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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 →

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

What owners actually said

238 reports
50,000 miles · Feb 22, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGED AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH AND BELOW. AS A RESULT, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGED AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH AND BELOW. AS A RESULT, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10150932

54,310 miles · Feb 13, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ABS WHEEL SENSORS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDIC…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ABS WHEEL SENSORS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150169

67,000 miles · Feb 13, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED AT 10 MPH. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150082

85,000 miles · Dec 30, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY SEIZE UP AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ROLL FORWARD AT SLOW RATES OF SPEED. EXACT SAME PROBLEM WE HAD WITH OUR 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE THAT WAS JUST FIXED UNDER RECALL 12/05. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146527

83,000 miles · Nov 17, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HE BELIEVES IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143054

78,000 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG FRAME RAIL SEVERELY RUSTED AND FAILED UNDER BRAKING, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY REAR END ANOTHER CAR. I REMOVED IT FROM THE TRUCK AND TOOK IT BY THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS COMMON FOR A VEHICLE WITH 78,000 MILES TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140876

38,000 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. THE "BRAKE" LIGHT STAYS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. I UNDERSTAND MANY GMC TRUCKS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM, BUT IT BEGINS WITH TRUCKS A COUPLE OF YEARS NEWER THAN MY 1997 SIERRA TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139677

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA K1500 PICKUP. THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AS WELL AS THE WHEEL BEARING SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH WHERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR EAC…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA K1500 PICKUP. THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AS WELL AS THE WHEEL BEARING SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH WHERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR EACH TIME. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THAT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AT THIS TIME AND I SHE WOULD BE RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONTACT STATED HAS BEEN HAVING THE ABS BRAKES FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THE ABS HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. SOME OF THESE REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE WITHIN A YEAR FROM THE LAST REPLACEMENT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136211

74,000 miles · Sep 28, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER PARKING DURING MY WORK SHIFT, I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE WORK AT 1530. APPLYING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO "DRIVE",THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO PUMP UP THE BRAKE, AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD ROTTED OUT. THE GAS TANK MUS…

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AFTER PARKING DURING MY WORK SHIFT, I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE WORK AT 1530. APPLYING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO "DRIVE",THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO PUMP UP THE BRAKE, AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD ROTTED OUT. THE GAS TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO EFFECT REPAIR. I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK FROM LONG ISLAND, NY TO MAYS LANDING , NJ (ABOUT 145 MILES) WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME I COULD HAVE LOST BRAKING POWER AT ANY TIME.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10137985

115,000 miles · Sep 9, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

DT: 1997 GMC SIERRA C1500 PICK UP TRUCK - THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE GMC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING BOX WORE OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD PLAY IN THE WHEEL. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS OF YET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES MALFUNC…

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DT: 1997 GMC SIERRA C1500 PICK UP TRUCK - THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE GMC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING BOX WORE OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD PLAY IN THE WHEEL. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS OF YET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT APPROACHING A STOP, BUT WAS COMING UP ONTO A BIG TRUCK, WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED WITH ALL NEW BRAKE LINES, BUT THEY WERE STILL MAKING NOISE AND ID NOT FEEL RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10136029

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.