IllustrationI HAVE A GMC 1500 SEIRRA PICK-UP 1997 THAT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF STEERING ISSUES WITH SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TURN THEN IT GETS REAL LOOSE AND IF I GO IN TO A TURN, IT FEELS LIKE IT LOOSES ALL TENSION AND I OVER CORRECT MYSELF ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. *LA
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 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
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
Steering complaints
63 reportsWHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR OR SO, THE STEERING WHEEL OCCASIONALLY LOSES ALL RESISTANCE AND THE WHEEL TURNS AROUND TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE. I READ THAT GM HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR MANY VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE GMC 1500 TRUCK DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AMONG THEM. PLEASE ADD IT…
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WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR OR SO, THE STEERING WHEEL OCCASIONALLY LOSES ALL RESISTANCE AND THE WHEEL TURNS AROUND TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE. I READ THAT GM HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR MANY VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE GMC 1500 TRUCK DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AMONG THEM. PLEASE ADD IT. *LA
VEHICLE LOSES IT'S ABILITY TO TURN TO THE LEFT
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *JB
STEERING PROBLEMS AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND/OR RECALLS POSSIBLY RELATED TO STEERING PROBLEMS AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS. CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH REIMBURSEMENT. *TT *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. *AK *NLM
WHILE DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL WILL HAVE TO MUCH PLAY IN IT AND TURN ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO STEER VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOST OF CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
TRUCK STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO SIDE ON CURVE ABOUT 35 MPH. THOUGHT WAS MISALIGNMENT AT FIRST. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAS TO BE FIXED SOON. ON SEARCHING INTERNET MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DT
THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE MADE A RIGHT TURN, IT FELT AS THOUGH ALL STEERING WAS LOST. TS *JB
THIS STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND AT LEAST TWO OTHERS THAT I KNOW OF CAUSES THE TRUCK TO JERK IN THE DIRECTION YOU ARE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS. I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, JUST WANTED TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST.*AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.