1997 GMC Sierra 1500

83 federal complaints (100 component records) · 3 recall campaigns on file · 11 service bulletins · 1 Canadian recall
See all 33 model years of the GMC Sierra 1500 →
Engine
4.3L 6-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
RWD
EPA economy
15 city / 20 hwy
Federal complaints
83
Recall campaigns
3
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Steering
25
Brakes
19
Glass & wipers
14
Fuel system
10
Power train
9
Suspension
6
Seat belts
4
Body & structure
3
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 5 complaints01 years old: 4 complaints2 years old: 5 complaints3 years old: 9 complaints4 years old: 5 complaints5 years old: 1 complaints56 years old: 6 complaints7 years old: 7 complaints8 years old: 7 complaints9 years old: 4 complaints10 years old: 1 complaints1011 years old: 1 complaints12 years old: 1 complaints13 years old: 2 complaints14 years old: 7 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 1 complaints18 years old: 2 complaints19 years old: 1 complaints20+ years old: 3 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 72 of 83 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 1 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 7 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 4 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 5 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 5 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 6 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 3 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 2 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 2 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 1 complaints200,000+ miles: 2 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 38 of 83 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Steering

25 complaint records
"INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH AND OVER AND WHILE GOING INTO A CURVE OR A TURN,E STEERING WHEEL WILL JUMP INTO THE TURN.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse steering parts in the directory →

Brakes

19 complaint records
"THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE INOPERABLE WHICH CAUSE POOR BRAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOADED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Glass & wipers

14 complaint records
"WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MAY CAUSED VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse glass & wipers parts in the directory →

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
98V187000Fuel System, GasolineVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY.Normally free
97V176000SeatsVEHICLE 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."Normally free
97V037000SeatsVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE.Normally free

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2003064
2003-03-17
Other323,584Certain vehicles (not involved in recall 98-150), may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
17-NA-073
Feb 2023
EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
04-06-04-051F
Mar 2022
EquipmentThis service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
PIP4723F
Jan 2022
Service BrakesThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving...
16NA260
Aug 2016
EquipmentTHIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.
Recalls
Jun 2014
EquipmentVehicle Recalls
Show 6 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
130089009
Sep 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
PIE-0043
Feb 2010
Fuel SystemCHEVROLET:GMC: ENGINEERING INFORMATION-FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR, DTCS P0446, P0451 OR P0454 SET. GMC ENGINEERING IS ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ABOVE CONCERN. *PE
SB-06-02-32-013B
Aug 2009
SteeringSAAB/HUMMER/GM: DIAGNOSTIC TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY. ANALYSIS OF RETURNED POWER STEERING (PS) PUMPS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR NOISE, NO POWER ASSIST, NO OR LOW PRESSURE AND LEAKING CONDITIONS HAS INDICATED A HIGH NUMBER OF NO...
020864016
Jul 2002
StructureSOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT
010730002B
May 2001
Unknown Or OtherMALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON; THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR; AND / OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERATIVE. *TT
010730021
May 2001
Power TrainTHIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
  2. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  3. Run the wipers and washers, and test every window.Slow or stuck regulators, streaking wipers, and windshield cracks are this vehicle's visibility complaints.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this GMC Sierra 1500 →