1997 GMC Sierra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra years
- Far more complaints than other years 7th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Sierra. That ranks 7th out of 23 Sierra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (63 complaints, 26%), typically at around 76,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 5 fires, 4 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 238owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 GMC Sierra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 63 | 26% | 76,000 | “anti lock” (11%) | — |
| Steering problems | 63 | 26% | 63,671 | “loss control” (10%) | — |
| Power Train | 28 | 12% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 24 | 10% | 85,066 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 15 | 6% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 5% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 5% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 4% | 97,100 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 3% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 3% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 2% | 87,353 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 2% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2% | 11,900 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 2% | 85,066 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 GMC Sierra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 GMC Sierra.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1997 gmc sierra. Consumer writes in regards to issues with the engine. The consumer stated, according to the owner's manual, the vehicle should be able to pull 6,000lb load. But, the vehicle misfired, lost speed, and stalled while pulling less than 4,000lbs. The failure occured at speeds of…
Electrical system shuts down at low and high speeds. Replaced battery, battery connections, cables and alternator but the problem persists over the years. It is a dangerous hazardous situation. *tr
My brake line failed above the fuel tank, lost pressure to the braking system which resulted in no brakes. Why would car manufactures use steel brake lines that can rot out very quickly when exposed to normal driving elements. *tr
I was returning to albuquerque, nm from amarillo, tx pulling a trailer with an antique stove in my trailer. Immediately before leaving amarillo, i had my friend check all of the trailer lights and their functioning. They all worked fine. I took the scenic route through hereford entering onto…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 gmc sierra. The contact stated that his vehicle has galvanized-braided steel tailgate support cables that have corroded and fractured. The dealer stated that his model year was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 06v066000 (structure:body:tailgate:hinge and…
Other GMC Sierra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sierra | 61 | 0 |
| 2016 Sierra | 6 | 2 |
| 2015 Sierra | 53 | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra | 101 | 11 |
| 2013 Sierra | 39 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra | 29 | 2 |
| 2011 Sierra | 43 | 2 |
| 2010 Sierra | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 Sierra | 37 | 1 |
| 2008 Sierra | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 Sierra | 59 | 2 |
| 2006 Sierra | 53 | 4 |
| 2005 Sierra | 117 | 9 |
| 2004 Sierra | 188 | 7 |
| 2003 Sierra | 206 | 6 |
| 2002 Sierra | 249 | 4 |
| 2001 Sierra | 264 | 4 |
| 2000 Sierra | 443 | 8 |
| 1999 Sierra | 600 | 5 |
| 1998 Sierra | 190 | 0 |
| 1997 | 238 | 0 |
| 1996 Sierra | 246 | 2 |
| 1995 Sierra | 261 | 6 |
See all GMC Sierra problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 GMC Sierra?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, steering, power train problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 63 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 GMC Sierra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 GMC Sierra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.