1997 GMC Sierra 3500 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 Sierra 3500, 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
- Brakes426.7%
- Steering426.7%
- Powertrain (other)213.3%
- Seat belts16.7%
- Body & structure16.7%
- Visibility16.7%
- Engine16.7%
- Interior & seats16.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY BRAKES FAILED WHEN I GOT INTO A WRECK, THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR ITS LIKE MY BRAKES WERE NOT THERE. I HAVE A 97 GMC K3500 4 DOOR LONG BED 4 WHEEL DRIVE, I FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP,I ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKES EVERY YEAR NO MATTER WHAT KIND I BUY. *NLM
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
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
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY AT 65 MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE BECAME DETCHED FROM VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. BOLTS FROM THE MFR PLANT WERE MISSING. THIS OCCURRED WITH ONLY 300 MILES ON THE CAR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
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
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATBELTS , WERE LOCKED UP, COULD NOT USE THE SEATBELT AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BOTH SEATBELTS. THE REAR OF CAB WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. DEALER HAD TO WELD THE REAR CAB TO FRONT. REAR AXLE SEAL WILL GO OUT, CAUSING OIL TO GO INTO THE BRAKE SHOES, RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES. THE ENGINE STALLED. HAD TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE, AND THE MANUFACTURER PUT OUT A TSB BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK THE ENGINE FELL APART JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. *YH
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
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. *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 .