1997 GMC Sierra 3500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 GMC Sierra 3500, and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
1 safety recall for the 1997 GMC Sierra 3500
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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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.
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 GMC Sierra 3500 have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 95,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My brakes failed when i got into a wreck, the peddle went to the floor its like my brakes were not there. I have a 97 GMC k3500 4 door long bed 4 wheel drive, i felt that i should have been able to st”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2003 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2002 · Visibility
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 3500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra 3500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 GMC Sierra 3500 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 GMC Sierra 3500 | 1 | 10 |
| 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 | 2 | 12 |
| 1999 GMC Sierra 3500 | 1 | 19 |
| 2000 GMC Sierra 3500 | 2 | 26 |
| 2001 GMC Sierra 3500 | 2 | 36 |
| 2002 GMC Sierra 3500 | 2 | 20 |
| 2003 GMC Sierra 3500 | 0 | 7 |
| 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 | 0 | 24 |
| 2005 GMC Sierra 3500 | 0 | 24 |
| 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 | 0 | 11 |
| 2007 GMC Sierra 3500 | 3 | 16 |
| 2008 GMC Sierra 3500 | 3 | 25 |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010 GMC Sierra 3500 | 5 | 2 |
| 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 | 5 | 20 |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 | 4 | 9 |
| 2013 GMC Sierra 3500 | 4 | 14 |
| 2014 GMC Sierra 3500 | 3 | 7 |
| 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 | 7 | 31 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 | 7 | 19 |
| 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 | 7 | 13 |
| 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 | 6 | 14 |
| 2019 GMC Sierra 3500 | 7 | 13 |
| 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 | 8 | 51 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 | 5 | 20 |
| 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 | 3 | 31 |
| 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 | 1 | 28 |
| 2024 GMC Sierra 3500 | 3 | 49 |
| 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 | 1 | 17 |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 3500 | 2 | 4 |
Checking a specific 1997 GMC Sierra 3500
How do I know if my 1997 GMC Sierra 3500 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 GMC Sierra 3500; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 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.