FaultScore

1997 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system problems

10 of the 100 complaints about the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the fuel system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 99,500 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel Pump 4 40.0%
Fuel Injection System 2 20.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 10.0%
Injectors 1 10.0%
Carburetor System 1 10.0%
Fuel Gauge System 1 10.0%

Fuel & Propulsion across every GMC Sierra 1500 year

1997 10 3.9%
2000 15 5.8%
2001 17 6.6%
2009 11 4.3%
2011 12 4.7%
2014 15 5.8%
2015 13 5.0%
2018 11 4.3%
2019 23 8.9%
2020 25 9.7%
2021 35 13.6%
2022 24 9.3%
2023 28 10.9%
2024 19 7.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 175,000 miles Bakersfield, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING,TRIED TO START THE TRUCK WITH NO LUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. TRUCK RA FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN GOT TO WHERE IT WOULDN'T RUN AND NOW IT WONT EVEN START. I HAD IT TOWED BACK IN AND THEY TESTED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WAS GOOD. THE DEALERSHIP RESEARCHED THAT YEAR AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR STICKING CAUSING IT TO DO THAT. THERE WAS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT OUT WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE PARTS ARE WELL OVER $700. NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THE TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE UNTIL IT GETS FIXED. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THESE VEHICLES SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10274994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles Broken Arrow, OK

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TRUCK WILL NOT START. NOT HEARING THE ELECTIC FUEL PUMP IN GAS TANK. TRUCK TOWED FOR REPAIRS. DURING FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. NOTICED THE CONNECTOR INSIDE THE GAS TANK ARCED AND BURNED WITH 2 INCHES OF INSULATION BURNED OFF THE WIRES SUPPLYING POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP. 1997 GMC TRUCK. I GUESS THIS CONNECTOR THAT MATES THROUGH THE TANK HAS HAD A HISTORY OF ARCING BURNING HERE. ALSO THE CONNECTOR DEFECT ISNT EASILY NOTICABLE TO THE TECHNICIAN. CAUSING INTERMITTENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE AS IN MY CASE. HAS THERE BEEN ANY HISTORY OF FIRE/EXPOSION WITH THESE CONNECTORS ON GM VEHICLES. THIS I FEEL IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN PROBABLY DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME WITH THIS DEFECT AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY TECHNICIANS.. HTTP://WWW.FINDARTICLES.COM/P/ARTICLES/MI_M3102/IS_6_123/AI_N6083406 HERE IS AN ARTICLE EXPLAINING THE DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10116190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Altamonte Springs, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

I HAVE OWNED MY 1997 GMC K1500 SIERRA SINCE 1999 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUOUS MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL DUE TO A FAILING VSS SENSOR LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND DIRECTION. I HAVE HAD THIS COMPONENT REPLACED TWICE OVER THE YEARS AND THE SENSOR STARTS TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WITHIN 6 MONTHS. EVERY INDIVIDUAL I HAVE TALKED TO OVER THE YEARS WHO HAS OWNED A GM 1997-1999 C/K FULL-SIZE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MULTIPLE LIVES WILL HAVE TO BE EVENTUALLY LOST BEFORE GM WILL RECALL THESE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES DUE TO LAWSUITS. THE VSS STEERING AS WELL AS THE CSFI FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ARE AN EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN AND GM KNOWS IT.

NHTSA complaint #10041642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Fayetteville, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR RECENTLY, CHANGED FLUID HELPED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS - WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT - FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 1999 AND OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS.

NHTSA complaint #10016949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South SAN Francisco, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ENGINE WONT START, FOUND FUEL PUMP NO GOOD, REMOVE AND REPLACE NEW DEALER FUEL PUMP

NHTSA complaint #9005274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eagle Point, OR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

MY PROBLEMS REALLY BEGAN SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER @ 36,000 MILES. AT 42,240 I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR GO OUT, AT 55,590 MILES I HAD A WATER PUMP, SEAL, AND CORE NIPPLES GO BAD, ALONG WITH THE IDLE ARM ASSEMBLY, AND THE MAIN ENGINE BELT REPLACED. AGAIN ONLY 2 WEEKS LATER @ 58,275 MILES I STILL HAD A COOLANT LEAK, AND IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, AND THE THERMOSTAT AND SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AGAIN ONLY 2 DAYS LATER I AGAIN EXPERIENCED YET ANOTHER PROBLEM, THIS TIME THE ALTENATOR WENT OUT! I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, AND TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THE MATTER. THE DEALER DID AGGREE IT IS FAIRLY RARE TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS SO SOON, AND GENERAL MOTORS AGGREES. HOWEVER THAT DOES'NT EASE MY MIND, THAT THEIR MAY BE A DESIGN, OR PARTS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I DID TALK WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SAME TYPE TRUCK A 1992, SAME STYLE AND ENGINE, AND INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS OCCUR AT APROX: THE SAME MILAGE TIME FRAME, AND HAD SEVERAL MORE POP UP WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #742987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eagle Point, OR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

MY PROBLEMS REALLY BEGAN SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER @ 36,000 MILES. AT 42,240 I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR GO OUT, AT 55,590 MILES I HAD A WATER PUMP, SEAL, AND CORE NIPPLES GO BAD, ALONG WITH THE IDLE ARM ASSEMBLY, AND THE MAIN ENGINE BELT REPLACED. AGAIN ONLY 2 WEEKS LATER @ 58,275 MILES I STILL HAD A COOLANT LEAK, AND IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, AND THE THERMOSTAT AND SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AGAIN ONLY 2 DAYS LATER I AGAIN EXPERIENCED YET ANOTHER PROBLEM, THIS TIME THE ALTENATOR WENT OUT! I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, AND TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THE MATTER. THE DEALER DID AGGREE IT IS FAIRLY RARE TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS SO SOON, AND GENERAL MOTORS AGGREES. HOWEVER THAT DOES'NT EASE MY MIND, THAT THEIR MAY BE A DESIGN, OR PARTS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I DID TALK WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SAME TYPE TRUCK A 1992, SAME STYLE AND ENGINE, AND INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS OCCUR AT APROX: THE SAME MILAGE TIME FRAME, AND HAD SEVERAL MORE POP UP WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #742987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orion, MI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I UNDERSTAND THEIR HAVE BEEN A HIGH NUMBER OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN THESE VEHICLES. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND SERVICE ADVISOR ALREADY KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK BEFORE THEY EVEN LOOKED AT IT. ALSO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME HIS OWN FUEL PUMP FAILED ON HIS GMC TRUCK AT 38,000 MILES. THIS IS A LEASE VEHICLE THAT IS TO BE TURNED IN IN FOUR MONTHS AND I HAD TO PUT A $400 FUEL PUMP IN IT.

NHTSA complaint #722193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kinmundy, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CONNECTING WIRE IN FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK, MELTED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #841937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bayamon, PR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, SHAKING AND BURNING GAS LIKE A GAS GUZZLER, TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID THAT TWO INJECTORS WERE DAMAGED, REPLACED ONE AND REPAIRED THE OTHER. AT IDLE (750 RPM)SPEED ENGINE IS INTERMITTENT . AS FOR THE STEERING, WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING 45-65 MPH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, STEERING FELT LIKE A FEATHER IN THE AIR, UNCONTROLLABLE. UNIT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER IN THREE DIFFERENT OCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, EVERY TIME WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AS I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE PERSONS. ON JULY 16/98 DROVE IT TO A DIFFERENT GMC DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM A WEEK AFTER I PICK IT UP AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE PS PUMP. STILL, TO PARK THE VEHICLE IS A NIGHTMARE, YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, LIKE THE OLD TIMES WHEN TRUCKS DID NOT HAVE PS. SEEMS LIKE A HAVE A LEMON BUT SINCE IN PR THERE IS NO LEMON LAW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE PAYING GMAC IN ORDER TO PROTECT MY CREDIT.

NHTSA complaint #702042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

← Full 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 report