Vehicle Data Hub

1997 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems

Owners reported steering problems in 25 complaints for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500, 25% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
25 25% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
60,000 miles 12 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 60,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 0 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 5 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 1 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 2 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 60,000 miles
Based on 12 complaints that include mileage. 50% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles0
20k to 40k miles5
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles1
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles2
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 12 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 60,000 miles, and 50% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the steering complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

Driving at approximately 40-65 vehicle will pull to either left or right unexpectedley and strongly, causing the consumer to lose control for couple seconds, and be pulled to side of road. Dealer has replaced steering box/sensor/gear and pump assembly. Defect is still occurring.

While driving on highway this vehicle will move right and left without no input from the driver. Also, making a left or right turn the power steering will stop,lock up start working again for no apparent reason. I have change all front tie rods twice, steering gear box, four times and the power steering pump three times. This is very serious and hazardous issue !!!! Many drivers have the same problem and has expressed it on the internet. GMC has not put out any recall to fix it.

Reported at 120,950 miles, January 2017

Other problems reported for the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all GMC models