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1997 Chevrolet C30

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Electric. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
52,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Service Brakes, Electric

1997 MOTOR HOME ON CHEVROLET 454 CHASIS. AUTO PARK BRAKE LOCKED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. CHECKED NUMEROUS SOURCES AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED LISTING OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FIRES. THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE BRAKE BAND AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISS…

Read full complaint

1997 MOTOR HOME ON CHEVROLET 454 CHASIS. AUTO PARK BRAKE LOCKED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. CHECKED NUMEROUS SOURCES AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED LISTING OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FIRES. THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE BRAKE BAND AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. SMOKED FILLED THE VEHICLE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CALLED GM AND RECEIVED NO HELP. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE SINCE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS WITH THIS SYSTEM. MANY OWNERS SAID THAT EVEN AFTER REPAIRS THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. GM SHOULD HAVE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OR PROVIDE INFO FOR REPAIRS. MOST MECHANICS DID NOT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THIS SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247772

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND JERK; NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES BEFORE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837747

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 55 MPH ON A THREE LINED ROAD ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, FORCING HIM TO KEEP LONGER DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818611

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1997
Wheels

MANUFACTURER DID NOT GREASE THE RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT WHEEL BARRIERS, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810626

Official recalls

1

97V037000 · Seats

Mar 7, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.