Model year record

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls & problems

The 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has 1 safety recall and 61 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (30 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints61filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	30	4	0	50,000 mi
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	7	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	6	1	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Gear box (other than rack and pinion)	6	0	0	30,000 mi
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor; Windshield wiper/washer	6	0	0	—
Power trainClutch assembly; Automatic transmission	6	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly	5	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition › Switch	3	0	1	—
Unknown or other	3	1	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Upper ball joint	2	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel system, diesel
TRUCK HAS A DIESEL ENGINE WITH A DEFECTIVE INJECTOR PUMP. ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WITH OUT NOTICE, NO INDICATION, JUST INSTANTLY SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF 5 OR 6 INJECTOR PUMPS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS MARCH 2014. *TR
Jan 22, 1997 · 58,034 miles
Tires
1997 CHEVROLET 3500. WRANGLER HT TIRES (LT245/75R16) WERE DRY ROTTED. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES DID NOT HAVE ANY TREAD LEFT. *JB
Jan 1, 1901
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL ON LOW SPEEDS. AS OF DECEMBER 11, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Jun 1, 2006 · 150,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM IN 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP CK3500.*JB
Sep 10, 2005 · 65,000 miles
Tires › Tread/belt
COMPLAINT IS FOR A TIRE PLY FAILURE ON A FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RMT TIRE SIZE LT235/85-R16
Jul 15, 2005
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
DT: CONTACT STATES THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE, AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. THEN HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM HIS VEHICLE DID QUALIFY BUT HIS VEHICLE HAD MORE THAN 70000 MILES, AND THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000. THE CONTACT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE AS THIS RECALL STATES: ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE CONTACT HAD THE PART…
Apr 1, 2002
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY 3500 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THEY SEEM TO COME ON AT SLOW SPEEDS UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAD THEM REPLACED 1 TIME AT A COST OF $700, HOWEVER WITHIN 3 MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECUERRED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPAIRING THEM AS UPON TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLES BY GM THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THE SOLUTION TO WHICH IS TO REMOVE THE ABS FUSE RENDERING THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS 1999-2001. WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT IS ALSO COMMON TO VEHICLES MADE BEFORE 1999. THERE MAY NOT BE MAY COMPLAINTS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE PULL THE FUSE AND…
Mar 1, 1998
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON MAKING A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE THEN SURGED FORWARD. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING DISENGAGED, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND THAT A CLIP BROKE WHICH LEFT THE BRAKE PEDAL SWINGING. *AK THE CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BROKE ALLOWING THE ROD TO SLIP OFF. *NM
Mar 3, 2005 · 235,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

REAR AXLE SEPARATION FROM VEHICLEClosed
THE SINGLE CONSUMER COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY NHTSA REPORTED AN INCIDENT IN WHICH APPLICATION OF THE SERVICE BRAKES OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE PRECIPITATED AN UNFOREWARNED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AS THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE.INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT REAR DUAL WHEELS HAD JAMMED INTO THE FENDER WELL AS THE AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY.THE NUTS WERE REPORTED MISSING FROM THE TWO U-BOLTS WHICH CLAMP THE REAR AXLE TO THE LEAF SPRINGS.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A VEHICLE WITH A REPORTED ODOMETER READING OF 397 MILES.NO ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE RECEIVED BY THIS AGENCY SINCE THIS PE WAS INITIATED.INQUIRY TO THE MANUFACTURER DISCLOSED NO OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OR FIELD REPORTS OF SIMILAR NATURE, AND THREE WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIALLY…
PE97001 · opened Jan 17, 1997 · closed May 29, 1997