FaultScore

1997 GMC Sierra steering problems

64 of the 302 complaints about the 1997 GMC Sierra are about the steering — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,671 miles.

C

64

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering 30 46.9%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 19 29.7%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 8 12.5%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 6 9.4%
Pump 1 1.6%

Steering across every GMC Sierra year

1997 64 31.2%
1998 15 7.3%
1999 18 8.8%
2000 31 15.1%
2001 10 4.9%
2002 12 5.9%
2003 28 13.7%
2004 14 6.8%
2005 13 6.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 115,000 miles Richmond, VA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

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.

Melville, LA

STEERING

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IT CAUSES ME TO OVERCORRECT MY STEERING. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST YEAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE STEERING GETS VERY LOOSE. I FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GM SHOULD CORRECT, AS MINE IS FAR FROM THE ONLY TRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10118458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,116 miles Richmond, VA

STEERING

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.

at 73,202 miles Campbell, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING GOES OUT OCCASIONALLY. THIS HAS BEEN NOTED MANY TIMES ON THE NHSTA WEB SITE AS WELL AS OTHER CONSUMER COMPLIANT WEB SITES EXPLAINING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SERIES. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10074537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Elizabethtown, NJ

STEERING

THE ENGINE ROD BEARINGS STARTED MAKING NOISE AT 80,000 MILES. THE NOISE PROGRESSIVLY GOT WORSE SO I WAS ADVISED TO RUN A 15W-40 OIL AND RUN THE MOTOR TO FAILURE. GM GAVE ME A PRICE OF $2500 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT SAYING IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY TO JUST REPLACE ROD BEARINGS AND THE WARRANTY ON THE NEW MOTOR WAS BETTER. AS FAR AS THE STEERING PROBLEM, THE TRUCK STARTED TO UNDER-STEER AT ABOUT 4500 MILES. AS YOU ENTER A TURN (LEFT OR RIGHT) SOMETIMES THE TRUCK JUST DIVES IN THAT DIRCTION AND YOU MUST COMPENSATE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO DRIVES THE TRUCK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 97 CHEVY TRUCK AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HE HAD IT REPAIRED FOR THE SUM OF $1000.

NHTSA complaint #10070023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,983 miles Sayre, OK

STEERING

GOING DOWN THE ROAD ALL AT ONCE YOU WILL LOOSE CONTROL OF YOUR STEERING WHEEL. IT IS LIKE YOU HAVE NO WAY TO TURN OR ANYTHING. IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU TO HAVE CONTROL OF YOU PICKUP AGAIN. THIS COULD BE REAL DANGEROUS IF YOU WERE TO HIT SOME ICE OR RAIN SLICK ROADS AND ALL AT ONCE YOU COULDN'T CONTROL YOUR PICKUP. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THESE LATE MODEL PICKUPS AND GM HAS MADE NO RECALLS ON THIS. IT IS 1996 THREW 1999 THAT THE TROUBLE IS IN. THERE IS A SENSOR IN THE POWER STEERING THAT TELLS IT WHAT TO DO. THERE WAS A LADY IN THE SAME TIME I WAS IN GETTING HER PICKUP FIXED ON A RECALL ON THE WIPERS AND I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD EVER HAD ANY TROUBLE LIKE THAT. SHE SAID YES IT CAUSED HER TO GO INTO THE DITCH BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE HER SENSOR ALSO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10070172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Milford, OH

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED EITHER TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS LINKAGE. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE POWER STEERING BOOSTER WAS BAD, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10066723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Beaver, WV

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A GMC SUBURBAN.

NHTSA complaint #10061592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Duluth, MN

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10055968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles Pensacola, FL

STEERING

I BOUGHT A 1997 GMC SIERRA IN 1999. THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH IT, AND SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IS ON OCCASION, WHEN I MAKE A TURN, EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE STEERING COMPLETELY. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL IS FINE. IT ONLY DOES THIS FOR A MINUTE PORTION OF A SECOND, AND THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10054895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Allen, TX

STEERING

WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR OR SO, THE STEERING WHEEL OCCASIONALLY LOSES ALL RESISTANCE AND THE WHEEL TURNS AROUND TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE. I READ THAT GM HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR MANY VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE GMC 1500 TRUCK DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AMONG THEM. PLEASE ADD IT.

NHTSA complaint #10052906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Thompsons Station, TN

STEERING

I HAVE A GMC 1500 SEIRRA PICK-UP 1997 THAT I HAVE HAD A LOT OF STEERING ISSUES WITH SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TURN THEN IT GETS REAL LOOSE AND IF I GO IN TO A TURN, IT FEELS LIKE IT LOOSES ALL TENSION AND I OVER CORRECT MYSELF ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK.

NHTSA complaint #10052987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Buffalo, NY

STEERING

VEHICLE LOSES IT'S ABILITY TO TURN TO THE LEFT

NHTSA complaint #10039427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Crown, PA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #10020352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,342 miles Brookings, OR

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED A DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR. *AK *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10009620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brookings, OR

STEERING

STEERING PROBLEMS AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND/OR RECALLS POSSIBLY RELATED TO STEERING PROBLEMS AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS. CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH REIMBURSEMENT. *TT *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10009769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Pigeon Forge, TN

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL WILL HAVE TO MUCH PLAY IN IT AND TURN ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO STEER VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOST OF CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA complaint #10005970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mechanicsville, VA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

TRUCK STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO SIDE ON CURVE ABOUT 35 MPH. THOUGHT WAS MISALIGNMENT AT FIRST. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAS TO BE FIXED SOON. ON SEARCHING INTERNET MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA complaint #770437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Easton, MD

STEERING

THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE MADE A RIGHT TURN, IT FELT AS THOUGH ALL STEERING WAS LOST. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wausau, WI

STEERING

THIS STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND AT LEAST TWO OTHERS THAT I KNOW OF CAUSES THE TRUCK TO JERK IN THE DIRECTION YOU ARE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS. I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, JUST WANTED TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST.

NHTSA complaint #765558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD BROKE UNTILL I WAS TURNING OFF THE INTER STATE HIW AY . IT HAD NEVER GIVEN INDICATION THAT IT HAD BROKEN NO NOISE OR RATTLE FROM THE POWER STEERING UNIT IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SHAFT INTERNALY , THE SHAFT CONTINUED TO OPERATE, BUT THERE WAS NO PRESURE TO TURN THE WHEELS. IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE ASSIST . IT WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK MANUVER TO MISS SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WAS TO HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT .

NHTSA complaint #764440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MO

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #760626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ringgold, GA

STEERING

VEHICLE IS SITTING AND RUNNING. THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. THERE IS NO NOISE WHILE TRAVELING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8002621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Graeagle, CA

STEERING

THE STEERING BECOMES QUITE LOOSE AND IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD, MOSTLY DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON ICY OR SNOWY ROADS.

NHTSA complaint #9001627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pinckney, MI

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

MY TRUCK WAS IN FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER FOR THE SAME REPAIR-I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE- THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THESE SENSORS - I DID NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE MY TRUCK, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 45MPH. NO PRECISE SAFETY DEFECT LISTED

NHTSA complaint #743299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Littleton, CO

STEERING

THERE WAS REDUCED STEERING, AND STEERING WANDERED TO ONE SIDE. HAPPENED AT ABOVE 25 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 86-32-06 WAS USED BY THE DEALER TO FIX. CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL IN STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #884724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bemidji, MN

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

I FOUND 29 PAGES OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON NET LEMON LAW. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.

NHTSA complaint #742352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corona, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GMC ABOUT MY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THEY GAVE ME A FILE # C0344768. BASICALLY, THEY DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I WAS CONCERNED WITH MY GEAR BOX FREEZING ON ME OR SOMETHING. I HAD REPLACED THE PUMP ONCE AND ALL IT TOOK TO RUIN THE PUMP AGAIN WAS A 500 MILE TRIP. I KNOW THAT THINGS GO WRONG WITH VEHICLES BUT AT 55,000 MILES POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I AM GLAD THAT IT DIDN'T CAUSE ANY INJURIES. *AIK

NHTSA complaint #742482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canandaigua, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

EVO SYSTEM IS CREATING A DANGERIOUS DRIVING SITUATION AND SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALLED, I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND HAVE RECIEVED NO SATISFACTION AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #742142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Jordan, MI

STEERING

STEERING BECOMES HARD TO TURN, AND THEN SUDDENLY WILL BECOME LIGHT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #877182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 GMC Sierra problems

← Full 1997 GMC Sierra report