1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHEN HE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO REPAIRED THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO PROVIDED A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WHENEVER HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

1997 CHEVY SILVERADO BRAKE PROBLEM. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR DURING A SUDDEN STOP WITH GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING IS COPIED FROM A POST TO THIS SITE WHICH DESCRIBES EXACTLY THE PROBLEM: "I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RANDOM FAILURE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THEY ENGAGE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS NO REASON TO. RECENTLY I VIEWED A REPORT THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS INVESTIGATING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1999 - 2002 MODELS, BUT THE PROBLEM IN THAT INVESTIGATION EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM, YOU CANNOT BE PREPARED WHEN YOU DON'T QUITE STOP AS FAST AS EXPECTED. MY TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND I CANNOT EXPECT MY SON TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION AS HE IS AN IN-EXPERIENCED DRIVER. I WAS GOING TO SCHEDULE SOON TO HAVE IT FIXED WHEN I VIEWED THE ARTICLE ABOUT A POTENTIAL RECALL. I AM AWAITING TO HEAR YOUR DECISION AND HOPING YOU INCLUDE EARLIER MODELS (1997) SUCH AS MINE IF THERE IS A RECALL." I CONCUR WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT ENTIRELY. IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR THIS SAME COMPLAINT, YOU WILL FIND A DISTURBING NUMBER OF CONSUMERS WHO ARE FACING THIS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY FLAW. THE PROBLEM IS FAR TO COMMON TO BE DISMISSED AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF FAULTY COMPONENTS. THE NEXT PERSON INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS VEHICLE MAY BE SOMEONE YOU KNOW AND LOVE. *TR

AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH, EACH TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP, THE ABS SYSTEMS ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE TO AN IMMEDIATE HALT. NUMEROUS TIMES I BARELY AVOIDED COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND BUILDINGS. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON 1999 AND LATER TRUCKS AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR A REPAIR ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, BUT NOT ALL. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT BY REMOVING THE ABS SYSTEM FUSE THE ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE WILL COME TO A STOP UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOW REMOVED THE ABS SYSTEM FUSE TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND OR AT LEAST OFFER TO DISABLE THE ABS SYSTEM (AND THE ABS LIGHT) SO THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKES WILL FUNCTION. *TR

AN UNNECESSARY ACTIVATION OF THE ABS, THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL #05V379000, HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH MY 1997 CHEVROLET K1500. I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, UNTIL RECENTLY. ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY OF ON-LINE, CHEVY OWNER FORUMS I'VE READ, THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL IN PRE-1999 CHEVY TRUCKS, YET RECALL #05V379000 DOESN'T COVER THEM. IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH, I'VE DISCONNECTED THE ABS ON MY TRUCK. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY TRUCK THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE BRAKE FAILURE. I SEE THE RECALL IS FROM 1999-2003 BUT AM HORRIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL. I HAVE REPLACED EVERY PART OF MY BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T STOP!! MY BRAKES ARE GOING TO FAIL AND I HOPE NO ONE GETS KILLED IN THE PROCESS. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ARE ON THE WEB FROM THE 1997 YEAR TRUCK! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 10MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE ABS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ABS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED AN IMPROPER SIGNAL TO THE ABS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 87000.