FaultScore

1997 GMC C/K Pickup window and wiper problems

11 of the 28 complaints about the 1997 GMC C/K Pickup are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 39% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,676 miles.

F

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Windshield Wiper/Washer 5 45.5%
Motor 4 36.4%
Switch/Wiring 1 9.1%
Visibility 1 9.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 180,000 miles Morganton, GA Fire

VISIBILITY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10383009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,500 miles Sierra Vista, AZ

VISIBILITY: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 ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY SERIOUSLY INJURE SOMEONE. THANKS ROBERT JONES.

NHTSA complaint #10203369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaconda, MT

VISIBILITY: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.

NHTSA complaint #10192082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,000 miles Parker, CO

VISIBILITY: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.

NHTSA complaint #10138751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Scandia, MN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

I OWN A 1997 GMC SIERRA EXTENDED CAB PICKUP (GMC K15), [XXX]. MY PROBLEM IS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE NHTSA HAS A CAMPAIGN# 03V-159 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO A RENOTIFICATION RECALL EARLIER IN 2005. UPON CHECKING WITH GMC I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER 1997 GMC PICKUPS AND SUVS WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I RECEIVED A RECALL EARLIER IN 2003, WHICH I STILL HAVE, THAT ALLOWED FOR A RECALL. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. AFTER THE 2003 RECALL PERIOD HAD CLOSED I BEGAN HAVING THE MOTOR FAILURE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO LATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RENOTIFICATION SHOULD NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE NOW SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE EARLIER RECALL IN 2003. I CONTINUE TO HAVE WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS WHICH OCCUR MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND AN ADMITTED DEFECT BY GMC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. PLEASE REPLY TO MY EMAIL WITH YOUR RESPONSE. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10135676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peoria, AZ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS ON OUR GMC Z-71 TRUCK HAVE STOPPED WORKING (OR WORK INTERMITTANTLY). I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL FROM MY NEPHEW AND CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON YOUR SITE AND THERE IS ONE, SO NOW WHERE DO I GO?

NHTSA complaint #10129759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,400 miles LAS Cruces, NM

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

(1) RAIN STORM IN LUBBOCK , TEXAS (2) TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK. (3) CHECKED FUSE. FUSE WAS GOOD. TRIED ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER AND THE WIPERS WORKED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER TURNING ON AND WHEN THEY DID TURN OFF THEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO "HOME" POSITION. SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE WASHERS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES AND AT TIMES WORK FINE.

NHTSA complaint #10093775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,852 miles Middletown, PA, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS STOPPED AND WILL NOT WORK. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL OF THE CREW CAB MODEL OF MY VEHICLE, BUT, MY VEHICLE IS A CLUB CAB (EXTENDED CAB) I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES OF THIS CLASS USE THE SAME WIPER/WASHER MOTOR IF THEY HAVE INTERMITTENT WIPERS, SO THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10091043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newark, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10083758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Pompano Beach, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAINWINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST STOP. THEY MAY WORK AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES OR THEY MAY NOT. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY 1997 GMC K PICK UP WAS NOT RECALLED FOR A WIPER PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10068374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #10004276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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