1997 GMC C/K Pickup recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Aug 1, 2014 · 127,250 milesService brakes
  BRAKES FAILED. I PARKED WITH PARKING BRAKE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED FLUID LEAK ON PAVEMENT. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT RUSTY BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A PINHOLE. OTHER BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTY. WILL LIKELY FAIL LATER. FUEL LINE IS ALSO VERY RUSTY. WILL LIKELY FAIL LATER. *TR
• May 10, 2010 · 180,000 miles · fireElectrical system
  1997 GMC PICK UP DRIVERS DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LOCATION WAS THE ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH THE TRUCK WAS UNOCCUPIED.*TR
• Aug 8, 2008 · 135,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic
  EVERYTIME I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL GROWLS AND IT FEELS AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES COME ON. THE TRUCK KEEPS ROLLING, AND I'VE ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME NUMEROUS TIMES. IT'S A 1997 GMC SIERRA. *TR
• Sep 16, 2007 · 91,500 milesVisibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring
  SIR OR MA'AM, I BOUGHT A 1997 GMC SIERRA C/K SERIES 1500 PICKUP IN 1999. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND SEEMS TO FIX ITSELF AFTER THEY DRY OUT. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT GMC RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITS VEHICLES FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACT GMC AND THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN I KNOW IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DRIVER HAS NO VISIBILITY, WHILE RAINING, WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HERE IS THE INFORMATION FOR MY VEHICLE: 1997 GMC SIERRA C/K1500 PICKUP I THINK GMC SHOULD REPAIR THIS BEFRE I HAVE AN…
• May 30, 2007Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
  WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTIVE - BOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE WIPERS TO NOT WORK. GMC ISSUED A RECALL OF WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED?, AND THAT GMC WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
• Mar 26, 2007Steering
  WE HAVE A 1997 GMC Z71 4 WHEEL DRIVE . THE STEERING GRABS AND JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN ENTERING A CURVE AS YOU SPEED UP TO MAKE THE CURVE THE STEERING WILL JERK THE DRIVER'S HAND AND ARM . THE VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FOR SOMETIMES. I HAVE SEEN FROM YOUR WEB SITE THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE. MY SISTER HAD A SUBURBAN THE SAME YEAR MODEL THAT DID THE SAMETHING. *AK
• Sep 3, 2006 · 10,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE WHEN STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. REPAIR WAS MADE AT MY COST SEVERAL YEARS AGO. PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER ABOUT 2 YEARS. DEALER WHO MADE THE FIRST REPAIR SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CORROSION ON THE ANTI-LOCK SENSOR. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE RECENTLY SAID THAT THIS IS A RECALL ITEM FOR THE SAME MODEL TRUCK, BUT STARING WITH 1998 TRUCKS, NOT 1997. MY 1997 HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT, AND GMC SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL. IT IS ONLY BE MY DILIGENCE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT. GMC SUGGESTED I SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO YOU. *NM
• Nov 12, 2003 · 86,000 milesVisibility › Windshield wiper/washer
  APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AT TIMES DURING OPERATION. ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECALLED UNDER RECALL #03V159000 OR GM RECALL 03023. BUT AFTER CHECKING MY VIN A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONTEND THAT ALTHOUGH SOME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, MINE AND SOME OTHERS WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE (I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SUCH NOTIFICATION) RECEIVE "SPECIAL NOTIFICATION" OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. MY CONCERN IS HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE ANY MORE RISK FOR ONE VEHICLE THAN ANOTHER THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE DISPARITY IN THE LEVEL OF MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY. *JB

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA02006 · opened May 31, 2002 · closed Jul 23, 2003 · led to recall 03V159000WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
  AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
• PE98060 · opened Nov 13, 1998 · closed May 12, 1999ERRATIC STEERING BOOST WHILE DRIVING
  ALLEGED THAT THE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING UNIT INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDES FULL BOOST TOT HE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS.