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1997 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 64 of 272 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 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Seats complaints

13 reports
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101,000 miles · Dec 2, 2005
SeatsCrashInjury

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A FORD F-150 GOING 20-40 MPH ESTIMATED. BOTH MY SON AND I WERE HURLED BACKWARDS BECAUSE THE SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WE BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES TO OUR NECKS AND BACKS. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED OR THE SEATS WOULDN'T HAVE COLLAPSED WE WOULD HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY …

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I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A FORD F-150 GOING 20-40 MPH ESTIMATED. BOTH MY SON AND I WERE HURLED BACKWARDS BECAUSE THE SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WE BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES TO OUR NECKS AND BACKS. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED OR THE SEATS WOULDN'T HAVE COLLAPSED WE WOULD HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INJURIES. I BELIEVE THESE SEATS HAVE A POTENTIAL OF BEING DANGEROUS AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY BEFORE SOME ELSE GETS INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10144195

70,325 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Seats

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH,ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD THEN FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISM WORE OUT. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART ONLY LA…

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WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH,ON THE HIGHWAY LEFT FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD THEN FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISM WORE OUT. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART ONLY LASTED 8000 MILES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10113398

123,000 miles · Sep 1, 2004
Seats

AT 123,000 MILES CONSUMER HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. CURRENTLY, AT 144,000 MILES THE SEAT FRAME BROKE AGAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090201

90,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Seats

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK. SEAT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057501

93,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Seats

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT STARTED SLIDING BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACK. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE ENTIRE SEAT BACK FELL BACKWARDS, AND CONSUMER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048353

71,321 miles · Oct 27, 2003
Seats

STARTED FROM STOP AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS. I WAS HOLDING ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS I FELL BACK MY FOOT CAME OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SLID FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP IN TIME TO HIT BRAKE AND AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT. I DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURY. SEAT IS NOW BROKEN. BACK WILL…

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STARTED FROM STOP AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS. I WAS HOLDING ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS I FELL BACK MY FOOT CAME OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SLID FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP IN TIME TO HIT BRAKE AND AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT. I DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURY. SEAT IS NOW BROKEN. BACK WILL NOT STAY UP AND BOTTOM WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. CANNOT DRIVE THE TRUCK SAFELY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10043674

69,000 miles · Dec 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Other

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL GIVES AND CAUSES TEMPORARY STEERING LOSS. TS THE VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES, THE PCV VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE #2 AND #3 HEAT SHIELDS IN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS REPAIRED AND NOW THE 4 LOW GEAR IS INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE FUEL P…

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WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL GIVES AND CAUSES TEMPORARY STEERING LOSS. TS THE VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES, THE PCV VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE #2 AND #3 HEAT SHIELDS IN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS REPAIRED AND NOW THE 4 LOW GEAR IS INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. NOTICEABLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GIVES WHEN BRAKING. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8023926

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2002
Seats

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK DOESN'T LATCH INTO PLACE. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021758

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2001
Seats

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899446

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Seats

SEAT ADJUSTER LEVER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN LIFTING LEVER TO ADJUST SEAT TO EITHER MOVE BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS RAIL CABLES WOULD BE MALFUNCTIONING. IT'S NOT ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE PROPERLY, ALLOWING EXTENDED CAB PORTION TO BE USED. HAD TALKED TO DEALER. INDICATION WAS NO RECALLS OR TSB LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897803

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.

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