IllustrationTHE DEALERSHIP MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE LOOSE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE.*JB
1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 1500 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
60–25K
1725–50K
2850–75K
3975–100K
35100–150K
22150K+
147 reports with mileage · 408 unknown
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 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 123 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports13 fire reports13 injury reports
Steering complaints
140 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STRAIGHT FORWARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. PH
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN QUICK AND HARD TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR BOX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
DURING 50 DEGREE OR LOWER WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL ERRATIC WHILE TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WILL BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHEN TURNING TO LEFT VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. DEALER STATED THEAT POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
STEERING WHEEL IS ERRATIC, WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE WILL JERK.*AK
SPORATIC ERRATIC STEERING. *AK
WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT OR LEFT, STEERING WHEEL SLIPS FOR A SECOND LEAVING YOU WITH NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NO FIX YET?
WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR A LEFT HAND TURN, FRONT END WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER,, THEY DETERMINED THAT STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK
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.