CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK · model year

1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK

53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK is steering:hydraulic power assist system with 10 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (7) and power train:automatic transmission (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

53
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

53 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
STEERING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1

Recent Complaints

20071105POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED TUNE-UPS AND SERVICES. I RECENTLY LOST MY TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ALMOST 95 OUT OF A 100 BUYERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD THE CHEVY CORP. BE ABLE TO SELL YOU SOMETHING AND MONTHS LATER THAT TRANS GO OUT AND ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS IT COMMON. *TR

Mileage: 177,520

20071105POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED TUNE-UPS AND SERVICES. I RECENTLY LOST MY TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ALMOST 95 OUT OF A 100 BUYERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD THE CHEVY CORP. BE ABLE TO SELL YOU SOMETHING AND MONTHS LATER THAT TRANS GO OUT AND ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS IT COMMON. *TR

Mileage: 177,520

20070828STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET Z71. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED WHEN HE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. HE HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

Mileage: 191,000

20070625POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS IS TO INFORM YOU OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 1997 AND UP GM TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS, THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE HARD SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, AND THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN OVERDRIVE. IN THIS TRUCK THE TACHOMETER USUALLY IS AT 1500-1600 RPMS 65 MPH, BUT WITH THE MIL LIGHT, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, IT IS RUNNING AT 2000-2100 RPMS, CAUSING MASSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION. *AK THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION THIS IS ALSO THE MAIN CAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED BY THE SLIPPAGE. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS, GOOGLE CODE P01870 REPRESENTS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. *AK JUST GO TO ANY TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AKS THEM HOW MANY OF THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE REBUILT... THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED!!!!! GM SAYS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT THERE IS A TSB FOR IT THE REMEDY IS A TRANSMISSION REBUILD ONLY TO FAIL AGAIN THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE VALVE BODY!! THERE ARE ENOUGH CASES OF THIS PROBLEM

Mileage: 50,000

20051007CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP. A RECALL WAS BEING ISSUED ON GM 1999 -2002 CORROSION ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSORS. THE 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUPS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ANTI LOCK BRAKE CORROSION AS THE 1999-2002 RECALLED VEHICLES. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $1500 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHEN STOPPING AT LESS THAN 3 MPH HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS ONE COULD TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE ANTI LOCKS BRAKES FAILED , AND VEHICLE HIT THE GARAGE DOOR.

Mileage: 56,000

20050902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES APPLY ON DRY ROADS WITH NO REASON. THE BRAKES SHAKE WHEN BEING APPLIED. I HAVE REVIEWED INFORMATION ON YOUR DATABASE WHICH HAVE THIS EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THERE ARE NOT MORE SINCE THE VEHICLES ARE OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND PEOPLE BELIEVE IT TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TARE. IT IS NOT NORMAL. THE ANTI LOCKS ARE OVER SENSITIVE. *AK

Mileage: 65,000

20040911CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

REAR END ACCIDENT DUE TO ABS RELEASING BRAKING ACTION FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS, THUS INCREASING MY BRAKING DISTANCE.*AK

Mileage: 38,740

20030204STRUCTURE

FRONT DASHBOARD CAME LOOSE. *AK

20020813VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK 2500. *YH

20020624STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FRAME BROKE COMPLETELY. *AK

20020326POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 CHEV EXT-CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000. NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR THE REASON IT WENT OUT. THEY CALIM MILES DRIVEN. THE PREVIOUS YEAR, JUNE 1999, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT AND TORE IT APART TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING A SLIPPING PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY SETTLED ON A VALVE THAT HAD GONE BAD. ONE WEEK LATER THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME VALVE AGAIN. IN 2000, I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION MY OF HAD A PROBLEM DUE TO THE SERVICE PEOPLE TAKING THE TRANSMISSION APART THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THEY DENIED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WE HAD TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 2200.00. THIS CAME WITH A 3 YEAR 50,000 MILE WARRENTY. AFTER 30,000 MILES THE BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED MARCH 13, 2002. THE TRUCK WAS GIVEN BACK TO US ON MARCH 18TH. IT STILL IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY SO WE TOOK IT BACK ON MARCH 21ST. MILLER CHEV STILL HAS THE TRUC

20010131FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS CORRODED AND BURNT, CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC IT WAS BURNT TWO INCHES INTO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. NLM

20001013STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

BRAKES PULL TO THE RIGHT MOMENTARILY UPON EVERY APPLICATION. ALL BRAKE HARDWARE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING CALIPERS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT EVENTUALLY. STEERING BECOMES "SQUIRRELLY" OFTEN WHEN CORNERING OR WHEN NEGOTIATING CURVES. WHEEL TENDS TO "OVERSTEER" BY ITSELF WITH APPARENT MOMENTARY BOOSTS IN POWER STEERING FORCE. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT PREDICTABLE AND WILL ALSO LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT IN TIME. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN ONE MILLION MILES IN MY LIFE AND CURRENTLY OWN TWO VANS, ONE SUBURBAN, AND ONE PICKUP TRUCK AND ONE AUTO. I DARN SURE KNOW WHEN A VEHICLE IS OPERATING PROPERLY OR WHEN IT HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

20001013SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES PULL TO THE RIGHT MOMENTARILY UPON EVERY APPLICATION. ALL BRAKE HARDWARE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING CALIPERS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT EVENTUALLY. STEERING BECOMES "SQUIRRELLY" OFTEN WHEN CORNERING OR WHEN NEGOTIATING CURVES. WHEEL TENDS TO "OVERSTEER" BY ITSELF WITH APPARENT MOMENTARY BOOSTS IN POWER STEERING FORCE. THESE EVENTS ARE NOT PREDICTABLE AND WILL ALSO LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT IN TIME. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN ONE MILLION MILES IN MY LIFE AND CURRENTLY OWN TWO VANS, ONE SUBURBAN, AND ONE PICKUP TRUCK AND ONE AUTO. I DARN SURE KNOW WHEN A VEHICLE IS OPERATING PROPERLY OR WHEN IT HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

20000905STEERING:LINKAGES

NO SUMMARY

20000905TIRES

ROLL OVER POTENTIAL; TIRE PROPERLY INFLATED; < 2000 MILES ON TREAD( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255R70 15 )

20000831SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SOMETIME NEAR THE END OF JULY 2000 I NOTICED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING ON MY PICKUP TRUCK. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM IF I COULD TAKE IT TO LIBERTY CHEVROLET IN BLOOMSBURG, PA. TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I LEASED THE TRUCK AND THEY SAID GO AHEAD. AFTER LIBERTY CHECKED IT OUT THEY TOLD ME THE LEFT FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS BAD AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. I THEN CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR 75 % OF THE REPAIRS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ITEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I KNOW GM HAS RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF ANTI-LOCK PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

20000623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. WAS NEVER TOLD TRUCK HAD BEEN WRECKED WHEN PURCHASED TWO(2) YEARS AGO. PURCHASED AS A USED TRUCK. HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED THAT WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 40 OR 50 THOUSAND MILES, TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT. CHECKED BY MACHANIC, USING COMPUTER.

20000519FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

SENDING UNIT IN FUEL PUMP HAD FAULTY WIRING AND FRIED, HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND SENDING UNIT 575.00 REPAIR MAN SAID IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE AS UNIT IS INSIDE GAS TANK. *AK

20000502STEERING

MAKES TRUCK TURN SHARPLY TO LEFT AND RIGHT AT ABOUT 1/4 TURN EITHER WAY MOSTLY AT ABOUT 20 TO 50 MPH

Compare 1997CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK have?
The 1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK has 53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.