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1997 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 64 of 272 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.

  • Steering. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

57 reports
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156,800 miles · Jan 14, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVisibility

CONSUMER STATED TAILGATE CABLES CORRODED. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL FAIL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH TAILGATE CABLES FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10102028

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 SILVERADO EXT CAB FLEET SIDE. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN I'M BRAKING. ALSO IT'S VERY HESITANT IN PICKING UP SPEED WHEN PASSING EVEN WITH MAJOR TUNE-UPS AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS ONLY TO BE SERVICED. I'M CONSTANTLY PURCHASING FRONT TIRES FOR MY TRUCK, …

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I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 SILVERADO EXT CAB FLEET SIDE. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN I'M BRAKING. ALSO IT'S VERY HESITANT IN PICKING UP SPEED WHEN PASSING EVEN WITH MAJOR TUNE-UPS AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS ONLY TO BE SERVICED. I'M CONSTANTLY PURCHASING FRONT TIRES FOR MY TRUCK, WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENTS BEING DONE OFTEN WITH THE PURCHASE OF THESE TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058675

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE PEDAL SURGE ON MY 1997 SILVERADO EXT-CAB K-1500 Z71. UNDER LIGHT BRAKING CONDITIONS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY ENGAGE FOLLOWED BY SHORT INTERVALS OF PRESSURE/LOSS OF PRESSURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPS. I HAVE NEVER LOST (AT LEAST UNTIL THIS POINT IN TIME) COMPLETE BRAKE PRESSURE. THE SECON…

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I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE PEDAL SURGE ON MY 1997 SILVERADO EXT-CAB K-1500 Z71. UNDER LIGHT BRAKING CONDITIONS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY ENGAGE FOLLOWED BY SHORT INTERVALS OF PRESSURE/LOSS OF PRESSURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPS. I HAVE NEVER LOST (AT LEAST UNTIL THIS POINT IN TIME) COMPLETE BRAKE PRESSURE. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE BRAKE SURGE IS NOT PRESENT. IN THIS CASE, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THE BRAKE PROBLEMS OCCUR EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN (DRY AND WET CONDITIONS). I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SERVICED TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH, AND MY DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO START REPLACING BRAKE COMPONENT BY COMPONENT UNTIL IT IS SOLVED ($$$). THEIR COMMENT TO ME IS THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM (THAT'S THE AREA THAT MY DEALER IS FOCUSING ON) IS A POOR DESIGN BY GM.

NHTSA ODI #10069825

36,500 miles · Jul 16, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THERE WAS A MOTOR RUNNING THAT WAS VIBRATIING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW ABS BURNING RED CHERRY HOT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029404

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES ABS BRAKE MODULE STILL RUN AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO UNDER HOOD AND PULL FUSE. DEALER HAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #8023955

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DON'T HOLD. THEN THEIRS A KNOCKING NOISE AND BRAKES WILL ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023235

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE WAS CREEPING FOWARD, CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER COULD HEAR VACUUM HISSING WHEN PRESSING BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018949

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8018597

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGE…

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THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGED $2,600.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT DOES THE SAME THING AND NOW LEAKS FLUID. THE HOTTER THE TRANSMISSION GETS, THE WORSE IT PERFORMS. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE EVENLY ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS EVIDENT ON THE UNUSUAL WEAR TO THE REAR BRAKES. ON AN EMERGENCY STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. IN THE PAST THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WEIGHT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE BATTLED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK. FINALLY EVERTHING MENTIONED GAVE OUT, THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE TRUCK HAS TO MANY MILES. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE CONCERNS, FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS, WRITINGS BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHAT OK ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE IN WRITING. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED MY RESPONSE, BUT DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #767029

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567299

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.

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