IllustrationSPEED SENSOR FAILED, PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
8 reportsTRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FAILED, SHORT CIRCUIT FUSE CAUSED FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. INJECTOR FAILED. WATER PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSIO…
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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FAILED, SHORT CIRCUIT FUSE CAUSED FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. INJECTOR FAILED. WATER PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT ASIST IN REPAIRS. *SLC
WAS DRIVING STRAIHT AND THE TRUCK TOOK OFF ALL BY ITSELF...THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, CAUSING A COLLISION.*AK
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 )
CONSUMER STEPPED ON GAS AND AS HE STARTED TO PICK UP SPEED, THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKKWARDS, GAVE AWAY COMPLETELY. CONSUMER SLIGHTLY INJURED HIS SHOULDER AND BACK. *AK
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 50MPH AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 90MPH THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. OWNER HAD TO LITERALLY STAND ON THE BRAKES, AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. THE WHEELS WERE STILL SPINNING EVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. WHEN CAR WAS STARTE…
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THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 50MPH AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 90MPH THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. OWNER HAD TO LITERALLY STAND ON THE BRAKES, AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. THE WHEELS WERE STILL SPINNING EVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. WHEN CAR WAS STARTED BACK UP THE WHEELS WERE STILL SPINNING AT A HIGH RATE. DEALER HAD FIXED THE VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK
ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH RPM'S ON OCCASIONS.
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.