IllustrationFRONT ROTORS BECAME WARPED AT 9000 MILES,REAR BRAKE SEALS LEAK AT 26000 MILES,FRONT DIFFERENTIALS SEALS LEAK(BOTH)
1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck
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 Chevrolet Truck 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: 6 of 48 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
48 reportsREAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL, CAUSING SLIDING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. FRONT CALIPERS WOULD LOCK UP, AND NO BRAKES/WORE OUT. DEALER CONTACTED SEVEN TIMES. UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE TURNING RIGHT.
PLACEMENT OF THE TAIL-STOP LIGHTS ON CHEVROLET AND GMC VANS ARE TOO HIGH ON VEHICLE TO BE SEEN.
ENGINE SMOKES EACH TIME BEFORE THE TRUCK CUT OFF.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HELD FOOT ON BRAKES AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE ABS CAME ON, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. VEHICLE STILL WAS GOING. THIS BRAKE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *AK
THE DESIGN OF POWER DOOR LOCK CONTROL IS INCONVENIENT.
BRAKE PROBLEM, BRAKES OVERHEAT TO THE POINT THEIR ABLE TO BE SMELLED.
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
1EA98024 · Fuel Leaks From The Vapor Canister
Opened Nov 10, 1998 · Closed Apr 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
In January 1998, GM issued the technical service bulletin describing conditions which may result in fuel leakage from the emission vapor canister.According to the bulletin, when the subject vehicles are parked on an incline, with a full tank of gasoline, fuel can flow into the vapor canister.The remedy is to replace of the vapor canister, both rollover valve assembles, and the associated piping.In April 1998, ODI opened Service Query 98-005 to understand GM's rationale for issuance of a service bulletin on a matter that appeared to result in fuel leakage, an issue that is usually address by conducting a safety recall campaign.On November 10, 1998 the SQ was elevated to an Engineering Analysis (EA98-024) to investigate an alleged defect in the fuel tank rollover valve system in certain 1996 through 1997 Chevrolet Trucks and OMC Full Size 010-030 panel and passenger vans.