IllustrationTRUCK WAS IN PARK AND 4WD LOW PARKED O A 14 DEGREE HILL WITH ENGINE FACIANG UP THE ROAD; TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF PARK WHILE OPERATOR WAS BEHIND THE TRUCK AND ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL.
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
What owners actually said
272 reportsCONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE MAKING LOUD NOISE SOUNDS WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE AIR INTAKE VALVE WHICH THEY CAN REPAIR, BUT WILL VOID ENGINE WARRANTY IF THEY REPAIR IT. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, AIR WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. FAILURE. *AK
NOISE IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUALLY.
WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE RUBS AGAINST THE FRAME AND THE SWAY BAR, WHICH EATS UP THE TIRE. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL AND THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER STATES THE SAME. *AK
WHEELS BENDING WHEN HAULING, WHEELS ARE CONSTRUCTED TOO SOFT IN THE MIDDLE RESULTING IN DAMAGE.
ENGINE IDLES VERY HIGH RPM'S ON OCCASIONS.
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER 'S AIRBAGS OR STANDARD PASSENGER ON/OFF SWITCH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CK 1500/SILVERADO. A PLASTIC BAG WAS PICKED UP ON THE DRIVESHAFT AND TRAVELED TO THE REAR END AND GOT INTO THE REAR AXLE SEAL AND ALL OF THE REAR END OIL WAS LOST. THE REAR END LOCKED UP. COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY INTO OTHER LANES. DEALER REPLACED STEERING SENSORS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.