IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED IN THE RAIN. *AK *SC *JB
1997 Chevrolet C Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C Series 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: 8 of 22 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.
- Visibility. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
22 reportsCONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO POWER ASSIST FAILURE. ALSO, THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE VEERED IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE POWER ASSIST FAILED MOMENTARILY. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BAD STEE…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO POWER ASSIST FAILURE. ALSO, THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE VEERED IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE POWER ASSIST FAILED MOMENTARILY. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BAD STEERING SENSOR.*AK *LA
WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UNPON IMPACT ON A TREE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WORKING FOR NO REASON, TURNING THEM OFF AND ON, WIGGLING THE SWITCH, AND OTHER ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THEM WORK AGAIN FAIL, EXCEPT FOR MANUALLY PULLING ON THE WIPERS OR HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE MAY NOT START UP FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT MOMENT. PROBLEM HAS TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT POSSIBLY THE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD. * THE WIRING HARNESS COVER OVERHEATS AND IS STARTING TO CRACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR…
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INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE MAY NOT START UP FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT MOMENT. PROBLEM HAS TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT POSSIBLY THE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD. * THE WIRING HARNESS COVER OVERHEATS AND IS STARTING TO CRACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR. FLUSHED CONDENSER. REPLACED EXPANSTION TUBE. AT ONE TIME THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED. BROKEN BOLTS ON RIGHT STEP REPLACED AND STRAIGHTENED BENT BRACKETS. *TT
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STARTED STALLING, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE HAD CUT OFF.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS WOULD ENGAGE AND FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BACK UP INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTANTLY, MOSTLY OFF. CAN WIGGLE WIRES OR TAP MOTOR AND THEY WILL COME ON FOR FEW MINUTES, THEN OFF AGAIN. KNOW OF MSNY INCIDENTS OF SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEV AND GMC PICKUPS OF SIMILAR MODEL YEARS.
FUEL GUAGE GIVES FALSE READING DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER. YH
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.