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1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 23

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 72 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Visibility: 30 reports
  • Steering: 19 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
52
199423
199522
199672
199778
199837
199934
2000
Compare all C/k Pickups years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
30Steering
19Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4
All reported categories
Power Train
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Structure
3Suspension
2Air Bags
1Electrical System
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 24 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE QUICK DISCONNECT HEATER HOSE FITTING SCREWED INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF VORTEC 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 ENGINES 1996--2000. IT IS MADE OUT OF AN INEXPENSIVE POT METAL MATERIAL, IT CORRODES AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON MY OWN VEHICLE (1997 K1500 4X4) AND ON MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL. T…

Read full complaint

THE QUICK DISCONNECT HEATER HOSE FITTING SCREWED INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF VORTEC 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 ENGINES 1996--2000. IT IS MADE OUT OF AN INEXPENSIVE POT METAL MATERIAL, IT CORRODES AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON MY OWN VEHICLE (1997 K1500 4X4) AND ON MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL. THE PART COSTS 15.00 AT THE DEALER, BUT UPON FAILURE, IT CAN COST 600--1000 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. FAILURE CAUSES ENGINE OVERHEATING THAT CAN BE A HAZARD WHILE VEHICLE IS IN USE. ENGINE FAILURE CAN CAUSE A CRASH. GM SHOULD INSTITUTE A RECALL TO ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH VORTEC ENGINES THAT USE THIS FITTING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115935

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA. GM SAYS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL ITS TRUCKS 1996-2003 AND HAS RELEASED A NEW STYLE GASKET KIT TO REPAIR THE CONCERN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058191

60,000 miles · Jul 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

1997 CHEVROLET K1500 Z71: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE 1870. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028721

60,000 miles · May 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE QUICK DISCONNECT HEATER HOSE FITTING SCREWED INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF VORTEC 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 ENGINES 1996--2000. IT IS MADE OUT OF AN INEXPENSIVE POT METAL MATERIAL, IT CORRODES AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON MY OWN VEHICLE (1997 K1500 4X4) AND AT LEAST ON 2 OTHERS THAT BELONG TO FRIEND…

Read full complaint

THE QUICK DISCONNECT HEATER HOSE FITTING SCREWED INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF VORTEC 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 ENGINES 1996--2000. IT IS MADE OUT OF AN INEXPENSIVE POT METAL MATERIAL, IT CORRODES AND LEAKS ANTIFREEZE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED ON MY OWN VEHICLE (1997 K1500 4X4) AND AT LEAST ON 2 OTHERS THAT BELONG TO FRIENDS OF MINE. THE PART COSTS 15.00 AT THE DEALER, BUT UPON FAILURE, IT CAN COST 600--1000 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. FAILURE CAUSES ENGINE OVERHEATING THAT CAN BE A HAZARD WHILE VEHICLE IS IN USE. ENGINE FAILURE CAN CAUSE A CRASH. GM SHOULD INSTITUTE A RECALL TO ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH VORTEC ENGINES THAT USE THIS FITTING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019144

Recall campaigns

1

03V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Apr 28, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

2

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

PE01001 · Vacuum Brake Booster

Opened Jan 8, 2001 · Closed May 22, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ALLEGED THAT THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER CAN FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.