76 of the 302 complaints about the 1997 GMC Sierra are about the braking system — 25% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 76,000 miles.
76
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKE LINE FAILED ABOVE THE FUEL TANK, LOST PRESSURE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN NO BRAKES. WHY WOULD CAR MANUFACTURES USE STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT CAN ROT OUT VERY QUICKLY WHEN EXPOSED TO NORMAL DRIVING ELEMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10438741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WAS UNWARRANTABLE ACTIVATING, CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS. THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE ABS HOWEVER THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES THAT LEAD UP TO THESE INCIDENCES.
NHTSA complaint #10161309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGED AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH AND BELOW. AS A RESULT, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10150932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED AT 10 MPH. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06.
NHTSA complaint #10150082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ABS WHEEL SENSORS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/22/06.
NHTSA complaint #10150169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTILOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY SEIZE UP AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ROLL FORWARD AT SLOW RATES OF SPEED. EXACT SAME PROBLEM WE HAD WITH OUR 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE THAT WAS JUST FIXED UNDER RECALL 12/05.
NHTSA complaint #10146527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG FRAME RAIL SEVERELY RUSTED AND FAILED UNDER BRAKING, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY REAR END ANOTHER CAR. I REMOVED IT FROM THE TRUCK AND TOOK IT BY THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS COMMON FOR A VEHICLE WITH 78,000 MILES TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10140876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. THE "BRAKE" LIGHT STAYS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. I UNDERSTAND MANY GMC TRUCKS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM, BUT IT BEGINS WITH TRUCKS A COUPLE OF YEARS NEWER THAN MY 1997 SIERRA TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10139677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AFTER PARKING DURING MY WORK SHIFT, I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE WORK AT 1530. APPLYING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO "DRIVE",THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO PUMP UP THE BRAKE, AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD ROTTED OUT. THE GAS TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO EFFECT REPAIR. I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK FROM LONG ISLAND, NY TO MAYS LANDING , NJ (ABOUT 145 MILES) WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME I COULD HAVE LOST BRAKING POWER AT ANY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10137985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SIERRA K1500 PICKUP. THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AS WELL AS THE WHEEL BEARING SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH WHERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN A YEAR EACH TIME. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THAT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AT THIS TIME AND I SHE WOULD BE RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONTACT STATED HAS BEEN HAVING THE ABS BRAKES FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THE ABS HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. SOME OF THESE REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE WITHIN A YEAR FROM THE LAST REPLACEMENT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10136211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: 1997 GMC SIERRA C1500 PICK UP TRUCK - THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE GMC SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING BOX WORE OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD PLAY IN THE WHEEL. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AS OF YET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT APPROACHING A STOP, BUT WAS COMING UP ONTO A BIG TRUCK, WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED WITH ALL NEW BRAKE LINES, BUT THEY WERE STILL MAKING NOISE AND ID NOT FEEL RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10136029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON (WEATHER RELATED OR OTHER). DEFECT DISCOVERED SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT SUPERIOR GMC IN BRIGHTON IN SEPTEMBER 2005. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 23000 MILES AND IS USED FOR LEISURE PURPOSES. CURRENT GM RECALL FOR IDENTICAL PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE 1997 ALTHOUGH DEFECT IS IDENTICAL. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THEREFORE THE NUMBER OF FAILURES DOCUMENTED BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE.
NHTSA complaint #10135519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED, CAUSING UNSAFE BRAKING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER WERE REQUIRED BEFORE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE/UNSAFE BRAKING WAS DISCOVERED. PARTS WERE REPLACED AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $800.00. NOW, LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME SYMPTOMS HAVE RETURNED.
NHTSA complaint #10126345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING NORMAL STOPPING VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMP SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10117650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
I TOOK MY 1997 GMC SIERRA TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE. BUT THE DEALER SAID ALL THE RECALLS PERTAIN TO THE 1999-2004 MODELS NOT MINE - BUT I AM HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS - DRIVE SHAFT, AND BRAKES - MY BRAKES LOCK UP - CREATE LOTS OF NOISE, CALIPHER DAMAGE, ETC. I BELIEVE THAT THE RECALLS FOR THE NEWER VEHICLES SHOULD APPLY TO MINE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN THE BRAKES DECIDE NOT TO WORK. MY WIFE DRIVES THE TRUCK AND I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10116309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS REPEATEDLY. UPON APPLYING BRAKES THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM CYCLES REPEATEDLY AND UNNECESSARILY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. NARROWLY AVERTED ACCIDENTS A NUMBER OF TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10109879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT GO TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10096611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND LEAKED FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10092467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HIT A BUMP AND CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES ,IT TOOK VEHICLE LONGER TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10022938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-SKID SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE. ALSO, THERE WILL BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #8017109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STALL. THEN, SEEP TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED HUBS ON THE FRONT TWO BRAKES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. THE RIGHT WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED HUB ASSEMBLY. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ALSO RESURFACED ROTORS. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8015487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE'S AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT WHEN APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8013693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #563896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER STATED THAT ANTI LOCK BRAKE CAME ON 3-5 MILES PER HOUR AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS.
NHTSA complaint #564384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER STATED THAT ANTI LOCK BRAKE CAME ON 3-5 MILES PER HOUR AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS.
NHTSA complaint #564384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #563896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES FELT SPONGY, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO NOTICED FRONT ROTORS WERE DISINTEGRATING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #896852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED A NOISE IS HEARD AND IT CONTINUES TO GO FOR A DISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE ON.
NHTSA complaint #9003204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES FAIL AT TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #748755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES THEY FELT AS IF THEY WERE BRAKING. HOWEVER, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.