Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 83 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 83 · page 1 of 4
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE DOESN'T WORK. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A 'RECALL' BUT I COULDN'T GET THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT. REAL FUN HAVING TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW JUST TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DOOR'S WINDOW IS FROZEN. OBVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE IS IN A PARKED POSTION. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 149,000 WHEN THE HANDLE STOPPED WORKING.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THIS VEHICLE WILL MOVE RIGHT AND LEFT WITHOUT NO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. ALSO, MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP,LOCK UP START WORKING AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE CHANGE ALL FRONT TIE RODS TWICE, STEERING GEAR BOX, FOUR TIMES AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS ISSUE !!!! MANY DRIVERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAS EXPRESSED IT ON THE INTERNET. GMC HAS NOT PUT OUT ANY RECALL TO FIX IT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROBLEM IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION! IF YOU WANT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION PLEASE CALL AAMCO 770-823-1142..PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES DUE THIS STEERING ISSUE!! BTW THIS STEERING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY NEXT COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE TO CALL THE MEDIA TO GET SOME ANSWERS. REPLY THE SOONEST!!!! *TR
WHILE TURNING A LEFT TURN ON A HIGHWAY JANUARY 28 THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAVE REMOVED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP THREE TIMES, GEARBOX FOUR TIMES, ALL THE TIEBARS AND COMPONENTSD TWICE. GMC IS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND HAS NOT RECALLED ANY VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS! THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS VERY SEVERE ISSUE AND A EXTREME HAZARD ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY; WHEN THE LOSE OF POWER STEERING HAPPENS ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. IF YOU WANT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION PLEASE CALL AAMCO (678) 619-0817. THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM WILL KILL SOMEONE. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST TWO (ALL THE PARTS ARE NEW, NOT REBUILT) BTW, THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND MAKES THE DRIVER OVER CORRECT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE REPLY THE SOONEST *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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.
MY IGNITION CYLINDER IS BINDING BADLY AND IM CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER GM VEHICLES. *TR
YOU TURN ON THE WIPERS AND THEY DON'T WORK OR START AND THAN STOP TO WHICH YOU MUST GET OUT OF THE TRUCK AND GIVE A PULL ON THE WIPER ARM TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. *TR
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
GOING INTO A TURN MY STEERING WILL JUMP AUTO STORE SAID IT WAS A STEERING SENSOR. *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.
RUSTED FRAME AND SIDE PANELS THIS IS A 1997 GMS SIERRA Z71. 85,000 MILES. FRAME IS RUSTED TO THE POINT IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS NOT ROAD SAFE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND SO FEW MILES. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OXIDIZED PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 12/16/11
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE WIPERS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. MOST RECENTLY, THE WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,550. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,836.
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
THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING,TRIED TO START THE TRUCK WITH NO LUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. TRUCK RA FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN GOT TO WHERE IT WOULDN'T RUN AND NOW IT WONT EVEN START. I HAD IT TOWED BACK IN AND THEY TESTED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WAS GOOD. THE DEALERSHIP RESEARCHED THAT YEAR AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR STICKING CAUSING IT TO DO THAT. THERE WAS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT OUT WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE PARTS ARE WELL OVER $700. NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THE TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE UNTIL IT GETS FIXED. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THESE VEHICLES SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING FELT AS IF IT WERE TURNING MORE THAN IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY IN THE RAIN. HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
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
PERSISTENT FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION UNDER NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS LED TO LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH WINDSHIELD. THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED RECALL OF THE WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLY FOR GM TRUCKS/VANS. MY TRUCK IS A 1997 GMC K1500. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL VIN RANGE. THERE IS NO DOUBT MY TRUCK HAS THE BAD PARTS ILLUSTRATED IN THE RECALL(S) (EG, EA02006). MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND FIXED BY GM, AND THAT BY SOME SORT OF VIN TECHNICALITY OR ERROR, THEY REFUSE TO FIX. WHAT IS MY COURSE OF ACTION TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION? *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WIPER/WASHER MOTOR THERE WAS A RECALL # 03023 PERTAINING TO INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE WIPERS AND A BUZZ UNDER THE DASH DUE TO BAD SOLDER POINTS WHICH FAILED 5 TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
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
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