Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Sierra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering63
- Service brakes, hydraulic63
- Power train28
- Visibility24
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Electrical system12
- Suspension11
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Tires9
- Unknown or other6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 46 1997 Sierra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 25 people died inside them, and 18 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 GMC Sierra failed the safety check 1.47% of the time — 8% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 158,901 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
2 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 GMC Sierra.
| 2003064 17 Mar 2003 | Other Certain vehicles (not involved in recall 98-150), may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. If th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1997 GMC Sierra.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 1997 GMC Sierra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 10021450 | REDUCED STEERING EFFORT (DIAGNOSE/REPLACE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR). *KB |
| 10017191 | SUPPLEMENT TO BULLETIN 99-06-04-047A FOR FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. *TT |
| 10014959 | REPLACEMENT OF CONNECTOR WHEN REPLACING FUEL TANK MODULE/FUEL PUMP MODULE. *TT |
| 10012714 | REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1345 CRANKSHAFT POSITION (CKP) - CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) CORRELATION DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 10010375 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND P0300 WHEN TOWING, CRUISING UPHILL OR ON HARD ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 10007838 | DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT |
| 10007717 | ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT INTAKE GASKET. * MJ |
| 10005566 | 4L60-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL PUMP FIRST AND SECOND DESIGN IDENTIFICATION. *TT |
| 10005439 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH A P0300 SET AND A MISFIRE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 1996 - 1999 P32 MODELS. SIT BULLETIN 1416475. *TT |
| 10005412 | SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN |
| 10004371 | RATTLE NOISE IN ENGINE. *TT |
| 10004301 | RATTLE NOISE IN ENGINE. *TT |
| 10004223 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH A P0300 SET AND A MISFIRE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 1996-1999 P32 AND THE 1996-2002 GMC C/K TRUCK. *TT |
| 10004214 | POOR PERFORMANCE FROM A STOP IN 2WD, AUTO OR 4WD HI. 2003, 2003 CADILLAC EXT ALSO INCLUDED. *TT |
| 10002567 | WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED BOULDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS SPECIAL POLICY COVERS THE CONDITION FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS OR 70,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP OR FOR THESE VEHICLES CURRENTLY OUTSIDE OF THIS COVERAGE UNTIL FEBRUARY 29, 2004. *TT |
| 10001125 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURES. *TT |
| 10000749 | ANTILOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS ON VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 1995 AND 1996 ENVOY. *TT |
| 10000062 | ANTILOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)