IllustrationFRONT BRAKE PADS WERE MAKING NOISE, INNER BRAKE PADS WILL GO OUT BEFORE CONSUMER WILL NOTICE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATED FRONT PADS NEVER MADE ANY NOISE, UNTIL FRONT PAD INNER SIDE WORE OUTAND FELL OFF, WHEEL CYLINDER HIT ROTOR TO STOP SWERVE.*SLC
1997 Chevrolet C/K 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/k Series years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 3 of 4 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
1 reportsOfficial 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
1EA01013 · Vacuum Brake Booster Failure
Opened May 22, 2001 · Closed Dec 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ODI UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO CONDUCT A FULL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, INCLUDING TESTING.THE TESTING AND ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT A TORN DIAPHRAGM IS A SLOW PROGRESSIVE TYPE OF FAILURE.THE TEAR PROPAGATES IN A SLOW METHODICAL MANNER AND BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS SIMILAR TO AN UNTORN UNIT UNTIL THE TEAR EXCEEDS 1/2 INCH.ODI'S TESTING INDICATES THAT TEARS GREATER THAN 1/2 INCH REQUIRED INCREASED PEDAL EFFORT.HOWEVER, AS THE LENGTH OF THE TEAR INCREASED BEYOND 1/2 INCH, A HISSING SOUND COULD BE HEARD EMITTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHERE THE MASTER CYLINDER PLUNGER PASSED THROUGH THE FIREWALL. ODI HAS DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ODI'S COMPLETE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS WITH TEST DATA IS ATTACHED.