1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints

WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT THAT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO STEER. *AK

VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STEERS INDEPENDENT OF DRIVER ACTION CAUSING WHELL TO PULL FROM THE DRIVER'S HANDS. NUMEROUS "NEAR ACCIDENTS" HAVE OCCURED DUE TO DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD BLEW OPEN. *MR *SC *JB

THE RADIATOR'S COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN FLUID ACCUMULATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON TWO OCCASIONS. WAS FIXED TWICE, CAUSING A TOW BY THE DEALER ON THE SECOND TIME. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SHIFT HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND, HAD ANOTHER DEALER LOOK AT IT, SAID IT WAS "JUNK." NOTIFIED GM, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE FIRST DEALER DIDN'T REPORT THE PROBLEM. HAD TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AT 70,000 MILES... VERY EXPENSIVE! THE FUEL INDICATOR HAS ALSO FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IS OVER THE 70,000 MILE LIMIT OF REPLACEMENT. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. HMMM... MAYBE THE DEALER WAS RIGHT ABOUT BEING JUNK WITHOUT A WARRANTY. SO SAD THAT WE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PRODUCTS LIKE THIS. *LA

I HAVE A 1997 4WD CHEVY PICKUP WITH 4 WHEEL ABS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ABS ACTIVATES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND THE TRUCK SURGES FORWARD ANOTHER FEW FEET. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT! THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE ABS TO ACTIVATE AND THIS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE SURGE FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND TONS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YAHOO SEARCH: "ABS ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT" REVEALED THOUSANDS OF HITS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE IT IS RELATED TO BRAKES, I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS AND GM SHOULD RECALL THE DEFECT. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE. I LEAVE EXTRA SPACE WHILE BRAKING UNTIL I AM ABLE TO GET THIS FIXED. *LA

THE STEERING OF THE 1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN GIVES AN ALMOST TICKING, OR PULSATING MOVEMENT AS IT GOES THROUGH A STEADY WIDE SWEEPING CURVE. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED INTO A POSITION. IT'S TURNING STRAIGHT AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT HAS TO BE PULLED HARDER IN THE DIRECTION DESIRED; IN ADDITION, IT GIVES A SLIGHT WHIPPING MOTION WHEN IT BREAKS FREE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS, THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER PULLED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS RELATED TO A STEERING SECTOR PROBLEM. *AK *NLM

1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. REAR BRAKE LINE NEAR WHEEL WELL RUPTURED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. CAUSE OF LINE RUPTURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION OF THE LINE ITSELF. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE THE DEFECTIVE LINE. CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND. (SOMEONE AT GM REALLY SHOULD REVIEW THESE!) THE ENTIRE LINE FROM FRONT TO REAR EXHIBITS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE/PREMATURE CORROSION. THE TRUCK ITSELF SHOWS NO OTHER SIGNS OF RUST DAMAGE. THE DEALER REPAIRED ONLY THE PORTION OF THE LINE THAT FAILED. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE REMAINING CORROSION, THE SERVICE MANAGER SHRUGGED IT OFF AND ACVISED ME IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR INCLUDING TOW IN WAS $349.93. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAIT WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE...SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE. I FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY CONCERN AND OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL TRUCK SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

POWER STEERING TENDS TO OVER-BOOST UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IT APPEARS TO MANIFEST WHEN THE ENGINE IS LIGHTLY LOADED MAKING A SLOW ARCING TURN WITHOUT APPLYING THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKES. IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE PROBLEM IS LESS PREVALENT.

POWER STEERING ON 1997 CHEVY 1500 HAS MOMENTS OF " FREE FLOATING SENSATION" WHILE TURNING.....ESPECIALLY RIGHT HAND TURNS. THIS CAUSES OVER CORRECTION AND DANGER TO ALL ON THE ROAD. *JB

FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTION CAUSING FUEL GO THROUGHT THE WORE HARNESS AND EAT AWAY HARNESS THEN INTO THE COMPUTER. THEN THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING IT TO BE HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE AND STALL HAZARD.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT. THE WIPERS HAD BEEN RECALLED UP TO 96' AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REFERENCED TO THE THIS VEHICLE AS WELL (97'). *SCC *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN INTERMITTENTLY, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND DO NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GM AND BEEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED DUE TO A VIN CUTOFF IN THE RECALL PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME DEFECT AND PART AS IN THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.. [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

1997 CHEVROLET C-1500 P/U AUTO TRANS HAS HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF G/M OWNERS HAVE EXPERINCED THIS DEFECT AND G/M HAS NOT OR WILL NOT RECALL OR REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

MY SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING SENSOR KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAD IT REPLACE IN JULY OF 2002 AND HERE IT IS 1 YEAR LATER AND IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. IT KEEPS OVERSTEERING A LOW SPEEDS TURNING RIGHT. WHY HASN'T GM RECALLED THIS.*AK

STEERING HAS MIND OF ITS OWN. ITS LIKE THAT FEELING WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON A CHAIR AND JUST ABOUT READY TO GO OVER, YOU CATCH YOURSELF... IT HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER MOST OFTN. WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY, IT JUSTS SEEMS FOR A BRIEF SECOND THE WHEEL IS ATTACHED TO NOTHING. DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. I THINK I WILL HIT A TRUCK NEXT WINTER........... *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *AK THE CENTER PART OF THE ROTOR SEPARATED.*TS ALSO THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL PUMP AND ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK ON OCCASION. NEARLY WRECKED LAST WEEKEND WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING IN A HARD RAIN.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 87,671 MILES LOST SECOND GEAR, REVERSE GEAR AND OVERDRIVE DUE DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED THAT WAS NOT HARDENED STEEL AS PER SPECIALTY TRANSMISSION THAT DID THE REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION.

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 P/U WITH 115K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOW ROARING NOISE IN LOW GEAR AND WOULD QUIET DOWN AS IT SHIFTED TO A HIGHER GEAR. OVER TIME THE NOISE GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND EVENTUALLY MADE A CLANGING SOUND AS I TOOK OFF FROM A STOP. THE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN I'VE EVER HEARD, SO I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK HOME A PARKED IT. I'VE TOLD FRIENDS THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND THE MORE I TOLD THE MORE I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS IN OTHER CHEVROLET TRUCKS. THIS MAY BE COINCIDENCE BUT IT'S TO LARGE OF A SCALE THAT'S COSTING MANY PEOPLE LOTS OF MONEY. *NLM

AT JUST ABOUT ANY SPEED, WHEN STEERING TO LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING JERKS. SO FAR, HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN FEAR OF HER SAFETY AND OUR SON! PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TALKING WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS, I REALIZED MY SITUATION WAS NOT UNIQUE. *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BROKE OFF. *JB DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY. DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. *TT

I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP AND A 1998 GMC YUKON IN WHICH BOTH VEHICLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER MOTORS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEVER WORK WHEN I NEED THEM TO. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT RAINS DUE TO NO VISIBILITY. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THE GM INSPECTOR WHO SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES, BUT MINE WERE NOT INCLUDED. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 1997 CHEVY K1500 PICKUP. PLANETARY SUNGEAR CARRIER BROKE. $2,000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL AND DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, I RECEIVED A LETTER SHORTLY AFTER NOTICING THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH THE WIPERS AND THE LETTER STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED IF I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP "ONLY IF IT WAS UNDER 70,000 MILES. WELL I AM AROUND 72, AND THEY ARE JUST NOW DOING THIS. WHAT 97' VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE AROUND THAT KIND OF MILEAGE BY NOW. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND IT SHOULD STILL BE FIXED UNDER CHEVROLET. *JB

THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED WHERE THE BOLT SCREWS INTO THE SEAT FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE SEAT TO BREAK FROM THE FRAME WHEN CUSTOMER SAT DOWN.*JB

THE DEALERSHIP MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE LOOSE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STRAIGHT FORWARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. PH

THE THIRD DOOR ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT OPEN, THERE WAS A TEAR IN THE SEATS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING LATE AND HARD, THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AT 56,000, CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE SECOND VEHICLE AT 126,000 MILES.*JB

TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE WHEN PARKED, UPON REENTRY TRUCK DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO START, ENGINE WOULD TURN SPIN FREELY. TOWED TO SHOP. FUEL PUMP SUPPOSEDLY FAILED ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS REPLACED WITH 46,000 MILES ON TRUCK. TRUCK DROVE LESS THAN 500 MILES AND FAILED TO START WITH SEEMINGLY THE SAME PROBLEM. TOWED TO CHEVEROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT CONNECTION INSIDE THE TANK WAS BURNED OUT. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR ALL CHEVEROLET TRUCKS WITH VORTEC ENGINES. HE RETURNED THE DEFECTIVE SENDING UNIT TO ME AND I COULD PLAINLY SEE THE BURNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE UNIT. UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS AN EXPLOSION WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN WAS IN THE TANK. FUEL PUMP AND COMPONENT PARTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 46,000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING IN WET WEATHER, VEHICLES' WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER HESITATES TO WORK OR QUIT WORKING, OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVER HAVING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE, AND ALSO THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES' THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN TAIL LIGHT MAY HAVE A SHORT IN IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE FEUL PUMP WENT OUT, FIRST TIME AT 61013 MILES, WAS RELACED WITH 200 DOLLAR DEDUCTABLE. THEN WENT OUT AGAIN AT75860 MILES, BUT THIS TIME THEY SAID ALSO THE SENDING UNIT. THAT HOLDS THE PUMP WENT OUT. THEY SHOWED ME BURNT WIRES ON THIS PART, SO SENCE IT WASNT ONLY THE PUMP ,COST ME ANOTHER 200 DEDUCTED INSTEAD OF GETTING REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I'VE READ OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS AS I, AND FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT DOES CAUSE A FIRE AND FATALITYS. DT

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN QUICK AND HARD TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR BOX. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHEN PARKING, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T REVERSE, THE ENGINE JUST ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE MAKING A CLANKING NOISE AND HESITATED TO MOVE FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN AS A RESULT OF THE REACTION SHELL BRUSTING. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL VEHCILE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKE WILL ENGAGE WITHOUT CAUSE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEIR IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RESULT OF VEHICLE MILEAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.TS

DURING 50 DEGREE OR LOWER WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL ERRATIC WHILE TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

DURING AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, IN WHICH CONSUMER SUFFERED BURNS TO HIS FACE AND ARMS. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. [XXX] LO QUE DICE ES QUE LA BOLSA DE AIRE ESPLOTO SIN NINGUNA RAZON. QUEMANDOLE SU ROSTRO Y LOS BRAZOS. MR *JG *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA#98-V-069-002 TRANSFER CAS LOCK UP OF TRANSFER CAS AN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFICIENT LUBRICATION. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. MR *TT. *AK

CONSUMER STATE. THE FUEL PUMP WIRE WAS BURNED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK, DUE TO THAT DEFECT CAR WAS STALL ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATE. THE FUEL PUMP WIRE WAS BURNED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK, DUE TO THAT DEFECT CAR WAS STALL ON THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMARTION. TS

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. MR *NLM *DT

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

MY WIPERS WORKED FINE ON LOW IT STARTED RAINING HARD I PUT THEM ON HIGH THEY WENT 1/3 UP AND STOPPED.THIS HAPPEND GOING 75MPH IN THE DARK ON A BUSY 4 LANE THEY CAME ON ABOUT 45 SEC. LATER.I ALSO DRIVE A 97 K2500 AT WORK AND IT DID THE SAME THING THERE MUST BE MANY MORE. NLM

NHTSA NO. 98V150 COVERS TILL MAY 1996 MY TRUCK WAS MANF. AUG 1996 SAME PROBLEMS, WIPERS WILL NOT WORK INTERMITTENT AND QUIT WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER DAY @ 70 MPH IN HEAVY RAINS.

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WILL BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE INTAKE GASKET HEATER HOSE CONNECTOR FAILED.*JB

WHEN VEHICLE DECREASES IN SPEED TO 3MPH WHEEL SPEED SENOSOR DROPS OFF, AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICK IN, LEAVING VEHICLE WITH LESS TO NO BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHICH SENSOR IT WAS.*AK *YH