Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
STEEL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE UNDER TRUCK BED AND RUNNING ALONG DRIVER SIDE FRAME RUPTURED WHILE DRIVING. RESULT WAS LOSS OF LOSS OF PRESSURIZATION/BRAKE FLUID, MUSHY BRAKE PEDAL, AND GREATLY DECREASED BRAKING PERFORMANCE. INSPECTION REVEALS SIGNIFICANT RUST AREAS ON ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES.
BRAKE FLUID BEGAN LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED AND BEGAN TO LEAK. THIS WAS REPLACED IN JANUARY 2011. AFTER REPLACING BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURST AND AFTER INSPECTING THIS BRAKE LINE AS WELL, IT WAS CORRODED AND FINALLY GAVE WAY DUE TO THE EXTRA PRESSURE EXERTED BY THE NEW UNWORN BRAKE PAD. THE AMOUNT OF CORROSION SEEMED EXCESSIVE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN SO SUDDENLY. IN BOTH CASES, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AND NO HARM WAS CAUSED DUE TO EARLY RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE HUBS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND MASTER CYLINDER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. ALSO OWN AN 87 & 83 MERCEDES BENZ, NO ISSUES WITH CORROSION ON ANY FUEL OR BRAKE LINES. BRAKES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS, THIS IS NEGLIGENT CORPORATE BEHAVIOR. *KB
BRAKE FLUID LOSS DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE.
DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 25 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO DRIVE OVER SMALL BRIDGE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I DEPRESSED BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT THE VEHICLE STOPPING. I FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM STEEL BRAKE LINE ALONG DRIVERS SIDE REAR FRAME RAIL.
THE TROUBLE I AM HAVING IS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM . IT HAS BEEN PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE BRAKES LOCKOUT AT SLOW SPEEDS AND I HAVE TO USE 2 FEET TO PRESS DOWN THE PEDAL AND STOP THE TRUCK . IF I WERE DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM .HOWEVER IF I WERE THEN TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND APPLY IT AGAIN THE ABS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE AND I BASICALLY CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I DID HIT SOMEONE ONCE BUT IT DIDN'T DO MUCH DAMAGE BECAUSE I WAS GOING SLOW UNDER 5MPH. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK 5 YEARS AGO BUT I FIGURED IT WAS HOW THE TRUCK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS UNDER 15 MPH. YOU CAN HEAR THE ABS MOTOR ACTIVATE BUT THE FEELING YOU GET FROM THE RESPONSE OF THE PEDAL IS HARD LIKE THE VACUUM BOOSTER IS BAD BUT ONLY TEMPORARY. IF YOU GET THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS THAT IF I RELEASE THE PEDAL AND TAP IT THE BRAKES WILL RETURN BUT ONE DAY IT WILL BE TOO LATE AND THERE MAY BE SOMEONE LYING UNDER MY TRUCK. I MUST ALSO SAY THAT I AM A MECHANIC AND POLICE OFFICER SO I DO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT VEHICLE HANDLING RESPONSE AND REPAIR. *TR
TRUCK IS CONTINUOUSLY WARPING FRONT ROTORS AND WEARING OUT FRONT PADS. I HAD NEW HEAVY DUTY PADS AND SHOES AND NEW HD ROTORS INSTALLED NOT 10000 MILES AGO AND THEY ARE ALREADY WARPED AND WORN OUT. *NM
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500, IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLES WITH RECALL # 05V379000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING UNDER 10 MPH AND STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, THE ABS ENGAGES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL PUMPS UP AND DOWN. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON ANY ROAD CONDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS HAD HIS BRAKES CHECKED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS HAD 2 NEW ROTORS, BRAKES SHOES AND PADS REPLACE AND THE DRUMS ON THE BACK WERE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE. *NM UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB
METAL BRAKE LINE TO REAR AXLE SPLIT OPEN CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND REAR BRAKES. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE FAILED LINE AT A COST TO ME OF +$300. I HAVE THE FAILED PART. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC Z-71 1500. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FOR MODEL YEARS 1999-2002. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE MODEL YEAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL . THE CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PULSATION WITHIN THE BRAKES WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM AS WITH THE MODEL YEAR VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK *NM
INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO PREMATURE INITIATION OF ABS PUMP SYSTEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE INOPERABLE WHICH CAUSE POOR BRAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOADED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS-- IT TAKE LONGER TO STOP THAN IT WOULD WITHOUT ABS, IT ALSO SEEMS TO ACTUALLY SLIDE ON SLIPPERY SURFACES SUCH AS ICE & SNOW.... EVEN THOUGH PEDAL IS HELD FIRMLY DOWN, THE WHEELS GRIP, THEN RELEASE, AS IF THE ABS IS NOT CYCLLING QUICK ENOUGH. I DRIVE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE WITH ABS & THAT SYSTEM WORKS DIFFERENTLY & WORKS OK. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PUMPING & PRESSURE I FEEL FROM THE PEDAL. THE WHEELS WILL SLIDE BEFORE THE ABS KICKS IN, OR SO IT SEEMS. AS REGARDS TO THE REAR DRUM BRAKES--- WHEN IT IS COLD & DAMP, THE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK UP WITH JUST THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL... ONCE IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX 5 MILES & THE BRAKES USED & WARMED UP, THEN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY...... THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING & DANGEROUS TRAIT OF THIS VEHICLE... THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.. THANK YOU
WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING, CRUNCHING NOISES. ALSO THEY WOULD SMELL HOT. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 8 DIFFRENT TIMES & EACH TIME THEY WERE REPLACED. THE NOISE WOULD REAPPEAR A FEW MONTHS LATER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES, AND THE ABS BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT THE ABS BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE ABS LOCKS UPAND SQUALLS AND TIRE RUBBER ON WET BLACK TOP ROADS AT HIGH SPEED BRAKING, THE ABS SHAKES AND SHIMMIES THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END, SEEMS TO BE UNSTABLE ON HIGH SPEED BRAKING.*JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .