1997 Chevrolet C Series

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › motor. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor4
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors2
000
Visibility1
000
Unknown or Other1
100
Tires1
000
Suspension1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility
Filed May 17, 201155,000 milesNC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHEN THEY WANT TO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROX. 7 YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1996 MODEL BUT GM WOULD NOT COVER MY 1997 MODEL, SAID IF I PAY TO REPLACE CIRCUIT BOARD AND SEND TO THEM THEY MAY OR MAY NOT PAY BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL ALTHOUGH IS JUST AS HAZARDOUS AS YEAR EARLIER MODEL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AS WIPERS WILL JUST STOP IN ANY POSITION AT WILL THEN NEXT TIME I TURN THEM ON THEY MAY WORK OR NOT. *TR

Steering
Filed Sep 9, 200958,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIGHTLY PULL TO THAT DIRECTION LONGER THAN DESIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000. UPDATED 10/21/09 *BF THE PROBLEM WAS THE EVO SENSOR. UPDATED 10/20/09*JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Nov 14, 2005145,000 milesTX

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL AND VEHICLE (1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP) IS NOT INCLUDED AND RECALL 03023. PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED. *NM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Nov 9, 2005CA

CONSUMER WINSHEILD WIPERS WOULD STOP AND BUZZ AT TIMES ON THE 1997 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE. *TS THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS. *JB

Tires
Filed Jun 10, 2005NY

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON HIS VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNTIL THEY FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR WAS THAT IT BURNT LIKE A MOTHER BOARD FOR THE MOTOR AND IT BURNT ALL THE COPPER TIPS AND THE PLASTIC OFF OF THE WIRING. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK AND THEN WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELT WILL COME UNLOCKED. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY ALSO. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVY CHEYENNE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THREE SETS OF BRAKES AND THERE IS ONLY LIKE 67843 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *NM SEVERAL COMPONENTS RELATING TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES (GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS) WERE THE WRONG SIZE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Apr 7, 2005TN

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Mar 8, 200590,000 milesIL

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY OR SNOWY WEATHER. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Dec 21, 200462,000 milesNY

FRONT SEAT BELTS INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCKED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. ALSO, FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Dec 3, 200453,329 milesNY

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST PRESSURE. CURRENTLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BECAUSE THE MOTOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE THE MAIN CAUSE FOR ALL OF THERE PARTS TO MALFUNCTION AND BREAK DOWN, THE ABS BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SLOWER SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER AND VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CLUNK AND FOUND LOOSE PITMAN ARM, THE VEHICLE WOULD SKIP AND SHAKE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER GAVE INSUFFICIENT EFFICIENCY. *SC THE FUEL INJECTION WAS REPAIRED. THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR ANYTHING DEALING WITH THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED. *TC

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 13, 200432,000 milesKY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 4, 2004GA

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED IN THE RAIN. *AK *SC *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed May 20, 200490,200 milesGA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO POWER ASSIST FAILURE. ALSO, THIS OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE VEERED IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE POWER ASSIST FAILED MOMENTARILY. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BAD STEERING SENSOR.*AK *LA

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Sep 17, 2003CO

WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Sep 19, 2002SC

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UNPON IMPACT ON A TREE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 29, 2002IL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WORKING FOR NO REASON, TURNING THEM OFF AND ON, WIGGLING THE SWITCH, AND OTHER ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THEM WORK AGAIN FAIL, EXCEPT FOR MANUALLY PULLING ON THE WIPERS OR HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Mar 19, 2002NY

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE MAY NOT START UP FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT MOMENT. PROBLEM HAS TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT POSSIBLY THE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD. * THE WIRING HARNESS COVER OVERHEATS AND IS STARTING TO CRACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER ALSO REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR. FLUSHED CONDENSER. REPLACED EXPANSTION TUBE. AT ONE TIME THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED. BROKEN BOLTS ON RIGHT STEP REPLACED AND STRAIGHTENED BENT BRACKETS. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Feb 1, 2002TX

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STARTED STALLING, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE HAD CUT OFF.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 29, 2000OH

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS WOULD ENGAGE AND FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BACK UP INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 15, 2000TX

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTANTLY, MOSTLY OFF. CAN WIGGLE WIRES OR TAP MOTOR AND THEY WILL COME ON FOR FEW MINUTES, THEN OFF AGAIN. KNOW OF MSNY INCIDENTS OF SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEV AND GMC PICKUPS OF SIMILAR MODEL YEARS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed May 9, 2000AL

FUEL GUAGE GIVES FALSE READING DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER. YH

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20081000Routine
20072000Routine
20023000Routine
20012200Routine
19993000Routine
199817000Routine
1997 — this page22000Routine
199611010Routine
199510000Routine
19942000Routine
19937010Routine
19921000Routine
19911000Routine
19901010Routine

Compare every C Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.