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1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck

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

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

Limited mileage data: 6 of 48 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.

  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

7 reports
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177,520 miles · Nov 5, 2007
Power Train

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED TUNE-UPS AND SERVICES. I RECENTLY LOST MY TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ALMOST 95 OUT OF A 100 BUYERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD THE CHEVY CORP. BE ABLE TO SELL YOU SOMETHING AND MONTHS LAT…

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I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED TUNE-UPS AND SERVICES. I RECENTLY LOST MY TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ALMOST 95 OUT OF A 100 BUYERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD THE CHEVY CORP. BE ABLE TO SELL YOU SOMETHING AND MONTHS LATER THAT TRANS GO OUT AND ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS IT COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207939

50,000 miles · Jun 25, 2007
Power Train

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 1997 AND UP GM TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS, THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE HARD SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, AND THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN OVERDRIVE. IN THIS TRUCK THE TACHOMETER USUALLY IS AT 1500-1600 RPMS 65 MPH, BUT WITH THE MIL LIGHT, ENGINE…

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THIS IS TO INFORM YOU OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 1997 AND UP GM TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS, THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE HARD SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, AND THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN OVERDRIVE. IN THIS TRUCK THE TACHOMETER USUALLY IS AT 1500-1600 RPMS 65 MPH, BUT WITH THE MIL LIGHT, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, IT IS RUNNING AT 2000-2100 RPMS, CAUSING MASSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION. *AK THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION THIS IS ALSO THE MAIN CAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED BY THE SLIPPAGE. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS, GOOGLE CODE P01870 REPRESENTS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. *AK JUST GO TO ANY TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AKS THEM HOW MANY OF THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE REBUILT... THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED!!!!! GM SAYS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT THERE IS A TSB FOR IT THE REMEDY IS A TRANSMISSION REBUILD ONLY TO FAIL AGAIN THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE VALVE BODY!! THERE ARE ENOUGH CASES OF THIS PROBLEM TO BE INVESTIGATED A FEW OTHER COMMON ISSUES, THE 4X4 SWITCH, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING IN THE 5.7, FUEL INJECTOR "SPIDER" LINES RUBBING TOGETHER, CARRIER BEARINGS, DOOR BUSHINGS , STEERING SPEED SENSOR IS A FAULTY DESIGN CAUSING A FEELING OF THE WHEEL JERKING TO ONE SIDE USUALLY DURING A GRADUAL RIGHT HAND TURN. THIS CAN RESULT IN OVERSTEERING BY THE DRIVER, COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD, THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE RESOLVED NOT JUST BRUSHED UNDER THE CARPET LIKE GM IS TRYING TO DO!!! THE TRANSMISSION ALONE CAN COST UPWARDS OF $2000 TO REPLACE AND UNLESS THE SHOP KNOWS WHATS GOING ON THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN COSTING ANOTHER $2000 TO THE OWNER! OR HE WILL JUST SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO WILL HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!! IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING THIS UP FOR INFO AND ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM POST IT ON HERE FOR ALL TO SEE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO SEE REAL NUMBERS TO ACT!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10194184

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Power Train

AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 CHEV EXT-CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000. NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR THE REASON IT WENT OUT. THEY CALIM MILES DRIVEN. THE PREVIOUS YEAR, JUNE 1999, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT AND TORE IT AP…

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AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 CHEV EXT-CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000. NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR THE REASON IT WENT OUT. THEY CALIM MILES DRIVEN. THE PREVIOUS YEAR, JUNE 1999, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT AND TORE IT APART TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING A SLIPPING PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY SETTLED ON A VALVE THAT HAD GONE BAD. ONE WEEK LATER THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME VALVE AGAIN. IN 2000, I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION MY OF HAD A PROBLEM DUE TO THE SERVICE PEOPLE TAKING THE TRANSMISSION APART THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THEY DENIED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 2200.00. THIS CAME WITH A 3 YEAR 50,000 MILE WARRENTY. AFTER 30,000 MILES THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED MARCH 13, 2002. THE TRUCK WAS GIVEN BACK TO US ON MARCH 18TH. IT STILL IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY SO WE TOOK IT BACK ON MARCH 21ST. MILLER CHEV STILL HAS THE TRUCK. THEY NOW SAY IT IS A DEFECTIVE NEW TRANSMISSION THAT THEY PUT IN. MY QUESTION IS WHY SHOULD A TRUCK WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSION ALREADY!!! ARE CHEVROLET'S TRANSMISSION'S DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY. NOW IF THEY FIX THIS WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WHY IS IT THAT THE WARRENTY ON IT IS ONLY GOOD FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WARRENTY THAT WE LAST BOUGHT IN 9/2000? THAT LEAVE 20,000 MILES TO GO. WITH CHEVROLET'S TRANSMISSION RECORD, SOME HOW I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS NEW ONE WILL GO OUT ON US ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759792

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. WAS NEVER TOLD TRUCK HAD BEEN WRECKED WHEN PURCHASED TWO(2) YEARS AGO. PURCHASED AS A USED TRUCK. HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED THAT WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 40 OR 50 THOUSAND MILES, TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT. CHECKED BY MACHANIC, USING COMPUTER.

NHTSA ODI #724293

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Power Train

THE SHIFTING VALVE HAS FAILED 3 TIME AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THATS TOO BAD,, IT IS NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, BUT IT IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, SO HAVE THEM TAKE CARE OF IT,. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT 3 TIMES TELLS ME THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART.

NHTSA ODI #712434

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Power Train

SOUNDS LIKE CHEVROLET HAS BEEN REPAIRING ALOT OF THESE LATELY, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #709048

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1998
Power TrainCrash

TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A 14 DEGREE INCLINE WITH ENGINE FACING UPHILL AND THE 4WD WAS IN 4WD-LOW. WITH NO ONE IN THE TRUCK AND AFTER 5010 MINUTES, TRUCK DISENGAGED FROM PARK. THE TRUCK PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL CAUSING THE DRIVER TO JUMP OUT OF WAY FROM BEING HIT. THE TRUCK CAME TO REST AFTER HITTING THE SIDE OF A HOME. POLICE WE…

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TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A 14 DEGREE INCLINE WITH ENGINE FACING UPHILL AND THE 4WD WAS IN 4WD-LOW. WITH NO ONE IN THE TRUCK AND AFTER 5010 MINUTES, TRUCK DISENGAGED FROM PARK. THE TRUCK PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL CAUSING THE DRIVER TO JUMP OUT OF WAY FROM BEING HIT. THE TRUCK CAME TO REST AFTER HITTING THE SIDE OF A HOME. POLICE WERE CALLED TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #700616

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

EA98024 · Fuel Leaks From The Vapor Canister

Opened Nov 10, 1998 · Closed Apr 20, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

In January 1998, GM issued the technical service bulletin describing conditions which may result in fuel leakage from the emission vapor canister.According to the bulletin, when the subject vehicles are parked on an incline, with a full tank of gasoline, fuel can flow into the vapor canister.The remedy is to replace of the vapor canister, both rollover valve assembles, and the associated piping.In April 1998, ODI opened Service Query 98-005 to understand GM's rationale for issuance of a service bulletin on a matter that appeared to result in fuel leakage, an issue that is usually address by conducting a safety recall campaign.On November 10, 1998 the SQ was elevated to an Engineering Analysis (EA98-024) to investigate an alleged defect in the fuel tank rollover valve system in certain 1996 through 1997 Chevrolet Trucks and OMC Full Size 010-030 panel and passenger vans.