IllustrationWHEN GOING 10 MPH OR LESS, APPLYING THE BRAKES EITHER PRODUCES A VERY HARD PEDAL OR ANTI-LOCKS KICK IN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON DRY ROADS WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE PEDAL PRESSURE. WAS INSTRUCTED THAT ONLY 1999 AND NEWER SILVERADOS ARE INCLUDED IN A CAMPAIGN. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 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: 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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
57 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGED WHILE STOPPING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH OR LESS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGED WHILE STOPPING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH OR LESS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A PARKING PLACE OR SLOWING DOWN, AND WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES WILL BECOME STIFF AND WILL PULSATE. *AK
DT: THE CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM ON DECEMBER 1, 2004 WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, THERE IS A RECALL BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ABS SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE. CAN HEAR A MOANING SOUND WHEN IT ACTIVATES. THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE.…
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DT: THE CONSUMER NOTICED A PROBLEM ON DECEMBER 1, 2004 WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, THERE IS A RECALL BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ABS SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE. CAN HEAR A MOANING SOUND WHEN IT ACTIVATES. THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE. THERE IS NO FOREWARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED IT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND NOW IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. *AK
DT: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36, 000 MILES. HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THERE NEEDED TO BE A RECALL ON OLD…
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DT: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36, 000 MILES. HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THERE NEEDED TO BE A RECALL ON OLDER VEHICLES REGARDING ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *AK
THE REAR BRAKE LINE (STEEL) ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISHED BRAKING ABILITY. THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL ALONGSIDE THE FUEL TANK, WAS REPLACED AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND IS NOW IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS IN…
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THE REAR BRAKE LINE (STEEL) ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISHED BRAKING ABILITY. THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL ALONGSIDE THE FUEL TANK, WAS REPLACED AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND IS NOW IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO (2) INSTANCES RECENTLY AT THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE SAME BRAKE LINE ON 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUPS FAILED DUE TO RUST. I NOTED THAT MY FAILED BRAKE LINE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RUSTED IN THE AREA OF THE FAILURE. *NM
THE ISSUE THAT HAS JUST CAUSED THE 800,000 VEHICLE RECALL FOR GM, THE ISSUE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, IS ON VEHICLES OLDER THAN THE 1999. I HAVE A 1997 SILVERADO AND WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS, IT STARTED HAPPENING IN 1999 AND GOT WORSE OVER TIME. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AN…
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THE ISSUE THAT HAS JUST CAUSED THE 800,000 VEHICLE RECALL FOR GM, THE ISSUE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, IS ON VEHICLES OLDER THAN THE 1999. I HAVE A 1997 SILVERADO AND WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS, IT STARTED HAPPENING IN 1999 AND GOT WORSE OVER TIME. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AND THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR THAT TRIGGERS THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKES, AT A COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. THEY SAID THIS SENSOR GETS DIRTY AND THEN FAILS. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY THE RECALL IS ONLY GOING BACK TO THE 1999 MODELS WHEN IN FACT THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN OLDER MODELS AS WELL, AS I SAID MINE IS A 1997 SILVERADO.*JB
DT: WHILE GOING AT A SLOW SPEED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AND THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND DO A COMPUTER CODE CHECK, BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. HAD TO DEACTIVATE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *NM *NM
CONSUMER STATES: ABS BRAKES ACTIVATED WHILE STOPPING AT LOW SPEED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SB *NM
DT: THE ABS IS KICKING IN WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING. THE ABS ONLY KICKS ON ON LOW SPEEDS LIKE 5-15 MPH, PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT OR STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. THE ABS IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE. IT STARTS MAKING A ANTI-LOCK BRAKING NOISE WHEN THE ABS KICKS ON. TOOK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALE…
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DT: THE ABS IS KICKING IN WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING. THE ABS ONLY KICKS ON ON LOW SPEEDS LIKE 5-15 MPH, PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT OR STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. THE ABS IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE. IT STARTS MAKING A ANTI-LOCK BRAKING NOISE WHEN THE ABS KICKS ON. TOOK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND HE TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS THE ABS RIGHT OFF.*AK
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.