IllustrationTHE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MAKES A GRINDIND NOISE AND DOES NOT STOP THE TRUCK PROPERLY.I HAVE DRIVEN PAST DRIVEWAYS AND ALMOST WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WORK FOR THE CITY SO GETTING TO WORK TO PLOW IS IMPORTANT, BUT I CANT TRUST THE TRUCK TO GET ME THERE SAFELY
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 reportsWOULD 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
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DOESNT WORK CORRECTLY WHEN IT IS RAINING. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH,ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD THEN FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISM WORE OUT. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART ONLY LA…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH,ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD THEN FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISM WORE OUT. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART ONLY LASTED 8000 MILES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN SERVICING IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE FUEL PUMP.*AK
WHILE 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
WINDSHIELD 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.
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
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
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.