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1997 Chevrolet Pickup

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: 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

What owners actually said

75 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2012
Structure

1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP 1500. CONSUMER STATES DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF FROM INSIDE *TGW

NHTSA ODI #10484323

138,000 miles · Jan 23, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP. WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. HE HAD TO DO THIS TWICE BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEAL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP. WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. HE HAD TO DO THIS TWICE BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

NHTSA ODI #10215809

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOOSE AT LOW SPEEDS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THUS, INCREASING THE CHANCE OF A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10110839

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2004
Visibility

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENLY. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. *AK *SC

NHTSA ODI #10091725

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Tires

VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE TIRE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10090259

31,200 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087467

153,000 miles · Jun 29, 2004
Seat Belts

THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE RIGHT SEAT BELT DUE TO AN INTERNAL PROBLEM CAUSED THE BELT NOT TO COME OUT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10074172

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2004
Visibility

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075875

88,000 miles · May 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN THE TANK IS FULL A FOUL ODOR SEEPS THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072177

81,000 miles · Apr 21, 2004
Steering

STEERING COLUMN STABILIZER SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068641

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.