Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTS, CAUSING AN OVERTURN. WHEEL MOVES 1 TO 2 INCHES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR ONCE, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK
THE WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT, LEAVING AN EXPOSED WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. DEALER IS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. *AK
COMMON PROBLEM WITH STEERING, I.E. WANDERING WHILE 35MPH OR HIGHER, STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE CHANGES DURING TURNS, VEHICLE WANTS TO RESIST STEERING INPUTS.
UPON ACCELERATION TRUCK WANTS TO GO LEFT, ON DEACCELERATION WITH NO BRAKE APPLIED, TRUCK WANTS TO GO RIGHT. CAN STEER DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD BY USING THROTTLE ONLY WITH NO STEERING WHEEL INPUTS. MIGHT BE A LEAF SPRING BUSHING MAY BE WORN AND SLOPPY.
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FEEL SPONGY AND GOING 3/4 TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH. *AK
NO SUMMARY.
WIRE PLUG-IN ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP OVERHEATED AND MELTED PLUG-IN AND COATING OFF WIRE GOING DOWN IN FUEL TANK 3" OR 4", AND DIDN'T BLOW A FUSE. COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE. *AK
STEERING FAILURE. LOSS OF STEERING AT VARYING SPEEDS. WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND UNRESPONSIVE.INCIDENTS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES PRIOR TO MAJOR OCCURANCE.MAJOR OCCURRANCE NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED 'EVO' SENSOR.
THE DESIGN OF SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING CAUSED SUDDEN OVER STEERING DURING TURNS OR LANE CHANGED. YH
WHEN TURNING A CORNER LEFT OR RIGHTSTEERING WHEEL JERKED IN THE DIRECTION THAT VEHICLE WASGOING. IF IT WAS SHARPER IT COULD PROBABLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SENSOR. *AK
HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEERING SPEED SENSORS? THIS IS A WELL-KNOW PROBLEM IN 1997 AND 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCKS. THE DEALER CALLS THIS A 6.624 STEERING SENSOR FAILURE; PART NUMBER 26064468. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE LANES WHEN CORNERING. I THINK IT IS DEPLORABLE FOR GM TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS TRUELY A LIFE-THREATENING COMPONENT FAILURE. *AK
THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE ADVISOR AT MOLLE CHEVROLET (816) 229-8800, MARK POTTER, SAID IT WOULD BE 7-8 DAYS TO HAVE MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY HAD 7 IN LINE (FOR THE SAME PROBLEM) AHEAD OF MINE!!! BY THE WAY, I HAVE ONLY HAD MY 4-WD ENGAGED ON SIX OR 7 OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED IT (NEW) IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. I HAVE NEVER "4-WHEELED" IT. I HAVE ONLY ENGAGED 4-WD ONCE IN THE MUD. THE OTHER 5-6 TIMES THE 4-WD WAS ENGAGED WAS IN LIGHT SNOW (CENTRAL MISSOURI). GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *AK
THE MASTER CYLINDERS ON 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUPS LEAK BRAKE FLUID CONTINUOUSLY AT THE TOP SEAL. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THIS "SWEATING". SWEATING IS WHAT HUMANS DO. MASTER CYLINDERS LEAK. EVERY 1997 CHEVY TRUCK I'VE LOOKED AT HAS THIS PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAL OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE MASTER CYLINDER. HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE FROM BRAKE FAILURE BEFORE GM ISSUES A RECALL NOTICE? *AK
STEERING SPEED SENSOR REPLACED TO FIX OVERSTEER PROBLEM; ABS REGULARLY FAIL TO KEEP WHEELS FROM LOCKING UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING; ELECTRONIC 4WD TRANSFER CASE CONTINUES TO STICK IN 4HIGH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER DISENGAGED WITH BUTTON. *AK
A MARK VIII, WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION LEAK, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS DRIFTING FROM LANE TO LANE DUE A FRONTALIGNMENT PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER, THE CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT WITH BOTH HANDS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING AND JERKING. *AK
WHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING, STEERING PULLS WITH A QUICK MOTION. *AK
DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OUTSIDE SIDEVIEW POWER MIRRORS WILL SHAKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACUTRER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING CHANGES BETWEEN HIGH AN LOW SPEED MODE. NLM
TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING, AND THE FLUID LEAKS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS SHIFTING VERY HARD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS & COMING TO A STOP LIGHT BRAKES LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR AGAIN. HAD TO GET IT TOWED. CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT DEALER. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ROTORS TO BE WORN OUT. ALSO, BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO JUMP WHEN STOPPING, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HOWEVER, HAD ROTORS TURNED 5 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
MAIN ENGINE HARNESS SHORTED OUT ON IGNITION COIL VEHICLE STALLED INJ STOCK OPEN THEN MELTED AND ALLOWD GASOLINE TO ENTER SHORTED WIRING HARNESS WHILE UNDER 50PSI AND ENTER ENGINE CONTROLLER P.C.M.
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS BEING JERKED RIGHT OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND, ERRATIC POWER STEERING. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SENSOR IS BAD. *AK
FUEL PUMP WHICH IS INSIDE THE GAS TANK CAUSING A NO START SITUATION IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS TO TAKE GAS TANK OUT TO GET TO FUEL PUMP. *AK
EA99011, THE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BIND AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ABS BRAKE PROBLEM: WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDTIONS THE ABS KICKS, WHICH MAKES THE TRUCK TRAVEL AN ADDITIONAL 20 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE TRAVELING ON A DRY/ SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE. TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED 5 OR 6 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STILL CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK
WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK. NLM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE FRONT DRIVE TRAIN . HAD THE VEHICLE AT A REPAIR SHO, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TORQUE BEARING FROZE ON LEFT FORWARD INBOARD STUB AXLE. ALSO, FRONT 4-WHEEL DROVE LOCKING HUBS WERE WORN OUT BEYOND THEIR LIMIT.
RECLINING MECHANISM ON BOTH FRONT SEATS HAD SUDDENLY BROKE LOOSE AND RECLINED BACKWARDS. HAD LOST VISIBILITY AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHIEN DEALER REPAIRED THE SEATS UNDER WARRANTY RECALL 99V130000. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT 25MPH AND LOWER. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANDWHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING A CORNER, STEERING SEEMS TO GET VERY LOOSE. OWNER HAS TRIED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING WITH ENTIRE FAMILY IN CAR.
FUEL LINE IS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTION, CAUSING FUEL TO GO THROUGH WIRE HARNESS, AND EAT AWAY AT HARNESS AND THEN COMPUTER. *AK
TRUCK STEERS ERRACTICALLY WHEN TAKING (NAVIGATING CURVES) A MILD RIGHT TURN AT MODERATE SPEEDS (20-50MPH). THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ON LEFT TURNS AND SEEMS TO MANIFEST ITSELF BY GIVING MORE "ASSIST" TO STEERING EFFORT THAN NEEDED. WHEN STEERING INTO A CURVE, WITH A STATIC, STEADY GRIP AND FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER ASSIST MECHANISM SUDDENLY "MAKES IT EASIER" TO STEER, HENCE CAUSING OVERSTEER. ONE DEALER CLAIMS THAT A STEERING POSITION SENSOR HAS GONE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT WHEN TODAY, DRIVING AT 30MPH, I NEARLY OVERSTEERED INTO A YOUNG WOMAN AND HER BABY ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN NEGOTIATING A VERY MILD RIGHT CURVE. I'M GETTING THIS FIXED AT THE NEXT OIL CHANGE ...
WHEN SHIFTING GEAR INTO REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. DRIVER STEEPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELRATE. *AK
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE ONTO ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN SEVERAL COMPONENT FAILURES AND REPLACEMENTS. MJS
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FAILED. YH
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCES OVER SENSITIVITY RESULTING IN UNPREDICATABLE STEERING CONTROL.
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WA S MOVING TO THE RIGHT. UPON TAKING FOOT OFF THE BRAKES, VEHICLE WAS MOVING TO THE LEFT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55MPH STARTED TO RAIN AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
POWER STEERING CONTINUALLY OVER CORRECTS/ASSISTS. THE STEERING WILL SUDDENLY JUMP DURING TURNS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE STEERING FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS TRYING TO OVER ASSIST DURING TURNS (BOTH GRADUAL AND TIGHT TURNS).
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IF STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED VEHICLE WILL GO INTO THE NEXT LANE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND SLIGHTLY MOVING STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE STEERS BY ITSELF, WILL CHANGE LANES, WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED 1/4 INCH. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE, BUT NO RECALLS OR KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE STEERING LOSS. VEHICLE DARTS. DEALER HAS REPLACED SENSOR 3 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER REFUSES FURTHER REPAIRS.
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING MOVEMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. *AK
BOUGHT NEW, PULLED 26FT TRAILER TO ALASKA AND BACK, NO PROBLEMS. 6000+- MILES AFTER GETTING HOME REAREND STARTER MAKING NOISE, NO TRAILER PULLING. REAREND OVERHAUL. LEFT FOR MICHIGAN ON FAMILY REUNION, GOT THERE AND STARTED HOME, BLEW REAREND EFFANLIHAMM,IL OVERHAULER AND 760 MILES LATER REAREND GREASE COVERED TRAILER AND ALMOST FIRE, SMOKING BAD, NEW REAREND ASSEMBLE ORDERED FROM CANADA, INSTALLED AND 711 MILES LATER NOISEY BAD. LAST NEW ASSEMBLE NOISEY NOW , #5 FOR TRUCK. DEALER SAYS NOT PULL TRAILER AND WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM. TOWING PACKAGE 350FI,373 REAREND, TRUCK DON'T KNOW TRAILER BACK THERE, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT IN ENNIS AND LEFT STRANDED IN MIDDLE I45 AND WIFE AND KIDS SCARED TO LEAVE TOWN IN TRUCK. CHEVY WON'T OR CAN'T FIX, JUST PUT ANOTHER REAREND IN TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY. ALLMOST GOT WHOLE FAMILY AND YORKIE DOG WIPED OUT ON I45 STOPPAGE. DEAD IN ROAD. ***AT 35.000 MILES TOOK BACK TO RON CARTER AND SAID PLEASE TAKE NOISE OUT OF TRUCK SO I CAN SELL. LEFT SET ON LOT FOR 3 SAYS AND SAID DAMAGED RONN
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE SYSTEM PULSATED AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 → · Every Silverado 1500 year → · How the figures are calculated →