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1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

About this comparison →
555Owner complaints

Model-year median: 525

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
10
19943
19957
1996555
1997361
1998587
1999614
2000
Compare all Silverado 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
140Service Brakes, Hydraulic
123Visibility
75Power Train
57Fuel System, Gasoline
45
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
35Suspension
34Electrical System
28Air Bags
16Seats
13Structure
12Vehicle Speed Control
9Equipment
8Seat Belts
8Latches/locks/linkages
7Fuel System, Other
6Service Brakes
5Service Brakes, Air
4Tires
4Exterior Lighting
3Unknown Or Other
3Visibility/wiper
3Fuel System, Diesel
2Interior Lighting
2Service Brakes, Electric
2Wheels
2Engine
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

147 reports with mileage · 408 unknown

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 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 123 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports13 fire reports13 injury reports

Steering complaints

140 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Steering

WHEN TRAVELING 10 MPH THE ROD THAT IS HOOKED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND THE TIRES, POPPED OUT OF PLACE, PREVENTING THE CONSUMER FROM MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO OPERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, VEHICLE AWAITING SERVIC…

Read full complaint

WHEN TRAVELING 10 MPH THE ROD THAT IS HOOKED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND THE TIRES, POPPED OUT OF PLACE, PREVENTING THE CONSUMER FROM MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO OPERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, VEHICLE AWAITING SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI #824686

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1998
Steering

EVO STEERING SENSOR FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #536938

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1998
Steering

WHILE MAKING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, STEERING BOX LETS GO & THEN GRABS. SOMETIMES IT LOCKS UP. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM EXISTS & WAS CHANGED IN 25 OTHER VEHICLES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS EVEN THOUGH GEAR BOX HAD BEEN REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #822901

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
SteeringCrash

ABOUT 500 MILES THE POWER STEERING WILL ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, RESULTING IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822628

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1998
Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE . THE DEALER HAS PUT IN A STEERING SOLENOID AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. OWNER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822299

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1998
Steering

STEERING SENSOR CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #533540

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1998
Steering

CANNOT TURN THE STEERING MORE THAN 2 INCHES EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533347

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure

DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET BROKE FIVE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #531140

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1997
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE POWER ASSIST WILL GO TO FULL ASSIST WHEN TURNING, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN HIGHWAY IS SNOW COVERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #526329

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1997
Steering

LOOSENESS IN STEERING MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO TURN, NEW STEERING GEAR HAS HELPED, HOWEVER PROBLEM NOT SOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #524593

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.