Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1997 GMC GMC Truck with NHTSA between 1997 and 2004.
The largest single group is the steering.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 38
Against the median year of the GMC GMC Truck. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 GMC GMC Truck
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
327.3%
Median failure at 79,000 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
19.1%
Median failure at 79,000 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Median failure at 95,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Body & Structure
19.1%
Brakes
19.1%
Electrical System
19.1%
Median failure at 79,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
19.1%
Engine & Cooling
19.1%
Median failure at 79,000 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 1997peak 4Dec 2004
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 95,000 milesVista, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
I OWN A 1997 GMC YUKON THAT HAS ONGOING, SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY EITHER DO NOT WORK AT ALL OR THEY RUN CONTINUALLY IN AN ERRATIC MANNER AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I LEARNED THAT GM ISSUED A RECALL (#03023) IN MAY, 2003 FOR 1994-1997 GM TRUCKS AND SUV'S, INCLUDING YUKONS, DUE TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO NORTH COUNTY GMC IN ESCONDIDO, CA, AND LEFT IT TO HAVE THIS REPAIR PERFORMED. I LATER RECEIVED A CALL STATING THAT MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN FACT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACTED AS THOUGH THEY KNEW NOTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT ANY RECALL. *AK I ADVISED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE DOCUMENTS I OBTAINED ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE RECALL WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I ASKED THEM TO REVIEW THE PAPERS AND FIND OUT WHY MY VEHICLE, AS LISTED IN THE PAPERWORK, WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECAL WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL. THE ONLY THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TELL ME IS THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM WOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR MY EXACT VEHICLE, 1997 YUKON, BECAUSE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, AND THEN REFUSE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. WHY WOULD MY VIN NUMBER EXCLUDE ME FROM THIS RECALL? I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH GM'S RECALL POLICY AND NORTH COUNTY GMC'S ACTIONS IN THIS MATTER!L
NHTSA complaint #10102118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesMillington, MI
STEERING
MODEL 1500. THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE RODS, PITMAN ARM, IDLER ARM, SERPENTINE BELT, FAULTY ALTERNATOR, STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, EGR VLVE, AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10006368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesMillington, MI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
MODEL 1500. THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE RODS, PITMAN ARM, IDLER ARM, SERPENTINE BELT, FAULTY ALTERNATOR, STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, EGR VLVE, AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10006368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesMillington, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
MODEL 1500. THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE RODS, PITMAN ARM, IDLER ARM, SERPENTINE BELT, FAULTY ALTERNATOR, STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, EGR VLVE, AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10006368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesMillington, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MODEL 1500. THE VEHICLE TIRE ROD IS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE RODS, PITMAN ARM, IDLER ARM, SERPENTINE BELT, FAULTY ALTERNATOR, STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, EGR VLVE, AND INTAKE GASKET REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10006368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Paul, MN
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE SUN SHELL IN THE PLANETARY GEAR SET HAD A PART FAILURE CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #555963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livermore, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
INSIDE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT FUEL PUMP IS MOUNTED TO FOUR CONNECTORS WHICH MELTED, CAUSING FUEL TANK TO GO BAD . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #863484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Capreol ONT Canada, AK
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I AM PROMPTED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA AFTER READING ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION MENTIONED IN A MAGAZINE NAMED SPORT TRUCK OF JANUARY 2000,VOL 13,NO.1,PAGE 19 IN WHICH 1997 TO 1999 CK PICKUPS ETC; ARE SAID TO STEER UNEXPECTEDLY INTO OTHER LANES;CAUSING 4 CRASHES.JUST TO LET YOU KNOW ,MY CANADIAN TRUCK AND MY INLAW,S TRUCK BOTH EXIBITED THIS STEERING PROBLEM.MY DEALER CHANGED OUT AFTER TESTING IT,S VOLTAGE RESISTANCE,THE EVO STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR CORRECTING THE UNNERVING SENSATION OF OVERSTEER AT HIWAY SPEED IN A TURN.THIS SENSOR IS SAID TO CHANGE HYDRAULIC ASSIST OF THE STEERING DEPENDANT ON VEHICLE SPEED AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION TO EASE FOR PARKING.A DEFECT IN THIS SENSOR COULD CAUSE AN ANWANTED OVERSTEER EFFECT WHEN STEERING INPUT EFFORT IS EXERTED TO MAKE A TURN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR EVEN WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIT AHEAD DRIVE ON A CROWNED HIWAY.WHEN I DESCRIBED THE FUNNY STEERING FEEL TO THE DEALER,I THOUGHT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS IN ORDER,NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A SENSOR INVOLVED.THE MECHANIC WENT STRAIT VOR HIS VOLT METER AND THE SENSOR UNDER THE DASH ON THE COLUM,LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT TO THEM,THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE.ON AN EXTENDED WARRENTY THAT I PURCHASED,A $100.00 DEDUCTABLE IS INCURRED FOR THIS REPAIR.PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INFORM ME AS TO WHAT YOU FIND;I WILL FREQUENT YOUR WEB SITE AS WELL.SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL? I THINK SO. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #717855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pocatello, ID
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHEN TURNING RESULTING IN HITTING FENCE, DUE TO "A" ARM BEING BENT WHICH CAUSED TIRE/WHEEL ON ONE SIDE TO MOVE TWO INCHES BACKWARD. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER SEAT FUNCTIONS ONLY WORK IF DOOR IS OPENED DUE TO DESIGN OF THE OVERSIZED DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #525848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clio, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE PADS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #523673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.