Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1725–50K
2850–75K
3975–100K
35100–150K
22150K+
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
What owners actually said
555 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE MASTER CYLINDERS ON 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUPS LEAK BRAKE FLUID CONTINUOUSLY AT THE TOP SEAL. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THIS "SWEATING". SWEATING IS WHAT HUMANS DO. MASTER CYLINDERS LEAK. EVERY 1997 CHEVY TRUCK I'VE LOOKED AT HAS THIS PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAL OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE…
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THE MASTER CYLINDERS ON 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUPS LEAK BRAKE FLUID CONTINUOUSLY AT THE TOP SEAL. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THIS "SWEATING". SWEATING IS WHAT HUMANS DO. MASTER CYLINDERS LEAK. EVERY 1997 CHEVY TRUCK I'VE LOOKED AT HAS THIS PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAL OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE MASTER CYLINDER. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE FROM BRAKE FAILURE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL NOTICE? *AK
NHTSA ODI #715155
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
STEERING SPEED SENSOR REPLACED TO FIX OVERSTEER PROBLEM; ABS REGULARLY FAIL TO KEEP WHEELS FROM LOCKING UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING; ELECTRONIC 4WD TRANSFER CASE CONTINUES TO STICK IN 4HIGH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER DISENGAGED WITH BUTTON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715153
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Power Train
THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE ADVISOR AT MOLLE CHEVROLET (816) 229-8800, MARK POTTER, SAID IT WOULD BE 7-8 DAYS TO HAVE MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY HAD 7 IN LINE (FOR THE SAME PROBLEM) AHEAD OF MINE!!! BY THE WAY, I HAVE ONLY HAD MY 4-WD ENGAGED ON SIX OR 7 OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED IT (NEW) IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. I…
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THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE ADVISOR AT MOLLE CHEVROLET (816) 229-8800, MARK POTTER, SAID IT WOULD BE 7-8 DAYS TO HAVE MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY HAD 7 IN LINE (FOR THE SAME PROBLEM) AHEAD OF MINE!!! BY THE WAY, I HAVE ONLY HAD MY 4-WD ENGAGED ON SIX OR 7 OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED IT (NEW) IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. I HAVE NEVER "4-WHEELED" IT. I HAVE ONLY ENGAGED 4-WD ONCE IN THE MUD. THE OTHER 5-6 TIMES THE 4-WD WAS ENGAGED WAS IN LIGHT SNOW (CENTRAL MISSOURI). GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715152
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Steering
HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEERING SPEED SENSORS? THIS IS A WELL-KNOW PROBLEM IN 1997 AND 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCKS. THE DEALER CALLS THIS A 6.624 STEERING SENSOR FAILURE; PART NUMBER 26064468. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES WHEN CORNERING. I THINK IT IS DEPL…
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HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEERING SPEED SENSORS? THIS IS A WELL-KNOW PROBLEM IN 1997 AND 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCKS. THE DEALER CALLS THIS A 6.624 STEERING SENSOR FAILURE; PART NUMBER 26064468. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES WHEN CORNERING. I THINK IT IS DEPLORABLE FOR GM TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS TRUELY A LIFE-THREATENING COMPONENT FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715149
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire
A MARK VIII, WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION LEAK, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISS…
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A MARK VIII, WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION LEAK, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #853096
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Suspension
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS DRIFTING FROM LANE TO LANE DUE A FRONTALIGNMENT PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER, THE CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT WITH BOTH HANDS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING AND JERKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848272
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 1999
Steering
WHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING, STEERING PULLS WITH A QUICK MOTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #714650
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Suspension
DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OUTSIDE SIDEVIEW POWER MIRRORS WILL SHAKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACUTRER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #852212
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
SteeringVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING CHANGES BETWEEN HIGH AN LOW SPEED MODE. NLM
NHTSA ODI #549271
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING, AND THE FLUID LEAKS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS SHIFTING VERY HARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848947
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.
1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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