1997 GMC Sierra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1997 GMC Sierra most often describe two problems: intermittent loss of power assist or jerking of the steering wheel, and anti-lock brakes that engage at low speed or fail to stop the truck. Many complaints say the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage because the vehicle's VIN was outside a recall covering later or earlier model years. Wiper-motor failures and corroded brake lines also appear repeatedly, usually on trucks with well over 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering wheel jerks or loses assist

   • 62 complaints (26%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 1997–2007

   Complaints describe the steering wheel jerking suddenly to one side, feeling loose or losing resistance for a moment, especially while cornering or at highway speed. Some say the truck dives into the turn and has to be corrected in the other direction. A few reports say a shop replaced the steering gear or the power steering booster, and others mention a sensor in the power steering system as the suspected source. Appears across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 to over 100,000 miles, and is not tied to a season.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive it on a curvy road at moderate speed and feel for any sudden tug or dead spot in the wheel. Ask whether the steering gear, booster or steering-wheel position sensor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a 1997 Gmc Sierra in 1999. The problem I'm having with it, and since I purchased the vehicle, is on occasion, when I make a turn, either to the right or left, the vehicle will lose steering completely. The power steering fluid level is fine. It only does this for a minute portion of a second, and then returns to normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #10054895, filed 2004-01, 31,000 miles

   “The engine rod bearings started making noise at 80,000 miles. The noise progressivly got worse so I was advised to run a 15w-40 oil and run the motor to failure. Gm gave me a price of $2500 for engine replacement saying it would be very costly to just replace rod bearings and the warranty on the new motor was better. As far as the steering problem, the truck started to under-steer at about 4500 miles. As you enter a turn (left or right) sometimes the truck just dives in that dirction and you must compensate in the other direction. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070023, filed 2004-01, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed or brakes don't stop the truck

   • 39 complaints (16%)
   • median 70,500 mi at 8.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2006

   Owners report the anti-lock system cycling on its own during low-speed stops, sometimes under 10 mph, which lengthens stopping distance and requires extra pedal pressure. Others describe the pedal going to the floor or having to pump it repeatedly, with the ABS light on. Several say dealers could not reproduce the problem, and several note that a recall for the same symptom on newer trucks did not include their VIN. Reported from roughly 23,000 to over 115,000 miles, and often described as happening every time the truck is driven.

   What to check: Try several slow, firm stops from about 10 mph and watch for the ABS light or a pedal that feels long. Ask whether the wheel speed sensors or ABS module have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Anti-lock brake system activates at low speed and the truck will not stop. The brake light stays lit on the dashboard. I understand many Gmc trucks were recalled for this same exact problem, but it begins with trucks a couple of years newer than my 1997 Sierra truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #10139677, filed 2005-10, 38,000 miles

   “Antilock brakes continually seize up and the vehicle continues to roll forward at slow rates of speed. Exact same problem we had with our 2002 chevy avalanche that was just fixed under recall 12/05.”

   NHTSA complaint #10146527, filed 2005-12, 85,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop working

   Mentioned in 13 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe wipers that quit intermittently, often in rain, and sometimes only work when it is dry. Owners point to the wiper motor or its circuit board, and some say the module was replaced at their own cost. Several note that a wiper recall applied to other model years but not their truck's VIN. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 115,000 miles, with the problem recurring over months rather than failing once.

   What to check: Run the wipers at every speed setting, including intermittent, and watch for pauses or a dead motor. Ask whether the wiper motor or pulse module has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle stalled 5 times in one morning while driving to work. The weather warmed up outside and the vehicle ran and started fine. The next evening the vehicle started fine, I got 1/2 block down the road it stalled again. I waited for a few minutes and it ran fine. The next morning it started fine and I drove it for miles, had no problems with it stalling. We called Gmc to see if there was a recall on windshield wiper motor, because the wipers would work when they wanted to work. Not when you needed them to work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10047326, filed 2003-11, 85,066 miles

   “On the 1997 Gmc Sierra extended cab pickup that I own, the windshield wipers fail to operate on numerous occasions. Currently, there is a recall for this problem on a variety of chevrolet, Gmc, and oldsmobile trucks from 1994-1997, however my type of vehicle is not part of this recall, # 03v159. My vehicle should have been included in the recall; in fact, the 1996 version of my vehicle is included in the recall. I want the recall expanded to include the 1997 Gmc Sierra extended cab pickup.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110222, filed 2005-02
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling or misfire under load

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 106,500 mi at 4.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2021

   Some owners report the engine stalling without warning, either at low speed or while pulling a trailer, with loss of power and misfiring at highway speed. Others describe intermittent stalling that went away as the weather warmed, and one mentions rod bearing noise that progressed to an engine replacement quote. Spread from low mileage up past 100,000 miles; several reports tie the stalling to temperature or load conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or check-engine codes, and test-drive with a load if you plan to tow. Ask whether the crankshaft/camshaft correlation diagnostic procedure was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Loose body bolts;repaired by dealer. Had evo sensor replaced at a chevy dealer since they knew about the problem that affected this new feature, electronic variable orifice was new in 1997. The truck was dangarous to drive, felt like a go-cart, all over the place. They chevy dealer also burned in a new program for mixtures and timing went they replaced both o2 sensors and cleaned the EGR valve. Did I pay to replace these items due to a bad program?? I think I did. What is warrenty on emission system from the manufacturer.???”

   NHTSA complaint #717230, filed 2000-01

   “1997 Gmc Sierra. Consumer writes in regards to issues with the engine. The consumer stated, according to the owner's manual, the vehicle should be able to pull 6,000lb load. But, the vehicle misfired, lost speed, and stalled while pulling less than 4,000lbs. The failure occured at speeds of 55-65mph.”

   NHTSA complaint #11442823, filed 2021-12

Buying note. These trucks are old enough that condition matters more than reputation, so budget for steering and brake work and have the brake lines inspected closely. A pre-purchase check of the wipers, ABS behavior at low speed and steering feel will tell you a lot about what the truck needs.

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.