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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

What owners actually said

272 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGE…

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THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGED $2,600.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT DOES THE SAME THING AND NOW LEAKS FLUID. THE HOTTER THE TRANSMISSION GETS, THE WORSE IT PERFORMS. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE EVENLY ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS EVIDENT ON THE UNUSUAL WEAR TO THE REAR BRAKES. ON AN EMERGENCY STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. IN THE PAST THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WEIGHT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE BATTLED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK. FINALLY EVERTHING MENTIONED GAVE OUT, THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE TRUCK HAS TO MANY MILES. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE CONCERNS, FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS, WRITINGS BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHAT OK ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE IN WRITING. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED MY RESPONSE, BUT DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #767029

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017693

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567299

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALL WHEN REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURE. PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017519

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017377

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THERE'S A GRINDING NOISE, BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN FURTHER THAN NORMAL, BUT WILL STOP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017328

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES WERE PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.*YH

NHTSA ODI #786430

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2002
Air BagsElectrical System

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MODULE MALFUNCTION WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER FUTHER DISMANTLING THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE WAS D…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MODULE MALFUNCTION WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER FUTHER DISMANTLING THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE LEFT COWL AREA. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GMC SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR NOT HAVING ADEQUATE SEALING TO PREVENT WATER FROM SEEPING INTO THE COWL AREA. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8014331

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE IN USE.*AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8013763

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGE WITH NO PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. (FRONT AND RIGHT) THERE IS A SLIGHT PULSATING AT 35 MPH THAT GETS SHARP AND ACUTE AT 55 MPH. UPON INSPECTION RIGHT OUTER DISC PAD WAS MISSING THE LOWER 1 1/2 INCH OF PAD. ALL BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PULL HAS HAPPEN…

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VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGE WITH NO PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. (FRONT AND RIGHT) THERE IS A SLIGHT PULSATING AT 35 MPH THAT GETS SHARP AND ACUTE AT 55 MPH. UPON INSPECTION RIGHT OUTER DISC PAD WAS MISSING THE LOWER 1 1/2 INCH OF PAD. ALL BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PULL HAS HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THE PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALER CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8012195

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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