IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY FOR THIS DEFECT WHICH EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY, 2004. OWNER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY, 2004. *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
Visibility complaints
38 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS UNDETERMINED.*AK
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR BECOME INOPERATIVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.
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
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY THE CONSUMER HAS MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, CAUSING POOR DRIVER VISIBILITY. VEHICLE WASS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. CURRENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE IN ANY CONDITION. THE EDEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE EALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *JB
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.