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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

272 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM. FROM TIRES ,ELECTRIC MIRRORS ,ELECTRIC WINDOWS,CLANKING/BANGING DRIVE SHAFT NOISE AND OTHER LITTLE QUIRKS. THE ONLY THING THAT I FEEL THAT WILL LAST (LONGER THAN MY PAYMENTS) IS THE MOTOR. THE DEALER OF THIS AUTO WASN'T MUCH BETTER; "THEY" JUST SAID THAT IT WAS AG…

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EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM. FROM TIRES ,ELECTRIC MIRRORS ,ELECTRIC WINDOWS,CLANKING/BANGING DRIVE SHAFT NOISE AND OTHER LITTLE QUIRKS. THE ONLY THING THAT I FEEL THAT WILL LAST (LONGER THAN MY PAYMENTS) IS THE MOTOR. THE DEALER OF THIS AUTO WASN'T MUCH BETTER; "THEY" JUST SAID THAT IT WAS AGOOD THING THAT I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!!

NHTSA ODI #713066

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WILL VERVE LEFT OR RIGHT, IN WHATEVER DIRECTION DRIVER IS TRYING TO TURN. FAULTY STEERING SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850268

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

OWNER HAS A HARD TIME STARTING VEHICLE. OWNER HAS TO THROW GASOLINE IN THE THROTTLE BODY IN ORDER TO START. DEALER SAYS VEHICLE NEEDS NEW FUEL PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848757

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO FROM DIFFERENT LANES, AND THERE IS VIBRATION WIHTIN THE STEERING WHEEL. GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. ALSO, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHFITING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO…

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WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO FROM DIFFERENT LANES, AND THERE IS VIBRATION WIHTIN THE STEERING WHEEL. GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. ALSO, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHFITING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO THE SHOP TWO TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848558

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848395

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Steering

THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOSE TENSION. WOULD JERK BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. NOT NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEED, BUT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. BEEN TO DEALER 8 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER IT'S 4-WHEEL FRONT STEERING SENSOR & REPAIRED IT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848179

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1999
Suspension

THE PROBLEM WITH THE "WANDER" IS AT ANY SPEED. THE FRONT END WILL SUDDENDLY PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN EVER I HIT THE MOST SMALLEST OF IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #710873

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL BEOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846410

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Steering

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON ITS ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846338

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES ARE WORN OUT, LEAVING ONLY THE BACK BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT A HIGH SPEED THE TRUCK VIBRATES.THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD EIGHTEEN SETS OF BRAKES AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846158

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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