IllustrationTHE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS ERRATIC. WHILE DRIVING - GENERALLY MOST NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL "JERK" SLIGHTLY, OR FEEL AS IF IT IS HELD BACK FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND SUDDENLY RELEASED. MOST NOTICEABLE IN STRAIGHT AHEAD OR SLIGHT TURN SITUATIONS. *NM
1997 Chevrolet K Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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 →5Owner complaints
Model-year median: 0.5
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView 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 K Series
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 5 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 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)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
- Steering: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
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
Compare all K Series years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 2 of 5 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 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
5 reportsNOTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS - APPROX. 5 MPH UNDER VERY GENTLE BRAKE ACTIVATION. NO ACCIDENT OR CONSEQUENCES, SINCE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY BRAKING ABNORMALITIES. TOOK TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ABS "HUB AND SWITCH" OF ONE WHEEL. *NM
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT JERKED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ANY GIVEN WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, AND VEHICLE WILL SKID,,ESPECIALLY IN WET WEATHER. DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE NORMAL. *AK
WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS LEFT ON IT CAUSES THE ROTORS TO WARP. WHEN TOWING A LOAD OF 3000 LBS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHICH ALMOST INVOLVED CONSUMER IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK
Recall campaigns
0No 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.