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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.

About this comparison →
272Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
210
1994263
1995186
1996272
1997279
19981,660
19991,305
2000
Compare all Silverado years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
59Service Brakes, Hydraulic
57Visibility
38Power Train
35Engine And Engine Cooling
20
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
20Suspension
19Electrical System
16Seats
13Air Bags
8Tires
8Vehicle Speed Control
8Structure
7Wheels
6Fuel System, Other
5Unknown Or Other
5Equipment
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Seat Belts
4Service Brakes, Air
4Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes
1

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

Structure complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
112,000 miles · Mar 10, 2006
StructureInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000 CONCERNING THE TAILGATE: HINGES: ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000 CONCERNING THE TAILGATE: HINGES: ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10152421

60,000 miles · May 3, 2005
StructureCrashInjury

WOULD LIKE TO FILE COMPLAINT ON THE FRAME WORK OF 1997 1/2 TON CHEVROLET PICK-UP. HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR, CAUSING LIFE LONG DISABILITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10119458

99,965 miles · Jan 21, 2005
Structure

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10108593

112,000 miles · Jan 15, 2005
Structure

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ON BOTH SIDES HAVE ROTTED OUT AND SNAPPED CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO NO LONGER BE ABLE TO BE IN DOWN POSITION FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106381

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

85,125 miles · Nov 22, 2004
Structure

THE CABLES FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THIS TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE LIFTGATE CABLES. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE PICKUP AND PUT THE TAILGATE DOWN AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CABLE HAD A BULGE. THE CABLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND ONLY THE RUBBER WAS HOLDING IT TOGET…

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THE CABLES FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THIS TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE LIFTGATE CABLES. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS CLEANING THE PICKUP AND PUT THE TAILGATE DOWN AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CABLE HAD A BULGE. THE CABLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND ONLY THE RUBBER WAS HOLDING IT TOGETHER. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10099090

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Power TrainStructureFire

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862781

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems

Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems →Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems →