Most common 1997 GMC Sierra problems
Share of the 238 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra complaints by model year
Best Sierra years: 2020, 2018, 2009. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
What 1997 GMC Sierra owners say
Brakes all 67 →
Dt: 1997 GMC Sierra c1500 pick up truck - the consumer complained about steering and brake problems. Took the truck to the GMC shop and they said that the steering box wore out, and needed to be replaced because it had play in the wheel. It has not been replaced as of yet. Also, while driving on the road the brakes malfunctioned. The consumer was not approaching a stop, but was coming up onto a big truck, went to apply the brakes and had no brakes. The brakes were repaired with all new brake lines, but they were still making noise and id not feel right. There have been no recalls on this vehicle.
After parking during my work shift, I attempted to leave work at 1530. Applying the brake to shift into "drive",the pedal went completely to the floor, and the ABS light came on. I was unable to pump up the brake, and had to have the truck towed to a local dealer. It was determined the brake line had rotted out. The gas tank must be removed to effect repair. I had driven the truck from long island, ny to mays landing , nj (about 145 miles) without incident, but the dealer told me I could have lost braking power at any time.
Steering all 63 →
Going down the road all at once you will loose control of your steering wheel. It is like you have no way to turn or anything. It will take a little bit for you to have control of you pickup again. This could be real dangerous if you were to hit some ice or rain slick roads and all at once you couldn't control your pickup. I was told that this has been a problem in these late model pickups and GM has made no recalls on this. It is 1996 threw 1999 that the trouble is in. There is a sensor in the power steering that tells it what to do. There was a lady in the same time I was in getting her pickup fixed on a recall on the wipers and I asked her if she had ever had any trouble like that. She said yes it caused her to go into the ditch before she knew what happened. She didn't know what was wrong. So they had to replace her sensor also. Something needs to be done before someone gets killed.
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. It has gotten so bad that I am the only one who drives the truck. A friend of mine has a 97 Chevy truck and had the same problem, he had it repaired for the sum of $1000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 28 →
Three year old son was able to shift vehicle out of park and caused vehicle to roll into house. Dealer/ manufacturer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
After driving for about 1 hour on the highway, we exited and came to a stoplight that is when the transmission started shifting hard from first to second gear. When I got home I went on-line and that is when I realized that I am not the only 1997 GMC Sierra owner that has this very same problem, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of us out there with the exact problems with this vehicle. I would like to know if there is a recall being considered at this time?
1997 GMC Sierra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 GMC Sierra a good car?
Based on 238 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Sierra rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra at the same age. It is one of the Sierra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 GMC Sierra?
The brakes — 67 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the steering (63) and transmission & drivetrain (28).
How many recalls does the 1997 GMC Sierra have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 GMC Sierra. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full GMC Sierra years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 GMC Sierra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.