1997 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about windshield wipers that quit or run only intermittently in rain, and about steering that gives too much assist or drops assist for a moment. Brake complaints split between ABS that engages at walking pace and steel brake lines that rust through, and a smaller group describes fuel pump failures and no-start or stall conditions. Most reports come on trucks well past 60,000 miles, with a handful of low-mileage exceptions.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or run intermittently in rain

   • 12 complaints (14%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2012

   Complaints describe wipers that stop mid-sweep, work only some of the time, or fail to start at all, usually while driving in rain and sometimes after using the washer. Several owners say the dealer told them their VIN was outside the wiper-motor campaign or that the campaign showed as closed, so the repair was refused or charged to them. Others replaced the wiper motor or circuit board themselves. In a few accounts the wipers restarted after the arm was pulled by hand or the truck was restarted. Reported from about 25,000 miles to past 115,000, and in most accounts it appears well after the warranty period, during rain.

   What to check: Cycle the wipers through every speed setting and the washer pulse, and ask whether the wiper motor or module has already been replaced or a wiper campaign was ever applied to the truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Persistent failure of windshield wiper operation under normal vehicle operation. This LED to lack of visibility through windshield. There is a well documented recall of the wiper module assembly for GM trucks/vans. My truck is a 1997 Gmc k1500. When I took my truck into the dealership, they informed me that my particular VIN was not included in the recall VIN range. There is no doubt my truck has the bad parts illustrated in the recall(s) (eg, ea02006). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10174877, filed 2006-12, 70,000 miles

   “For the last two years when I use my windshield wipers they just all of asudden just stop. If I can stop I try to move the wipers by hand which works sometimes and others it doesn't or they just start working. It happends everytimes it rains and I have to use my wipers. We called a dealship to see if there were any recalls on this and they said there were recalls on wipers due to cracked solder joints but they said my truck wasn't included.”

   NHTSA complaint #10129850, filed 2005-07
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering over-assists or briefly drops power assist

   • 16 complaints (19%)
   • median 59,826 mi at 7.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners describe the wheel pulling hard left or right with almost no input, the level of power assist changing from moment to moment, or assist disappearing in the middle of a turn. Many point to the steering sensor on the column, described as an EVO or vehicle speed sensor, and say it was replaced more than once along with the pump and gearbox without a lasting fix. Some dealers could not duplicate the concern; others say an extended warranty covered the sensor but the same behaviour came back. Reported from roughly 20,000 miles to over 120,000 miles, often noticed at highway speed or in curves.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On the test drive, hold a steady highway speed and try gentle curves to feel for uneven assist or a pull, and ask whether the steering sensor, pump or gearbox has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned my 1997 Gmc k1500 sierra since 1999 and have experienced continuous momentary loss of power steering control due to a failing vss sensor located on the steering column. This loss of power steering control occurs at any speed and direction. I have had this component replaced twice over the years and the sensor starts to intermittently fail within 6 months. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10041642, filed 2003-10, 20,000 miles

   “Power steering assist tends to pull the wheel to the right or left with too much assist after barely turning the wheel one way or the other (has always done this since new). Windshield wipers have recently been acting up when activating the washer mechanism. Sometimes they won't work, sometimes they stop in the middle of the wipe cycle. The date below is a required field, but the incidents have happened numerous times since I purchased the vehicle new.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053064, filed 2004-01, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed; long or soft stops

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 152,500 mi at 16.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2015

   Complaints describe the ABS activating while braking below walking pace, the pedal pumping or sinking, and the truck needing more distance to stop, including on ice and wet pavement. Some owners say they had to press the pedal with both feet, and a few replaced hubs, rotors, calipers and the master cylinder without curing it. Shops often reported no fault found, and at least one owner was told by the manufacturer that the truck was not part of a related brake campaign. Reported from about 14,000 miles to beyond 140,000, typically at low speed and in slippery conditions.

   What to check: Brake gently at very low speed on a quiet lot and feel for the pedal cycling or dropping; ask whether the ABS has been serviced and when the brake fluid was last changed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The trouble I am having is with the braking system . It has been professionally maintained but the problem still persists. The brakes lockout at slow speeds and I have to use 2 feet to press down the pedal and stop the truck . If I were driving and stopped at a light there would be no problem .however if I were then to release the pedal and apply it again the ABS seems to activate and I basically cannot stop the vehicle. I did hit someone once but it didn't do much damage because I was going slow under 5mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10326392, filed 2010-04, 165,000 miles

   “The problem with the ABS-- it take longer to stop than it would without ABS, it also seems to actually slide on slippery surfaces such as ice & snow.... Even though pedal is held firmly down, the wheels grip, then release, as if the ABS is not cyclling quick enough. I drive another GM vehicle with ABS & that system works differently & works ok. I am not talking about the pumping & pressure I feel from the pedal. The wheels will slide before the ABS kicks in, or so it seems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #710546, filed 1999-08
4. 4
   Brakes

   Rusted steel brake lines leaking or bursting

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 111,560 mi at 14.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2005–2015

   Owners report brake fluid loss and a pedal that goes to the floor when a steel line along the driver-side frame rail or above the rear axle rusts through. In several accounts the line split or burst while driving; others found the leak while parked or while having pads replaced. Repairs involved replacing the failed section, and some owners say the remaining hard lines were rusted badly enough that all were replaced. Complaints frequently note that the corrosion looked heavy for the truck's age. Mostly reported past 75,000 miles on older trucks, with several accounts from vehicles driven where road salt is used.

   What to check: Have the steel brake lines along the frame and above the rear axle inspected for rust, damp spots and seepage before buying, and ask whether any lines have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving downhill at 25 MPH and applied brake to slow down to drive over small bridge. Brake pedal went to the floor and brake warning light illuminated. I depressed brake several times to stop and pedal went to floor without the vehicle stopping. I found brake fluid leaking from steel brake line along drivers side rear frame rail.”

   NHTSA complaint #10393449, filed 2011-03, 112,033 miles

   “Metal brake line to rear axle split open causing loss of brake fluid and rear brakes. I had the dealership replace the failed line at a cost to me of +$300. I have the failed part.”

   NHTSA complaint #10141946, filed 2005-11, 78,600 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure, no-start and stalling

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 159,500 mi at 10.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2009

   Owners describe the truck cranking without starting or quitting while driving, with the in-tank fuel pump identified as the cause and replaced. One owner reported the connector inside the tank had arced and burned its wiring, and another said the pump wiring had melted. Several accounts describe a sticking fuel injector causing a no-start that a pump replacement did not solve, and one mentions a fuel gauge that stopped reading. Reported from around 40,000 miles into the six figures, usually as an intermittent no-start or stall.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump has been replaced and listen for the pump priming when the key is turned; if the truck has had no-start episodes, have fuel pressure and the in-tank connector checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck will not start. Not hearing the electic fuel pump in gas tank. Truck towed for repairs. During fuel pump replacement. Noticed the connector inside the gas tank arced and burned with 2 inches of insulation burned off the wires supplying power to the fuel pump. 1997 Gmc truck. I guess this connector that mates through the tank has had a history of arcing burning here. Also the connector defect isnt easily noticable to the technician. Causing intermittent fuel pump failure as in my case. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10116190, filed 2005-03, 144,000 miles

   “I understand their have been a high number of fuel pump failures in these vehicles. The tow truck driver and service advisor already knew what was wrong with the truck before they even looked at it. Also the tow truck driver told me his own fuel pump failed on his Gmc truck at 38,000 miles. This is a lease vehicle that is to be turned in in four months and I had to put a $400 fuel pump in it.”

   NHTSA complaint #722193, filed 2000-05

Buying note. On a truck this old, condition matters more than the complaint list: check the wipers, steering feel at speed, brake lines for rust and the fuel pump history, and budget for maintenance on those systems. Ask for service records showing prior steering or fuel-system work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.