AI Damage1997 GMC C/K Pickup: common problems
Owners of the 1997 GMC C/K Pickup filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 25
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 44% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 28% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 24% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Visibility: 11 complaints (44% of all).
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (28% of all).
- Steering: 6 complaints (24% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (4% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (4% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Brakes failed. I parked with parking brake, looked underneath and noticed fluid leak on pavement. Further inspection showed that rusty brake line developed a pinhole. Other brake lines are rusty. Will likely fail later. Fuel line is also very rusty. Will likely fail later.
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.
Everytime I slow down to stop, the brake pedal growls and it feels as if the anti-lock brakes come on. The truck keeps rolling, and I've almost hit the vehicle in front of me numerous times. It's a 1997 gmc sierra.
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.
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.
The steering grabs and jerks when accelerating, for example when entering a curve as you speed up to make the curve the steering will jerk the driver's hand and arm . The vehicle has done this for sometimes. I have seen from your web site there has been an investigation before.
Dealer who made the first repair said this is a problem with corrosion on the anti-lock sensor. Gm customer service recently said that this is a recall item for the same model truck, but staring with 1998 trucks, not 1997. My 1997 has less than 40,000 miles on it.
It gets in a bind when turning and I lose my power steering part of the turn and then I regain it coming out of the turn. I have a friend with a 96' chevy tahoe 4x4 that has the same problem, and another friend with a 98' chevy silverado that has come across the same problem, almost resulting in a crash.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,448 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the C/K Pickup has 7 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 25, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 GMC C/K Pickup?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, service brakes, steering. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (12%), rust, corrosion (8%), brake failure (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 GMC C/K Pickup?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 GMC C/K Pickup from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.