1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,058 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 39/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 85,000 miles.
Below average
Where 1997 sits among all Silverado 1500 years
What owners report
“The anti lock braking system failed, as a result the brake pedal went down to the floor. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
“The steering control sensor failed causing sudden jerking to the right while driving. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
“Consumer states that the windshield wipers on the vehicle are not working properly. Contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
“Vehicle makes a clunking noise when shifting transmission from 2nd to 3rd gear. Replaced transmission and locking differential. However, noise continued. A new steel driveshaft was installed to replace the composite one. However, noise continued. Was advised by dealer that this was a normal…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
“Fuel pump failed replaced at my cost by dealer.coolant hose from intake to heater failed common problem alternator replaced at my costed at my cost,common problem. Intate leak(coolant) not yet repaired. Mass air flow sensor replaced at my cost,part only available from gm.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
“Gm dex cool problem. I have replaced my tranismission. Coolant leaks onto the engine. Smells like burning coolant all the time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Silverado 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 247 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 88,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 59,000 and 120,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
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…
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).
Technical service bulletins
25 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1997 Silverado 1500 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
The 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 drew 1,058 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 39/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are brakes & stability (219 complaints), steering (206), and visibility & wipers (119).
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems around 88,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 59,000 and 120,000 miles.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.