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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

MY THROTTLE PLATE BROKE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD, I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO UNCONTROLLABLE SPEEDS OF 75 M.P.H. I THEN PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK SOMEHOW. I STARTED MY ENGINE AND IT IDLED A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL AT ABOUT 2…

Read full complaint

MY THROTTLE PLATE BROKE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD, I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO UNCONTROLLABLE SPEEDS OF 75 M.P.H. I THEN PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK SOMEHOW. I STARTED MY ENGINE AND IT IDLED A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL AT ABOUT 2000 R.P.M.'S. I DIDNT THINK TOO MUCH OF IT AND STARTED HOME. BY THE TIME I WAS AT MY HOUSE I COULD BARELY CONTROL MY TRUCK, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH BECAUSE THE ENGLINE FLEW TO OVER 3700 R.P.M.'S IF I DID SO. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CALLED A TOW SERVICE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID MY THROTTLE PLATE HAD BROKE WHICH HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, MUCH LESS HAVE AN ENGINE. HE FIXED IT FOR $510.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747539

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AT 2000 RPMS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE WILL RUNAWAY, AND ONLY WAY TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN IS TO APPLY BRAKES WHILE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #888228

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS BADLY FRAYED AND COMING APART. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ENGINE KEPT REVVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884569

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT A HIGH SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824702

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.