1997 GMC Pickup Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Visibility624.0%
- Steering416.0%
- Brakes312.0%
- Electrical28.0%
- Engine28.0%
- Tires & wheels28.0%
- Fuel system14.0%
- Body & structure14.0%
- Driver assistance14.0%
- Airbags14.0%
- Interior & seats14.0%
- Suspension14.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL NOTICE REGARDING VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*MR THE CONSUMER MISPLACED THE RECALL LETTER RELATER TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT ANOTHER COPY BE SENT SO THAT THE RECALL CAN BE COMPLETED. *NM
WHILE DRIVING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT SURGE OR BOOST IN POWER STEERING ASSITANCE. HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 1+ YRS . LOOSE STEERING . *AK
UNEXPECTED/ERRATIC BOOST FROM POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE..BRAKES LOCKED ONCE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. *AK
BRAKE PADS PREMATURALLY WEAR OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PADS TWO TIMES. OWNER STATES THAT THE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WIPE AFTER BRIEF RAINSTORM . ONCE THE TRUCK DRIED, THE WIPERS WOULD WORK. THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLIES FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER AND FURTHER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN EACH ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSED THE TURN SIGNAL TO FAIL TO FLASH. BULB TESTED GOOD. THE PERSONAL AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE STATED THEY HAD A LOT OF THESE ASSEMBLIES BEING REQUESTED FOR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A WRECK WITH MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY GM SUPPLIER BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT PORTION WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK. *JB *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*764581
FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE WHEN FIRST CRANKED UP. DEALER REPLACED MAIN BEARING, BUT NOISE PERSISTED. THEY THEN REPLACED THE LIFTERS AND NOISE STILL REMAINS. THEY ARE NOW PULLING THE ENGINE AND TEARING IT DOWN FOR INSPECTION.
THE TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING THE BRAKE LINE AND WAS TOO CLOSE TO PUT A HITCH ON.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD 2 BLOWOUTS WITHIN 100 MILES WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO THE TRIP. WHEN I TOOK THEM TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER THEY WERE QUICK TO SHIFT THE BLAME AND ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON MY TRUCK BUT THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE FIRESTONE PROBLEMS. MY TIRES WERE 16" AND DIDN'T SEPERATE, THEY JUST BLEWOUT. THERE WAS STILL 50% OF TREAD LIFE ON THE TIRES AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUTS. (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )
I HAD 2 BLOWOUTS WITHIN 100 MILES WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO THE TRIP. WHEN I TOOK THEM TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER THEY WERE QUICK TO SHIFT THE BLAME AND ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON MY TRUCK BUT THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE FIRESTONE PROBLEMS. MY TIRES WERE 16" AND DIDN'T SEPERATE, THEY JUST BLEWOUT. (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES WIRES INSIDE THE GAS TANK LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP WERE BURNED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP WORKING.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO KEEP RUNNING. ALSO, IT TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR FOR THE TRUCK TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT'S HOW IT SUPPOSE TO OPERATE, DEALER ALSO TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WAS PROGRAMMED TO RUN IN THAT MANNER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHUT DOWN THE FUSES TO THE ENTIRE BAG SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT PART FOR THE VEHICLE.CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO WAIT UNITL HE WILL RECEIVE A SECOND RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED SECOND NOTICE. HE HAS BEEN WAITING TO GET VEHICLE FIXED EVER SINCE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH FRONT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALERS CANNOT FIX IT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .