1997 Chevrolet Silverado complaints

AT 123,000 MILES CONSUMER HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. CURRENTLY, AT 144,000 MILES THE SEAT FRAME BROKE AGAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.*MR WHILE DRIVING IN A SEVERE RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER ARRIVING HOME THE CONSUMER RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE'S RECALLS A FOUND THAT THERE WAS ONE FOR THE WIPER MOTOR (RECALL # 02054) IN GM VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1994-1999. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT A DIFFERENT PLANT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

BELOW IS A COPY OF THE E-MAIL I HAVE SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN AUBURN AL. I DID NOT GET AN E-MAIL BACK SO CALLED A FEW DAYS LATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD BE $240 . I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED IN MANY CASES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I KNOW OF 4 GM TRUCKS WITHIN 1997-1998 RANGE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS! AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE THAT AN ACCIDENT IS NOT CAUSED BECAUSE OF IT. DYAS, I HAVE A "97 SILVERADO EXT CAB 2WD 1500 WITH A 350 VORTEX. DYAS HAS DONE RECALL WORK FOR ME IN THE PAST (WIPERS). I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WILL COME AND GO EVERY FEW WEEKS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STEERING. DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. IT WILL SEEM TO SURGE IN TURNING POWER WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO STEER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHILE IN A CURVE TO ADJUST COURSE. IT CAN BE VERY NERVE-RACKING FOR ME AND FOR SOMEONE THAT IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM I CAN SEE WHERE IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. MY FATHER WAS ACTUALLY UNAWARE AND HAS INSISTED THAT I HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. IT BECOMES EVEN MORE DANGEROUS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TYPE OF CONTROL MODULE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING ON THESE TRUCKS..? WHICH HAS LED ME TO INQUIRE NOW ABOUT A RECALL / REPAIR FOR THE PROBLEM. BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT A COSTLY REPAIR MAY NOT BE

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAGS BURNED THE CONSUMERS FACE AND ARMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR THAT FEEDS THE FUEL TO THE PUMP WAS BURNED OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. SOME TIMES WHEN DRIVING AND MAKING EITHER A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN IT FELT AS IF POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE WAS A DEVICE BUILT INTO THE VEHICLE FOR PROTECTION. *AK THE EVO (EXHAUST VALVE OPENING) WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

VEHICLE HAS SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE LANES WITHOUT NOTICE. OWNER HAD THE SPEED SENSOR DISCONNECTED. *MR

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION FAILED. *AK CONSUMER CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, AND WAS TOLD TO FIX THE VEHICLE AT OWN EXPENSE. IF VEHICLE WAS RECALLED, CONSUMER WOULD BE REIMBURSED AT A LATER TIME. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND A LEFT TURN WAS MADE, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. *JB *MR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 SILVERADO EXT CAB FLEET SIDE. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN I'M BRAKING. ALSO IT'S VERY HESITANT IN PICKING UP SPEED WHEN PASSING EVEN WITH MAJOR TUNE-UPS AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS ONLY TO BE SERVICED. I'M CONSTANTLY PURCHASING FRONT TIRES FOR MY TRUCK, WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENTS BEING DONE OFTEN WITH THE PURCHASE OF THESE TIRES. *JB

IN JANUARY 2004 THE NEWS REPORTED A RECALL ON CHEVROLET CARS WITH THE EXACT PROBBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING SINCE 2000. THE POWER STEERING WILL OVER-ASSIST CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AND HENCE THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STEER RIGHT OR LEFT. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN ON A CURVE OR WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS PROBLEM IS UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS CAUSED SOME NEAR MISSES AND SCARY MOMENTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SNOW COVERED STREETS. THE FAILURE OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND LASTS FOR A DAY OR A WEEK AT A TIME THEN GOES AWAY FOR AN UNDETERMINABLE PERIOD. BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE TEST DRIVING OTHER 1997 PICKUPS. SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVROLET CARS I FEEL IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE C/K, SILVERADO PICKUPS AS WELL. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK. SEAT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. RECALL 03159000 WAS ISSUED ON WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL JERK TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. *JB

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT 45 MPH STEERING FELT LOOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE 8 O'CLOCK POSITION. *AK

DIDN'T GET RAPAIRED YET. CHEVY WILL REPLACE PUMPS, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM TO GET FLUSHED BECAUSE OF METAL IN THE SYSTEM THAT IS FROM THE DEFFECTIVE PUMP. WHICH THEY SAY IS $1100 AND I THINK IS OUTRAGEOUS.

MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THAT OF A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD. (5.7L V8). I'VE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE PEDAL SURGE ON MY 1997 SILVERADO EXT-CAB K-1500 Z71. UNDER LIGHT BRAKING CONDITIONS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY ENGAGE FOLLOWED BY SHORT INTERVALS OF PRESSURE/LOSS OF PRESSURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPS. I HAVE NEVER LOST (AT LEAST UNTIL THIS POINT IN TIME) COMPLETE BRAKE PRESSURE. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE BRAKE SURGE IS NOT PRESENT. IN THIS CASE, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THE BRAKE PROBLEMS OCCUR EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN (DRY AND WET CONDITIONS). I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SERVICED TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH, AND MY DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO START REPLACING BRAKE COMPONENT BY COMPONENT UNTIL IT IS SOLVED ($$$). THEIR COMMENT TO ME IS THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM (THAT'S THE AREA THAT MY DEALER IS FOCUSING ON) IS A POOR DESIGN BY GM.

THE PASSENGER PUSHED THE BUTTON FOR THE WINDOW TO ROLL UP AND STUCK HIS HEAD OUT, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE WINDOW CLOSED AND CAUGHT HIS HEAD IN THE WINDOW. DRIVER HIT THE BUTTON FOUR TIMES, THEN IT RELEASED. THE PASSENGER WAS BLUE IN THE FACE, AND HAD TO BE REVIVED BY CPR, AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL.*AK

1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXT. CAB. 1500 SERIES, AT LOW SPEED I AM EXPERENCING INTERMITTENT LOSS IN MY POWER STEERING ON LEFT TURNS. *AK

SHIFTS HARD AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND AND JERKS THE VEH. I TALKED TO MANY TRANSMISSION SHOPS. AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 97 MODELS IT COST AROUND $300.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. SOMETHING TO DO WITH SHIFTING TUBE THAT HAS TO BE DRILLED OUT BECAUSE OF FLUID PRESSURE. THIS IS ALSO TRUE WITH EVERY VEH WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. NOW YOU NOW THE TRUTH SO FIX THE PROBLEM GM. YOUR GETTING AS BAD AS F.O.R.D. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT STARTED SLIDING BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACK. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE ENTIRE SEAT BACK FELL BACKWARDS, AND CONSUMER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOOSE. IF I'M ON A ROAD WITH A CURVE AND I HAVE PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT LET'S SAY OR LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SUDDENLY LOOSEN UP AND QUICKLY TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESSURE I'M APPLYING. AS IF OPENING A JAR. IT GETS THAT LOOSE. I ALMOST HIT A COUPLE OF PARKED CARS BECAUSE OF THIS. THE ONLY REASON WE FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IS WE OVERHEARD A CHEVY OWNER SHOWING SOMEONE THE PART HE HAD TO CHANGE. THIS WAS AFTER WE HAD THE FRONT END DONE TO NO AVAIL. THIS GUY HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FRONT END WORK DONE AT THREE DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS TO NO AVAIL. OUR PART COST $50 AND THE LABOR WAS $100. I'VE TALKED TO TAHOE OWNERS AND RODE IN THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. WE HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT THE FIX WAS. PRETTY LAME SEEING THE DEALERS DON'T EVEN KNOW. IF CHEVY WOULD AT LEAST TELL THEIR MECHANICS IF THEY WON'T RECALL. BY THE WAY THE PART IS A EVO SENSOR AND IT RAPS AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE THE VEHICLE RIGHT ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL. WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT OURSELVES BUT YOU HAVE TO FOOL WITH THE AIRBAG, SO WE PAID SOMEONE TO DO IT. ALSO, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE WE FIXED IT. THERE WASN'T JUST ONE INCIDENT DATE AS YOU MADE ME FILL OUT ON YOUR FORM. THANK-YOU. *LA

STARTED FROM STOP AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS. I WAS HOLDING ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS I FELL BACK MY FOOT CAME OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SLID FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP IN TIME TO HIT BRAKE AND AVOID HITTING CAR IN FRONT. I DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURY. SEAT IS NOW BROKEN. BACK WILL NOT STAY UP AND BOTTOM WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. CANNOT DRIVE THE TRUCK SAFELY.*AK

CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CHANGED ROUGHLY WHEN EXITING OFF A RAMP. DRIVER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT 5-10 SECONDS, THEN RESTART TO RESET THE COMPUTER. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. SOMETIMES THE OBSTRUCT THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE DEALER STATED NO RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED A BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, AND TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THERE WAS A MOTOR RUNNING THAT WAS VIBRATIING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW ABS BURNING RED CHERRY HOT. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP AND START WORKING . *AK

FUEL INJECTORS PLUG UP EVERY 10,000 MILES, WATER PUMP WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AT 45,000 MILES ALL IN ALL THIS TRUCK IS A PIECE OF CRAP. *NLM

NAR 6-03-2003 *MR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNED UP AS A RESULT OF OVERDRIVE.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION MADE A SOUND WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. *JB

THE TURN SIGNALS ON THE VEHICLE, 1997 Z-71, SILVERADO HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING DEPENDABLY SINCE 1997. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CONNEL CHEVROLET 3 DIFFERENT TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE TURN SIGNALS STILL GO OUT SPORADICALLY. WE DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO FORT KNOX KY WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS WERE WORKING SINCE 1999. AND NOW (APRIL 3 2003) THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. ALL THE FUSES ARE FINE AND THE LIGHT BULBS ARE ALL BRAND NEW AND THE TURN SIGNAL IS STILL NOT WORKING. *NLM

THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE PULLING WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE DEALER PAY FOR REPAIR. SCC *JB

THE FUEL PUMP WIRING HEATED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP TO FAIL. *JB

INFLATER MODULE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INFLATOR MODULE WAS DESIGNED POORLY. THE WIRES BREAK DUE TO WEAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PROBABLY FROM TILTING OF STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAUSES THE AIR BAG COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT. *JB

GM DEX COOL PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED MY TRANISMISSION. COOLANT LEAKS ONTO THE ENGINE. SMELLS LIKE BURNING COOLANT ALL THE TIME.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL GIVES AND CAUSES TEMPORARY STEERING LOSS. TS THE VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES, THE PCV VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE #2 AND #3 HEAT SHIELDS IN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS REPAIRED AND NOW THE 4 LOW GEAR IS INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. NOTICEABLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GIVES WHEN BRAKING. *JG

CONSUMER STATES ABS BRAKE MODULE STILL RUN AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO UNDER HOOD AND PULL FUSE. DEALER HAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DON'T HOLD. THEN THEIRS A KNOCKING NOISE AND BRAKES WILL ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK DOESN'T LATCH INTO PLACE. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING INTERMITTENLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE PROBLEM. MR CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT DURING A RAINSTORM AND HAD TO SET ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER DID NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE STORM PASSED.PH 09-DEC-2002

WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE WAS CREEPING FOWARD, CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER COULD HEAR VACUUM HISSING WHEN PRESSING BRAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION FALIURE. SHOULD LOOK INTO OTHER INSTANCES. *AK