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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.

About this comparison →
238Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
1994261
1995246
1996238
1997190
1998600
1999443
2000
Compare all Sierra years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
63Steering
63Power Train
28Visibility
24Engine And Engine Cooling
15
All reported categories
Electrical System
12Suspension
11Fuel System, Gasoline
9Tires
9Seats
6Unknown Or Other
6Service Brakes, Air
5Structure
5Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Seat Belts
3Engine
1Wheels
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: 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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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118,000 miles · Dec 23, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

FAILURE OF TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE ON MY 1997 GMC SIERRA SHORT BED PICK-UP. VEHICLE WAS PRIMARILY USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND HOME. CARGO IS VERY RARELY TRANSPORTED, BUT ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL DOZEN 2X4S WERE TRANSPORTED LESS THAN 3 MILES WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN. THE LEFT SIDE CABLE SUPPORT BROKE DURING TRANS…

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FAILURE OF TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE ON MY 1997 GMC SIERRA SHORT BED PICK-UP. VEHICLE WAS PRIMARILY USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND HOME. CARGO IS VERY RARELY TRANSPORTED, BUT ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL DOZEN 2X4S WERE TRANSPORTED LESS THAN 3 MILES WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN. THE LEFT SIDE CABLE SUPPORT BROKE DURING TRANSPORT. THE LOAD WAS NOT LOST IN THE ROADWAY BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE REMAINED INTACT. TAILGATE IS NO LONGER USED TO SUPPORT ANY LOAD DUE TO FEAR OF FAILURE ,AND REMAINED UPRIGHT AND LATCHED. NO REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN LOCATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104438

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

I HAD LOADED SOME LUMBER INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND THE TAILGATE CABLE SNAPPED. IT HAD RUSTED INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC BARRIER. THE LUMBER SLID OUT OF THE TRUCK WHILE TRAVELING. NO ONE WAS INJURED. I CONTACTED GMC, AND THEY SAID THEIR WAS NO RECALL ON THAT PROBLEM. I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CABLE FOR THE TAILGATE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080656

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1998
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 1). THE HOOD LATCH BECAME UNLATCHED WHILE CONSUMER MOVED HIS LEG WHICH BUMPED UP AGAINT THE LATCH, CAUSING HOOD TO UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING; 2). CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND SIDE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON AS LONG AS DAY RUNNING LIGHTS; AND 3). PASSENGER'S SIDE SEA…

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CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. 1). THE HOOD LATCH BECAME UNLATCHED WHILE CONSUMER MOVED HIS LEG WHICH BUMPED UP AGAINT THE LATCH, CAUSING HOOD TO UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING; 2). CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND SIDE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON AS LONG AS DAY RUNNING LIGHTS; AND 3). PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULD BE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE LARGER PASSENGERS. DEALER/MFR. CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832808

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.