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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

555 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Steering

CONSUMER SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON TV CONCERNING POWER STEERING. ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED A SIMILAR FAILURE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AROUND LOST STEERING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AROUND DECEMBER 2002 RI…

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CONSUMER SAW A RECALL NOTICE ON TV CONCERNING POWER STEERING. ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT THINK THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE MANIFESTED A SIMILAR FAILURE. WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AROUND LOST STEERING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM AROUND DECEMBER 2002 RIGHT AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER HAD THIS PART PUT ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND PULL TO THE LEFT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10054104

47,000 miles · Feb 9, 2004
Steering

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO FIX BECAUSE IT COMES AND GOES AND IT DOES SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE TO PROBLEM YET. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TU…

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I OWN A 1997 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REALLY HARD TO FIX BECAUSE IT COMES AND GOES AND IT DOES SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE TO PROBLEM YET. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN TO THE LEFT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER. THE TRUCK WILL ACTUALLY GO AROUND THE TURN BY ITSELF IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO A TURN IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN PULLED BY SOMETHING. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ONE THAT HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE AT TIMES IT WILL OVER STEER WITHOUT YOU ACTUALLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND MAKE OF TRUCK AND ALL THREE TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME AND I HAVE TALKED WITH GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH NO HELP FROM THEM WHAT'S SO EVER. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN A ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY WITH A FATALITY. REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS FOR SOMEONE TO JUST HELP WITH FINDING A FIX WITHOUT CHANGING OUT PART AND HOPING FOR A FIX WITH NO TELLING HOW MANY $$$$ LATER. AT THIS TIME I HAVE CHANGED MY STEERING BOX AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I DID CHANGE THESE OUT FROM A WRECKED TRUCK HOPING TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE GOING AND BUYING A NEW PART THAT I COULD NOT RETURN. UP UNTILL THIS POINT EVERY THING THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED ON THIS TRUCK WAS FACTORY GM PARTS. THAT INCLUDES NORMAL WEAR PARTS SUCH AS BRAKE PADS, OIL FILTERS, BRAKE ROTORS, ALTENATORS (3), WINDSHEILD WIPER MOTORS (BEFORE THE RECALL), RADIATOR TANK, DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS, DOOR HANDLE, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING. I KNOW ALL OF THAT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR PART BUT ONCE I STARTED I JUST COULD NOT HARDLY QUIT.

NHTSA ODI #10056845

50,000 miles · Feb 9, 2004
Steering

MY VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING WILL OVERCOMPENSATE FOR CURVES CAUSING AN UNSAFE LOSS OF STEERING. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND BOTH DIRECTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10056821

95,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10054993

117,000 miles · Jan 26, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TIGHTEN THEN SUDDENLY RELEASE. THIS IS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE EVO SENOR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10055824

162,000 miles · Jan 23, 2004
StructureInjury

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CARGO DOORS HAD A HOOK ATTACHED TO THE CENTER UPPER EDGE OF THE TOP TRACK. THE CONSUMER STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE HOOK, KNOCKING HIMSELF UNCONSCIOUS. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO …

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THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CARGO DOORS HAD A HOOK ATTACHED TO THE CENTER UPPER EDGE OF THE TOP TRACK. THE CONSUMER STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE HOOK, KNOCKING HIMSELF UNCONSCIOUS. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE PAVEMENT BY THE DOOR LATCH HOOK THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE ENTRANCE WAY OF THE SIDE COMPARTMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10051837

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Steering

VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING CONTROL DURING SHORT OR LONG RIGHT HAND TURNS. THE WHEEL SKIPS OR MOVES ON ITS OWN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT THE WHEEL. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054216

71,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Steering

WHEN TURNING LEFT VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053931

65,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Steering

1997 CHEVROLET 1500 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP 2WD WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT THE POWER ASSIST BOOST INCREASES CAUSING THE TRUCK TO QUICKLY TURN TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVEN'T KNOWN WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. IT HAPPENS QUICKLY AND I HAVE TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL.…

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1997 CHEVROLET 1500 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP 2WD WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT THE POWER ASSIST BOOST INCREASES CAUSING THE TRUCK TO QUICKLY TURN TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVEN'T KNOWN WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. IT HAPPENS QUICKLY AND I HAVE TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL. I NOTICED THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE 1996 AND 1997 CARS BUT HAVE HAD THIS IDENTICAL OVER ASSIST PROBLEM ON MY TRUCK. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10052991

75,000 miles · Jan 10, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT LOW SPEED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD WHILE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10052803

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.