IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1997 Chevrolet Pickup
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pickup 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
Limited mileage data: 8 of 75 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
7 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
25 reportsAT SLOW SPEEDS APROXIMATLY 5-10 MPH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE.MOSTLY COMING TO A SLOW STOP SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT.I HEAR THE ABS MOTOR RUNNING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS THE VEHICLE THEN FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME.THIS IS ON A GOOD TRACTION SURFACE AND THERE IS NO …
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AT SLOW SPEEDS APROXIMATLY 5-10 MPH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE.MOSTLY COMING TO A SLOW STOP SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT.I HEAR THE ABS MOTOR RUNNING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS THE VEHICLE THEN FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME.THIS IS ON A GOOD TRACTION SURFACE AND THERE IS NO WHEEL LOCK UP.IT SEEMS TO ACT UP ALMOST EVERY STOP FOR DAYS AND THEN I MAY NOT HAVE IT OCCUR FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT RETURNS.*AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL CONVIENCE STORE THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE EXTREMELY RIGID. MY WIFE WA DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HAD (3 MONTHS PRIOR) UNDERGONE BACK SUGERY. IT CAUSED HE TREMENDOUS PAIN TO FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP. SHE PROCEEDED TO PARK THE VEHICL…
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WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL CONVIENCE STORE THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE EXTREMELY RIGID. MY WIFE WA DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HAD (3 MONTHS PRIOR) UNDERGONE BACK SUGERY. IT CAUSED HE TREMENDOUS PAIN TO FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP. SHE PROCEEDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND CALL ME. (AT HOME) I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DETERMINED THE BOOSTER HAD IN FACT FAILED. ( I AM AN AUTO TECHNICIAN BY TRADE) THE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED ($168) AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS ALIEVEATED. IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT A GREATER SPEED, IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, I BELIEVE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED AND HER INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *AK
OUR DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS HELP DESK INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CRITERIA, THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTERS EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE GM TRUCKS AS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON JUNE 29, 2001. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO OR ANYON…
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OUR DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS HELP DESK INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CRITERIA, THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTERS EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE GM TRUCKS AS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON JUNE 29, 2001. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO OR ANYONE TO CONTACT REGARDING THE PROBLEM? WILL THE MANUFACTURER (GM) PAY FOR THIS DEFECT? OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE A RECALL?*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY PULL HARD TO RIGHT, ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED WHEEL AND PULLED IT. I DO NOT REMEMBER HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD BRAKE TROUBLE AT AROUND 58,000 MILES. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS RESURFACED, AND PACKED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES FIXED…
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WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY PULL HARD TO RIGHT, ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED WHEEL AND PULLED IT. I DO NOT REMEMBER HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD BRAKE TROUBLE AT AROUND 58,000 MILES. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS RESURFACED, AND PACKED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES FIXED, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE STEERING PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1997 GMC, YUKON.*AK
AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE MAKERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJOR PARTS OF A BRAKE SYSTEM. WE HAD TO TAKE TIME TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED AND PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. WE SHOULD NOT IN THIS COUNTRY PRODUCE SUCH UNSAFE VEHICLES.*AK
EA-01-013; WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS NOTED SEVERAL TSB'S REGARDING THE PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. PL…
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EA-01-013; WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS NOTED SEVERAL TSB'S REGARDING THE PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
AFTER READING ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER DATED 6/29/01 ON BOOSTER FAILURES I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON DRY SUNNY DAY AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONTAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.