Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving on highway this vehicle will move right and left without no input from the driver. Also, making a left or right turn the power steering will stop,lock up start working again for no apparent reason. I have change all front tie rods twice, steering gear box, four times and the power steering pump three times. This is very serious and hazardous issue !!!! Many drivers have the same problem and has expressed it on the internet. GMC has not put out any recall to fix it. Additionally, this problem is a life or death situation! If you want all the documentation please call aamco [phone]..please don't wait until someone dies due this steering issue!! Btw this steering has been going on for over two years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My next course of action will be to call the media to get some answers. Reply the soonest!!!!
While turning a left turn on a highway January 28 the vehicle lost power steering. I have removed and replaced the power steering pump three times, gearbox four times, all the tiebars and componentsd twice. GMC is aware of the steering problems and has not recalled any vehicles for power steering problems! This steering problem is very severe issue and a extreme hazard on the road, especially; when the lose of power steering happens any time without warning. If you want all the documentation please call aamco [phone]. The power steering problem will kill someone. I have had many close calls while driving this vehicle for the past two (all the parts are new, not rebuilt) btw, the steering is very loose and makes the driver over correct while driving. Please reply the soonest
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. This has been happening since I bought the truck 5 years ago but I figured it was how the truck was supposed to be. This problem happens under 15 MPH. You can hear the ABS motor activate but the feeling you get from the response of the pedal is hard like the vacuum booster is bad but only temporary. …
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. Every individual I have talked to over the years who has owned a GM 1997-1999 c/k full-size vehicle has experienced this sudden loss of control in the steering wheel at one time or another. It is unfortunate that multiple lives will have to be eventually lost before GM will recall these hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to lawsuits. The vss steering as well as the csfi fuel injection system are an extremely poor design and GM knows it.
While driving 35 MPH and turning the power steering went out. Consumer was able to maintain control of vehicle, pulled over, and turned the vehicle off. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, and was able to start and drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. However, mechanic could not duplicate the problem. Consumer informed the mechanic that this problem occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle pulled sharply to the right while driving around right curves at 35-45 MPH. The problem became more frequent over time. The vehicle was taken to private tire shop. The technician there knew immediately that the power steering sensor was the problem because he had seen this problem several times on other GM pick-ups. A new sensor was installed and the problem was alleviated.
1997 GMC truck. When turning to the right, sometimes there is no resistance on the steering wheel and the truck can veer (hard right) at any speed. The slightest weight of your hand can unexpectedly cause an immediate hard right turn. Faulty e.v.o. Rotation sensor replaced by dealer on 06/25/98, 5/24/99 and 8/27/99. GM extended the warranty for this sensor to 65,000 miles. Sensor is still defective. This defect can and probable has caused severe accidents and possible death. Old parts are not available. Current defective part is in use now.
Tl contact owns a 1997 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving 25 MPH around a curve, the vehicle began to shake and the steering felt as if it were turning more than it should. The failure has been occurring for the last four years, but the vehicle has not been inspected. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer would not provide compensation because there were no recalls. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 140,000.
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.
My problems really began soon after the warranty was over @ 36,000 miles. At 42,240 I had a fuel injector go out, at 55,590 miles I had a water pump, seal, and core nipples go bad, along with the idle arm assembly, and the main engine belt replaced. Again only 2 weeks later @ 58,275 miles I still had a coolant leak, and it was then determined the intake manifold had developed a leak, and the thermostat and seal needed to be replaced. The again only 2 days later I again experienced yet another problem, this time the altenator went out! I complained to the dealer, and to general motors, who currently looking into the matter. The dealer did aggree it is fairly rare to have these problems so soon, and general motors aggrees. However that does'nt ease my mind, that their May be a design, or parts problem with these vehicles. …
Engine started misfiring, shaking and burning gas like a gas guzzler, took it to dealer and said that two injectors were damaged, replaced one and repaired the other. At idle (750 RPM)speed engine is intermittent . As for the steering, while driving at cruising 45-65 MPH it was impossible to control vehicle, steering felt like a feather in the air, uncontrollable. Unit was taken to dealer in three different ocasions for the same problem, every time was something different, as I was told by the service persons. On July 16/98 drove it to a different GMC dealer with the same problem a week after I pick it up and was informed they had to replace the ps pump. Still, to park the vehicle is a nightmare, you have to struggle with the steering wheel, like the old times when trucks did not have ps. …
Steering complaints in other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the steering of the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500, 30% of the model year's 83 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.