Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 238 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the brakes, steering and visibility categories. 19 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2000 | 4 | 108 |
| Nov 2000 | 4 | 112 |
| Dec 2000 | 3 | 115 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 116 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 118 |
| Mar 2001 | 10 | 128 |
| Apr 2001 | 3 | 131 |
| May 2001 | 2 | 133 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 134 |
| Jul 2001 | 5 | 139 |
| Sep 2001 | 4 | 143 |
| Oct 2001 | 3 | 146 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 147 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 148 |
| Jan 2002 | 4 | 152 |
| Feb 2002 | 3 | 155 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 156 |
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 158 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 159 |
| Jul 2002 | 4 | 163 |
| Aug 2002 | 4 | 167 |
| Sep 2002 | 4 | 171 |
| Nov 2002 | 3 | 174 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 175 |
| Jan 2003 | 2 | 177 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 178 |
| Mar 2003 | 3 | 181 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 183 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 184 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 185 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 186 |
| Jan 2004 | 6 | 192 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 194 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 195 |
| Jun 2004 | 3 | 198 |
| Jul 2004 | 2 | 200 |
| Sep 2004 | 2 | 202 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 203 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 204 |
| Dec 2004 | 4 | 208 |
| Feb 2005 | 2 | 210 |
| Apr 2005 | 3 | 213 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 214 |
| Jun 2005 | 2 | 216 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 217 |
| Sep 2005 | 3 | 220 |
| Oct 2005 | 3 | 223 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 224 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 225 |
| Feb 2006 | 3 | 228 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 229 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 230 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 231 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 232 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 233 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 234 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 235 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 236 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 237 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 238 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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 55-65MPH.
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 INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 40 AT SANTA ROSA, NM AT ABOUT 9:00 PM - IT WAS DARK. BEFORE LONG A SEMI PASSED ME AN HE FLICKED HIS HEADLIGHTS. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE FLICKING OF HIS LIGHTS MEANT. ABOUT 30 MILES LATER A SEMI PASSED ME RIGHT BEFORE A BIG HILL. HE IMMEDIATELY LOST HIS SPEED GOING UP THE HILL AND IN A FEW MOMENTS I WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM. I DID NOT WANT TO PASS HIM SINCE I WAS PULLING THE TRAILER, SO I STAYED BEHIND HIM AS HE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 55 MPH. ANOTHER SEMI APPROACHED VERY FAST FROM BEHIND AND THERE WERE OTHER CARS IN THE FAST LANE. AT THE LAST SECOND THE SEMI SWERVED AROUND ME TO THE LEFT AND PASSED ME AND HONKED HIS HORN AT ME. HE NARROWLY MISSED RUNNING INTO THE REAR OF MY TRAILER. THIS TIME I NEW SOMETHING WAS UP, SO I PULLED OUT AT THE CLINES CORNERS EXIT AND STOPPED AS SOON AS I COULD. SURE ENOUGH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE TRAILER WERE OUT. I PUSHED ON THE WIRING COUPLER AND THEY ALL CAME ON. I WENT ABOUT 10 MORE MILES AND PULLED OFF AT ANOTHER EXIT TO CHECK THE LIGHTS. THEY WERE STILL ON, BUT I PUSHED THE COUPLER TOGETHER TO HELP ENSURE IT WAS WORKING LOOSE. ALL OF THE TRAILER LIGHTS WENT OUT AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PLAYED WITH THE COUPLER THEY WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I SPENT THE NEXT 45 MINUTES LAYING ON THE COLD PAVEMENT WITH A FLASHLIGHT CUTTING THE WIRE TO THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT ON MY TRUCK AND SPLICING IN SOME WIRE TO GET THE LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE TRAILER TO LIGHT UP. I ALSO HAD TO CREATE A NEW GROUND WIRE. THE COUPLER SYSTEM IS MADE BY VELVAC NEAR MILWAUKEE, WI. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU THE LEFTOVER JUNK PARTS. DAN
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 ATTACHMENTS). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,433. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT ORIGINALLY HAPPENED 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONSUMER BY CLEANING THE UNIT AND SEALING THE WARPED COVER WITH SILICON. THE CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED BY GM DEALER ON NOVEMBER 13, 2007 UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, I TRIED TO SELECT HIGH BEAM WITH THE STEM MOUNTED LIGHT SWITCH. I HEARD A CHATTERING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED DIMLY ON AND OFF. I ALSO SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMOKE. DESELECTING HIGH RESULTED IN LOW BEAM EXTERIOR LIGHT WITH NO CHATTERING, FLICKERING OR SMOKE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE DOOR PINS SHATTERED CAUSING THE DOOR TO MALFUNCTION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE DEALER NEEDED DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE RECALL WORK. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STEERING
REDUCED STEERING EFFORT (DIAGNOSE/REPLACE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR). *KB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REPLACEMENT OF CONNECTOR WHEN REPLACING FUEL TANK MODULE/FUEL PUMP MODULE. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1345 CRANKSHAFT POSITION (CKP) - CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) CORRELATION DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RATTLE NOISE IN ENGINE. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 37.8 |
| 2016 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 53 | 6 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 2014 | 101 | 12 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2013 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 51.4 |
| 2012 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 51.1 |
| 2011 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 42.2 |
| 2010 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 45.6 |
| 2009 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 41.7 |
| 2008 | 68 | 2 | 2 | 50.8 |
| 2007 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2006 | 53 | 6 | 0 | 52.7 |
| 2005 | 117 | 11 | 0 | 48.1 |
| 2004 | 188 | 10 | 0 | 51.8 |
| 2003 | 206 | 9 | 5 | 58.4 |
| 2002 | 249 | 7 | 8 | 65.4 |
| 2001 | 264 | 7 | 9 | 66.2 |
| 2000 | 443 | 12 | 9 | 65.4 |
| 1999 | 600 | 9 | 10 | 65.3 |
| 1998 | 190 | 0 | 2 | 46.8 |
| 1997Viewing | 238 | 0 | 0 | 34.6 |
| 1996 | 246 | 2 | 3 | 58.9 |
| 1995 | 261 | 6 | 3 | 60.6 |
| 1994 | 190 | 3 | 0 | 48.9 |
| 1993 | 72 | 3 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 1992 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 1991 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 39.9 |
| 1990 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 51.4 |
| 1989 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 54.7 |
| 1988 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.