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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Visibility complaints

75 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2004
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10063573

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

THE RADIATOR'S COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN FLUID ACCUMULATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON TWO OCCASIONS. WAS FIXED TWICE, CAUSING A TOW BY THE DEALER ON THE SECOND TIME. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SHIFT HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND, HAD ANOTHER DEALER LOOK AT IT, SAID IT WAS "JUNK." NOTIFIED GM, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE …

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THE RADIATOR'S COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN FLUID ACCUMULATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON TWO OCCASIONS. WAS FIXED TWICE, CAUSING A TOW BY THE DEALER ON THE SECOND TIME. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SHIFT HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND, HAD ANOTHER DEALER LOOK AT IT, SAID IT WAS "JUNK." NOTIFIED GM, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE FIRST DEALER DIDN'T REPORT THE PROBLEM. HAD TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AT 70,000 MILES... VERY EXPENSIVE! THE FUEL INDICATOR HAS ALSO FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IS OVER THE 70,000 MILE LIMIT OF REPLACEMENT. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. HMMM... MAYBE THE DEALER WAS RIGHT ABOUT BEING JUNK WITHOUT A WARRANTY. SO SAD THAT WE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PRODUCTS LIKE THIS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047586

138,000 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN INTERMITTENTLY, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND DO NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GM AND BEEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO A VIN CUTOFF IN THE RECALL PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME DEFECT AND PART AS IN THE VEHICLES COVERED IN…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN INTERMITTENTLY, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND DO NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GM AND BEEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO A VIN CUTOFF IN THE RECALL PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME DEFECT AND PART AS IN THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.. [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10037072

100,000 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Visibility

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT. THE WIPERS HAD BEEN RECALLED UP TO 96' AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REFERENCED TO THE THIS VEHICLE AS WELL (97'). *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10033580

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2003
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032049

60 miles · Jun 2, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK ON OCCASION. NEARLY WRECKED LAST WEEKEND WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING IN A HARD RAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10020891

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015907

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2003
Visibility

I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP AND A 1998 GMC YUKON IN WHICH BOTH VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER MOTORS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEVER WORK WHEN I NEED THEM TO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT RAINS DUE TO NO VISIBILITY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AN…

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I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP AND A 1998 GMC YUKON IN WHICH BOTH VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER MOTORS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEVER WORK WHEN I NEED THEM TO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT RAINS DUE TO NO VISIBILITY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THE GM INSPECTOR WHO SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES, BUT MINE WERE NOT INCLUDED. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10013930

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, I RECEIVED A LETTER SHORTLY AFTER NOTICING THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH THE WIPERS AND THE LETTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED IF I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP "ONLY IF IT WAS UNDER 70,000 MILES. WELL I AM AROUND 72, AND THEY ARE JUST NOW DOING THIS. WHAT 97' …

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, I RECEIVED A LETTER SHORTLY AFTER NOTICING THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH THE WIPERS AND THE LETTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED IF I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP "ONLY IF IT WAS UNDER 70,000 MILES. WELL I AM AROUND 72, AND THEY ARE JUST NOW DOING THIS. WHAT 97' VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE AROUND THAT KIND OF MILEAGE BY NOW. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND IT SHOULD STILL BE FIXED UNDER CHEVROLET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010682

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2002
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER, VEHICLES' WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER HESITATES TO WORK OR QUIT WORKING, OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVER HAVING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE, AND ALSO THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MO…

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WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER, VEHICLES' WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER HESITATES TO WORK OR QUIT WORKING, OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVER HAVING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE, AND ALSO THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001560

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.