Model year record

1997 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls & problems

The 1997 GMC Sierra 2500 has 4 safety recalls and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (7 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints14filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentOct 24, 2007

Equipment

Recall 07E088000121,680 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

SeatsOct 7, 1997

Seats

Recall 97V1760006,418 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. ONE OR TWO OF THE FRONT SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, A SEAT WITH THIS CONDITION WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND INSTALL ANY MISSING BOLTS.

SeatsMar 7, 1997

Seats

Recall 97V037000624,433 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
Risk: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Sierra 2500 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 2500 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 2500 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 2500 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Sierra 2500 2WD Diesel

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

6.5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $6,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	7	1	1	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor	2	0	0	—
Tires	2	0	0	—
Seats	1	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, diesel	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC C2500 PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH COOPER MASTERCRAFT TIRES, SIZE P265/75/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 31,000 THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES ON THE VEHICLE WAS 100,000.
Jun 16, 2012 · 100,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
CORRODED BRAKE LINE FAILURE. LOSS OF REAR BRAKES, FRONT WORKED. *JS
Apr 12, 2012 · 175,000 miles
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA 2500 WITH BF-GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN TIRES, LINE SIZE LT265/75/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
Jul 14, 2011 · 141,000 miles
Fuel system, diesel
1997 GM 6.5 TURBO DIESEL PMD FAILURE. LOSS OF CONTROL VERY UNSAFE. WHY DOES GM FAIL TO RECALL THE PMD???? *TR
Jan 1, 2011 · 98,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 1997 GMC PICKUP. @ DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND SEPARATE AREAS IN BRAKE LINES. OLD LINES DISCARDED. APPEARED TO BE A RUST ISSUE. *TR
Apr 12, 2008 · 90,000 miles
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Jun 10, 2004 · 160,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
I OWN A 97 GMC TRUCK. CURRENTLY, THE TRUCK HAS A LITTLE OVER 55,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY, 2 YEARS AGO THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEHMERS IN CONCORD AND THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE TO ME... IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND "STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM" ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I DECIDED TO "SAVE A BUCK" AND FIX THE PROBLEMS MYSELF. AFTER REMOVING THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY, I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE HANDLE ITSELF CRACKED I.E. THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS POORLY DESIGNED. (IT'S PLASTIC.) I TOOK THE HANDLE…
Nov 15, 2003 · 56,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HARD THEY DO NOT WORK. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, THEY LET GO AND DONOT HOLD. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP.*AK
Aug 21, 2000

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