Total Complaints
365 filings
CHEVROLET SILVERADO · model year
365 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETSILVERADO carries 365 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 15 fires, 26 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 SILVERADO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 37 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (29) and steering (21). 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 SILVERADO, 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.
Total Complaints
365 filings
Crashes Reported
25 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 37 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 29 |
| STEERING | 21 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 19 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 17 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 11 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 9 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 9 |
| SUSPENSION | 9 |
| TIRES | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 7 |
| SEATS | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 6 |
PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WARMING UP, BAG ENGAGED. LEFT EAR HURT BY BLAST AND RINGING IN LEFT EAR. *TR
Mileage: 144,289
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 IT HAPPENED, ONLY BECAUSE I KNEW HOW TO STEER WITH OUT POWER STEERING AND HAD THE STRENGTH TO DO IT. WITH OTHERS THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE OVER THE YEARS WITH A MECHANIC TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. FINALLY SOMEONE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE PMD MODULE
Mileage: 89,000
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 IT HAPPENED, ONLY BECAUSE I KNEW HOW TO STEER WITH OUT POWER STEERING AND HAD THE STRENGTH TO DO IT. WITH OTHERS THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE OVER THE YEARS WITH A MECHANIC TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. FINALLY SOMEONE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE PMD MODULE
Mileage: 89,000
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 CONTACTED RUDOLPH CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THEY REFUSED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO EMMITT RADIATOR SHOP, ALSO IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $80.00 PER HOUR WITH A MINIMUM OF 10 TO 12 HOURS WITH NO GUARANTEE. THEY DID SUGGEST T
Mileage: 30,000
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 CONTACTED RUDOLPH CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THEY REFUSED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO EMMITT RADIATOR SHOP, ALSO IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $80.00 PER HOUR WITH A MINIMUM OF 10 TO 12 HOURS WITH NO GUARANTEE. THEY DID SUGGEST T
Mileage: 30,000
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
Mileage: 187,600
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
Mileage: 187,600
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
Mileage: 187,600
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
Mileage: 90,000
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
Mileage: 100,000
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.
Mileage: 89,000
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.
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Mileage: 107,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. THE PULLING OCCURS SUDDENLY AND LAST FOR ONLY A SECOND. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE PROBLEM BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN 2000. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS UNABLE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PULLING. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER YESTERDAY. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE A POSSIBLE CAUSE BY PHONE AND SUGGESTED REPAIRING THE STEERING SENSOR. *NM UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
Mileage: 170,000
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
Mileage: 62,000
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A FORD F-150 GOING 20-40 MPH ESTIMATED. BOTH MY SON AND I WERE HURLED BACKWARDS BECAUSE THE SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. WE BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES TO OUR NECKS AND BACKS. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED OR THE SEATS WOULDN'T HAVE COLLAPSED WE WOULD HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INJURIES. I BELIEVE THESE SEATS HAVE A POTENTIAL OF BEING DANGEROUS AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT AWAY BEFORE SOME ELSE GETS INJURED. *JB
Mileage: 101,000
DT: CONTACT STATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER; THEY STATED THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY SENSOR. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *JB
WIND SHIELD WIPER FAILS TO WORK WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TOO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THEM BUT MY TRUCK ISN'T ON THE LIST 1997 CHEVY NHTSA#03V159000 IT FUNNY THAT MINE IS DOING WHAT THEY RECALLED THEM FOR BUT I'M NOT COVERED JUST WONDERING WHY. *NM
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 OLDER VEHICLES REGARDING ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *AK
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.