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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

Steering complaints

59 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STEERING GETS VERY LOOSE, AND WHEEL FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO COME OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LATER, AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE OWNER FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, THE STEERING POSI…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STEERING GETS VERY LOOSE, AND WHEEL FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO COME OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LATER, AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE OWNER FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR. DEALER NOT WILLING TO MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFIED SENSOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859626

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Steering

EVO VALVE THAT CONTROLS POWER STEERING SECTOR HAS FAILED, CAUSING OVERSTEERING WHEN TURNING CORNERS, OR TURNING STEERING OVER 3 INCHES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859067

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2000
Power TrainSteering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A RIGHT HAND CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO TRY TO TURN RIGHT BY ITSELF. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT STEADY TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719707

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000
SteeringSuspension

WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN VEHICLE WILL JERK. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856699

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Steering

STEERING WHEEL FAILED BECAUSE THE SHAFT IN STEERING CLOLUMN WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE SHAFT GOING TO POWER STEERING PUMP. YH

NHTSA ODI #550527

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashFire

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES AND GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT CLANKS LOUDLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, DOESN'T IDLE CORRECTLY, AND SHUTS OFF. I HAVE HAD IT REBUILT…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES AND GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT CLANKS LOUDLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, DOESN'T IDLE CORRECTLY, AND SHUTS OFF. I HAVE HAD IT REBUILT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION IT EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION IS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 INCH )

NHTSA ODI #717147

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Steering

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, MORE SO WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. VEHICLE BEEN IN FOUR DIFFERENT SHOPS, AND INSPECTED SEVEN TIMES. BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854593

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

DRIVER MUST APPLY BRAKES HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM ACTIVATES & THE ERRATIC POWER STEERING EXPERIENCE FAILURE WHICH RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. *AK *YC

NHTSA ODI #853291

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Steering

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING TO THE LEFT WHEN SPEED REACHES 65-70 MPH; ALSO PROBLEM APPEARS AT 30-35 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852162

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Steering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO TURN BUT THEN IT WOULD SUDDNELY AND VIOLENTLY JERK TO WHICH EVER DIRECTION THE TURN WAS IN. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN IT WOULD JERK AND WHEN IT WOULD NOT. IT FINALLY BECAME SO BAD THAT IT DID IT ALL THE TIME! THIS WAS A VE…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO TURN BUT THEN IT WOULD SUDDNELY AND VIOLENTLY JERK TO WHICH EVER DIRECTION THE TURN WAS IN. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN IT WOULD JERK AND WHEN IT WOULD NOT. IT FINALLY BECAME SO BAD THAT IT DID IT ALL THE TIME! THIS WAS A VERY UPSETTING PROBLEM BECAUSE IF YOU WERE NOT CAREFULL YOU COULD EASILY LOOSE CONTROL AND IN ONEIDA TENN. THERE ARE SOME VERY CURVY ROADS WITH STEEP EMBANKMENT, AND THERE ARE NOT GUARDRAILS ON A LOT OF THERE ROADS. IT WAS VERY DISTRESSING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY STARTED JUST SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPRIED I JUST HAD NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SINCE I HAD NEVER EXPERICENCED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS!!

NHTSA ODI #714085

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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