 6344 MILES, BRAKES AGAIN AT 15986 MILES,24116 DRIVE SHAFT OUT OF BALANCE, I'M STILL HAVEING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SOME TIMES IT IS LIKE ON BRAKE AND SOME TIMES IT'S LIKE THEY LOCK UP TH…

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I HAVE 5# OF PAPER WORK ON THIS ONE,HAD TROUBLE WITH THIE STEERING GEAR BOX AT 1150 MILES, HAD ROCKER AND LIFTERS DONE AT 4407 MILES, AGAIN AT 6344 MILES, BRAKES AGAIN AT 15986 MILES,24116 DRIVE SHAFT OUT OF BALANCE, I'M STILL HAVEING TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SOME TIMES IT IS LIKE ON BRAKE AND SOME TIMES IT'S LIKE THEY LOCK UP THE BACK WHEELS AT THE SPEED OF 5MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT OR WHAT EVER SURFES, OR AT THE STOP SIGN WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE,YOU CAN HERE THE ABS. I HAVE TRYED DEALING WITH BBB, AND GMC PUT GOT NO WHERE, I WROTE TO THE ATT GEN'S OF BOTH MN AND TX, BUT GOT NO WHERE.I HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK FROM DAY ONE, I"M PAYING OVER 40.000.00 FOR THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716764

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HAD COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED & VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. ALSO, LEAF SPRING ON PASSENGER'S SID EFAILED/REPLACED/SMELLED OIL DUE TO PCV VALVE FAILURE, AN DTRANSMISSION WOULD NO…

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VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HAD COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED & VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. TAKING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. ALSO, LEAF SPRING ON PASSENGER'S SID EFAILED/REPLACED/SMELLED OIL DUE TO PCV VALVE FAILURE, AN DTRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850640

Mileage unknown · May 20, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS, AND MAY CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838262

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITH NO INDICATIONS . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823837

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.