1997 GMC Sierra 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500, and owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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3 safety recalls for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: crew cab pickup trucks. The front, inner corner of the fuel tank can contact the body sill either intermittently or constantly. This movement can cause a discernible noise and, over time, can wear a hole in or crack the fuel tank at point of contact.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank for wear and, either install a spacer between the fuel tank and the front crossmember, or if necessary, replace the fuel tank.
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Seats
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."
Remedy: Dealers will check all seat mounting bolts and install any missing bolts.
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Seats
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protector cover over the recliner mechanism.
83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,895 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 11 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The driver's side door handle doesn't work. I believe this was a 'recall' but i couldn't get the dealership to fix it. Real fun having to roll down the window just to open the door from inside, especi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 10, 2021 · Structure
“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 appar”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 30, 2017 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 GMC Sierra (Sierra 1500 2WD, Sierra 1500 4WD, Sierra 2500 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–15 / 16–21 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4.3/5/5.7/6.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare GMC Sierra 1500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra 1500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 13 |
| 1995 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 83 |
| 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 59 |
| 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 158 |
| 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 181 |
| 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 140 |
| 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 166 |
| 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 180 |
| 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 212 |
| 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 177 |
| 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 145 |
| 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 262 |
| 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 381 |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 | 4 | 234 |
| 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 | 4 | 168 |
| 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 | 5 | 284 |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 107 |
| 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 115 |
| 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 | 9 | 739 |
| 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 | 9 | 719 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 | 8 | 342 |
| 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 | 6 | 354 |
| 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 | 7 | 304 |
| 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 | 10 | 650 |
| 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 | 12 | 472 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 | 7 | 580 |
| 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 | 6 | 590 |
| 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 485 |
| 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 366 |
| 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 118 |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 138 |
Checking a specific 1997 GMC Sierra 1500
How do I know if my 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V037000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
- Sierra 25001,821 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.