Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET W4 · model year
1997 CHEVROLET W4
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETW4 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 W4 is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (1). 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 W4, 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20001117TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATED ON LEFT REAR TIRE.GOODYEAR, LT215 85/LOAD RANGE. *AK
19981203VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EVER SENCE THE CITY OF CRESCENT CITY PURCHESED THIS VEHICLE IS HAS NOT RUN PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER, ANOTHER DEALER AND CONTACTED GM SAFETY DIVISION TO NO AVAIL. THE FOLLOWING IS THE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT SAY 35 MPH I CAN LET OFF THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN AND YOU CAN CONTINUED TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD FOR 20 MILES WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND MAINTAIN 35 MPH. WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOST TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. YOU CAN BE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND LET OFF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN, PUT IN THE CLUTCH AND THE ENGING RPM'S WILL INCREASE TO 2000 RPM'S AND STAY THERE UNTIL YOU C OME TO A STOP. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 30MPH THE ENGING WILL SUDDENLY INCREASE RPM'S AND START TO PICK UP SPEED. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE AFTER IT IS AT OPERATING TEMP. IT WILL IDLE BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPM'S AND YOU CAN PUT IT IN GEAR AND DRIVE UP AND DOWN H
Compare 1997CHEVROLETW4 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET W4 have?▼
The 1997 CHEVROLET W4 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET W4?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET W4 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET W4 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.