IllustrationMASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION WITH SEVERAL INJURIES. YH
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 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
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 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL FAILED.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TRUCK SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING DRIVER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. DRIVER HAD PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WITH…
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ABS BRAKE FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TRUCK SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING DRIVER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. DRIVER HAD PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WITH MAJOR BUMPER DAMAGE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, AIR WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. FAILURE. *AK
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WAS AT DEALER PRIOR TO BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED 5 OTHER TIMES BEFORE. *AK
THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES (ABS) HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL; STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN FOOT ON BRAKES; W/FOOT OFF BRAKES, ABLE TO STEER OR TURN. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED IT'S THE NEW STEERING SYSTEM IN PLACE. TOLD MANUFACTURER NOTHING WAS WRONG. *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.