RoadVitals

1997 GMC Vandura Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jun 8, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 GMC Vandura Series, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and steering categories. 3 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Steering133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

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.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Jun 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC VANDURA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IN THE STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE PITMAN ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN MARCH OF 2010, THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS REBUILT INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PITMAN ARM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,206. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10461037
Incident
May 14, 2012
Mileage
202,206 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 3, 2003
Fire reported

VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AND COMPLETELY TOTALED. ON 12-3-02. ALLSTATE INS. CO ESTIMATED THE TOTAL DAMAGE TO BE $16,700. REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET, WHICH STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VAN, HOWEVER, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED, AND THE VAN HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR MAINTENANCE, YET WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT MY HUSBAND IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, AND IT'S A WONDER HE WAS NOT HURT. IF HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY A PASSING DRIVER, AND HAD NOT PULLED OVER, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN FUELED BY O2 AND CAUSED A MAJOR EXPLOSION. I WAS TO HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE ON THIS VERY DAY, WITH BOTH MY CHILDREN, ONE HAS SPECIAL NEEDS. IT MAY HAVE TAKEN ME LONGER TO HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN. CHEVROLET SAYS IT WILL DO NOTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DEATH. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****770811. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10006578
Incident
Dec 8, 2002
Mileage
72,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 16, 2000

WHILE RIDING AT 75 MPH AND VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND NOT TAKE GAS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP. 11000 MILES LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
873031
Incident
Oct 5, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Vandura Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1997Viewing300—
1996100—
1995300—
1994300—
1993600—
1992400—
1991300—
1988100—
1986100—
1983100—

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.