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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

Seats complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
120,000 miles · Mar 8, 2004
Seats

WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME LOOSE AND BROKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER WAS RECLINING IN SEAT. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE BRITTLE FRAME WAS BEING USED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10061580

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2003
Seats

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER DID NOT LOCK. TS THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT FRAME WAS BROKEN WHERE THE SEAT LATCH AND SPRING MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. ALSO THE SEAT TRACK IS BROKEN. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10001909

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Seats

PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT STAY OUT OF RECLINING POSITION, SEAT WILL FLOP BACK IN FORTH DUE TO DEFECTIVE RECLINING MECHANISM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873602

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Seats

DRIVER SEAT, SEAT ADJUSTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #609712

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Seats

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT BROKE OFF. CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS. CONSUMER LOST TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK UNDER CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846271

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1998
SeatsInjury

CHILD CUT THE END OF HIS FINGER OFF IN THE ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTABLE DRIVER SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #538943

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.