Your vehicle report
1997 GMC Sierra 1500
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 83
- Received Mar 1997 to Feb 2021
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed16 complaints · 19% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail10 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines7 complaints · 8.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #98V187000Vehicle description: crew cab pickup trucks. The front, inner corner of the fuel tank can contact the body sill either intermittently or constantly. This movement can cause a discernible noise and, over time, can wear a hole in or crack the fuel tank at point of contact.
- Recall #97V176000Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. One or two of the front seat mounting bolts were not installed. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 207, "seating systems."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 7 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 83 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 16 | 19% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 10 | 12% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 7 | 8.4% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 6 | 7.2% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 6 | 7.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 4 | 4.8% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 3 | 3.6% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #98V187000August 10, 199855,272 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Vehicle description: crew cab pickup trucks. The front, inner corner of the fuel tank Can contact the body sill either intermittently or constantly. This movement Can cause a discernible noise and, over time, Can wear a hole in or crack the fuel tank at point of contact.
This condition Can result in fuel leakage and a distinct fuel odor if the tank were filled above the level of the hole or crack. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could result.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank for wear and, either install a spacer between the fuel tank and the front crossmember, or if necessary, replace the fuel tank.
NHTSA recall #97V176000October 7, 19976,418 vehicles affected
seats
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. One or two of the front seat mounting bolts were not installed. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 207, "seating systems."
In the event of a vehicle crash, a seat with this condition will not protect the occupant as required by the standard.
Remedy
Dealers will check all seat mounting bolts and install any missing bolts.
NHTSA recall #97V037000March 7, 1997624,433 vehicles affected
seats
Vehicle description: extended cab and 2-DOOR utility vehicles equipped with reclining seats and the easy-entry feature. These vehicles exhibit a condition in which a pinch point exists in the recliner mechanism that Can trap and pinch a person's hand or finger(s) when the easy-entry feature is activated.
This pinching Can cut the hand or possibly sever the finger(s) without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will install a protector cover over the recliner mechanism.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN