BRAKES FAILED, INSPECTION REVEALED COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES, FRAME, SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, STEERING COMPONENTS, AND CROSSMEMBERS. VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND IS NO LONGER USABLE. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C/k Pickups years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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.
What owners actually said
72 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C/K. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C/K. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIED WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. HE WOULD HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIED WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. HE WOULD HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/13/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WIPER MOTOR WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP QUAD CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WIPER MOTOR WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,397.
RECENTLY HAD WIPERS FAIL DURING HEAVY STORM WHILE ON FREEWAY. NEARLY CAUSED CRASH. CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT. CHECKED NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND RECALL (03V159000) AND DOCUMENTS SHOWED ENTIRE PRODUCTION FROM MY MODEL WAS INCLUDED. TOOK TRUCK TO PENSKE CHEV. OF CERRITOS, CA. ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR RECALL APPLICABILITY. THEY T…
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RECENTLY HAD WIPERS FAIL DURING HEAVY STORM WHILE ON FREEWAY. NEARLY CAUSED CRASH. CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT. CHECKED NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND RECALL (03V159000) AND DOCUMENTS SHOWED ENTIRE PRODUCTION FROM MY MODEL WAS INCLUDED. TOOK TRUCK TO PENSKE CHEV. OF CERRITOS, CA. ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR RECALL APPLICABILITY. THEY TOLD ME "THE TRUCK WAS TOO OLD" AND MY VIN NUMBER WAS "NOT A GOOD VIN". THEY CALLED GM AND GOT THE SAME INFO, NO RECORD OF VIN. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER (NEVER RECEIVED OWNER NOTIFICATIONS) AND SHOWED THEM MONRONEY LABEL, ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE AND TITLE WITH THIS VIN. SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT WITHOUT VIN, THERE WOULD BE NO REPAIR, DESPITE THE PAPERWORK PROVIDED AND GM RECALL DOCUMENT WITH AFFECTED RANGE. DEALER ACTED LIKE I WAS TRYING TO STEAL FROM THEM. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND BEGAN A MAJOR LEAK CAUSING MY PREGNANT WIFE TO NEARLY REAR END A CAR. *TR
VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE AT SLOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 5 MPH) ON DRY PAVEMENT. VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED CAUSING LOW SPEED COLLISION. NO INJURIES BUT MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CO-WORKER HAS A 98 WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS RETURNING HOME WHEN IT STARTED RAINING. I TRIED TO TURN ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT COME ON. THE RAIN BECAME VERY HEAVY AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE. I HAD NO WAS TO TURN OFF OR STOP SO I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH IN A 45 MPH ZONE, SO I COULD EVEN STAY ON THE ROAD. WHEN I FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE…
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I WAS RETURNING HOME WHEN IT STARTED RAINING. I TRIED TO TURN ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT COME ON. THE RAIN BECAME VERY HEAVY AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE. I HAD NO WAS TO TURN OFF OR STOP SO I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH IN A 45 MPH ZONE, SO I COULD EVEN STAY ON THE ROAD. WHEN I FINALLY HAD A CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD I DID. THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK AT ANY SPEED, NOR DID THE WIPER WASH MODE WORK. AFTER I MADE IT HOME I CHECKED THE FUSE FOR THE WIPERS AND IT WAS OKAY. I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND THE WIPERS WORKED. AS WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF RAIN IN OUR AREA, THIS OCCURRED 3 SEPERATE TIMES WHERE THE WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM. AFTER I HAD GOTTEN HOME, AND CHECKED AGAIN, THEY WORKED. I RESEARCHED ON THE WEB AT A CHEVY SITE AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, MINE IS A 1997 CHEVROLET K PICKUP TRUCK. I ALSO FOUND A ODI RECALL WHICH MATCHED MY TYPE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT MY VEHICLE NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER IS EA02006. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A USED TRUCK AND THE SYMPTOMS MATCHED, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE REPAIRS FOR FREE BASED ON THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K 1500. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE WIPERS HAV…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K 1500. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE WIPERS HAVE YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Official recalls
103V159000 · 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA02006 · 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.
Illustration