1997 Chevrolet Silverado recalls & problems
The 1997 Chevrolet Silverado has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 272 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (67 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints272filed by owners
Crashes · fires16 · 6reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths20 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado.
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc | 67 | 70,000 mi |
| Steering Hydraulic power assist system; Steering wheel/handle bar | 60 | 57,000 mi |
| Visibility Windshield wiper/washer › Motor; Windshield wiper/washer | 39 | 92,000 mi |
| Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch | 38 | 65,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine | 22 | 63,500 mi |
| Suspension Front; Rear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly | 21 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system › Injectors | 21 | 116,353 mi |
| Electrical system Wiring; Wiring › Interior/under dash | 16 | 27,500 mi |
| Seats Front assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Power adjust | 13 | 90,000 mi |
| Tires Tread/belt | 9 | — |
| Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module | 8 | — |
| Vehicle speed control Cruise control; Linkages | 8 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jan 17, 2015 · 144,289 miles · 1 injuryAir bags
PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WARMING UP, BAG ENGAGED. LEFT EAR HURT BY BLAST AND RINGING IN LEFT EAR. *TR - Jan 14, 2010 · 89,000 milesEngine
ENGINE IS A 6.5 TURBO DIESEL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED SO HAVE NO PREVIOUS HISTORY WHETHER IT HAPPENED BEFORE I OWNED IT. VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, OCCASIONALLY AT FIRST. IT WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT HAD TO SIT FOR A WHILE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN YEARS PREVIOUS TO 2010 INTERMITTENTLY BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT IN 2010- 2011. DIDN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING, IT WOULD QUIT ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 75 MPH OR IN DRIVEWAY GOING 5 MPH. SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND IMMEDIATELY LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE KEY OFF. ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP IT WHEN… - Oct 10, 2006 · 30,000 milesElectrical system
APPROXIMATELY IN 2006, WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES, I NOTICED ANTIFREEZE POOLING UNDER MY 1097 SILVERADO PICKUP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RADIATOR WAS AGAIN LEAKING. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES UNTIL THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT HE WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND EXPLAINED THAT THE 1997 SILVERADO PICKUP WAS KNOWN FOR A CONDITION CALLED. ELECTROLYSIS. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE AFTER EACH TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE. I STARTED TO REMOVING THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND WITHIN 3 WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM. I THEN… - Jun 12, 2014 · 187,600 miles · fireLatches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER LOCKS AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,600. UPDATED 9/29/14*CN UPDATED 2/26/2015 *JS - Jul 15, 2009 · 90,000 milesService brakes
BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO ON LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS REPAIRED, EVERY SINCE THIS HAPPENED BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SPONGY STOPPING POWER IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE OR SHOULD BE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT CALIPERS,ROTORS,PADS,MASTER CYLINDER,POWERBRAKE BOOSTER,REAR DRUMS, SHOES,CYLINDERS,EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE .CANNOT GET THE AIR OUT OF BRAKE SYSTEM VERY ANNOYING SITUATION AND DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP TRUCK VERY QUICKLY DUE TO SPONGY BRAKES. *TR - Jul 6, 2008 · 100,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic
WHEN 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 - Jul 8, 2007 · 89,000 milesVisibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDOW WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A CRACKED JOINT IN THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. - Dec 1, 2005 · 112,000 miles · 1 injuryStructure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000 CONCERNING THE TAILGATE: HINGES: ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.