1997 Chevrolet Silverado complaints

THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGED $2,600.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT DOES THE SAME THING AND NOW LEAKS FLUID. THE HOTTER THE TRANSMISSION GETS, THE WORSE IT PERFORMS. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE EVENLY ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS EVIDENT ON THE UNUSUAL WEAR TO THE REAR BRAKES. ON AN EMERGENCY STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. IN THE PAST THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WEIGHT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE BATTLED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK. FINALLY EVERTHING MENTIONED GAVE OUT, THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE TRUCK HAS TO MANY MILES. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE CONCERNS, FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS, WRITINGS BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHAT OK ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE IN WRITING. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED MY RESPONSE, BUT DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NLM

VEHICLE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALL WHEN REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURE. PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP THERE'S A GRINDING NOISE, BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN FURTHER THAN NORMAL, BUT WILL STOP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES WERE PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.*YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MODULE MALFUNCTION WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER FUTHER DISMANTLING THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE LEFT COWL AREA. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GMC SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR NOT HAVING ADEQUATE SEALING TO PREVENT WATER FROM SEEPING INTO THE COWL AREA. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE IN USE.*AK *YH

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGE WITH NO PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. (FRONT AND RIGHT) THERE IS A SLIGHT PULSATING AT 35 MPH THAT GETS SHARP AND ACUTE AT 55 MPH. UPON INSPECTION RIGHT OUTER DISC PAD WAS MISSING THE LOWER 1 1/2 INCH OF PAD. ALL BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PULL HAS HAPPENED ONCE AFTER THE PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALER CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JG

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR, NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER STATED VEHICLE COULD HAVE EXPLODED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AUTO THEFT. *AK

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BOX WAS THE PROBLEM. *YH

THE VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH STRETCHED AND SNAPPED. *JG

ABS PREMATURELY ENGAGES ON ANY SURFACE. ONCE ABS IS RELEASED MAIN BRAKES KICK IN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FEEL AS THOUGH IT WILL NOT STOP IN TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND CANNOT FIND A REMEDY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER CHANGED BOTH HUBS AS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ABS PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE IT. *YH

WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE DUE TO THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-543) *YH

SPEED SENSOR FAILED, PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MOUNTED TO CAST IRON ENGINE BLOCK. 2 METALS EXPAND DIFFERENTLY, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD IN LARGE QUANTITIES.

BRAKES PULSATE AT 10 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AROUND A CURVE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL INTO OTHER LANE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE EOV SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SEAT ADJUSTER LEVER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN LIFTING LEVER TO ADJUST SEAT TO EITHER MOVE BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS RAIL CABLES WOULD BE MALFUNCTIONING. IT'S NOT ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE PROPERLY, ALLOWING EXTENDED CAB PORTION TO BE USED. HAD TALKED TO DEALER. INDICATION WAS NO RECALLS OR TSB LISTED. *AK

THERE IS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR. CONSUMER FEELS PROBLEM IS REAR ABS BRAKES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, CANNOT REMEDY. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE CAN NOT HAUL HIS TRAILER OR HAUL ANY LARGE LOADS BECAUSE OF FAULTY REAR BRAKES, THE FRONT SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH LIFETIME BRAKE PADS TWICE AND THE REAR ONES LOOK BRAND NEW. *SLC

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FAILED, SHORT CIRCUIT FUSE CAUSED FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. INJECTOR FAILED. WATER PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT ASIST IN REPAIRS. *SLC

CRACKING NEAR THE RIM ALL THE WAY AROUND WITH SIGNS OF SEPARATION AT THE SIDEWALL/TREAD AREA.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)

ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION VALVE IS FAILING AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IS TEMPERATURE RELATED.*AK

I HAVE TWO GM TRUCKS ONE A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND ONE A 1997 GMC SIERRA K-2500 THIS WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACMENT OF THIS STEERING PART, IT IS A DANGER BECUSE WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OVER STEERS LIKE YOU JUST HIT ICE. ITS A SIMILAR FEELING TO HITING THE BRAKES AND THE WHEEL BEING JERKED OUT OF YOUR HAND. THIS WOULD BE VERY HAZARDEST ON ICE COVERED ROADS. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE ONLY ABOUT 42K MI. AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 15K MI. I HAVE REPLACED THREE NOW. THE DEALERS SAY IT IS A VERY COMMON PARK TO REPLACE.*AK

PROBLEM #1: THE FUEL PUMP RELAY DOESN'T SEEM TO DISENGAGE AFTER FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE AND IT HEATS UP. THIS CAUSES ROUGH OPERATING OF THE ENGINE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE MAXI FUSE TO THE LIGHTING SYSTEM HEATS UP ALSO, BUT DOES NOT FAIL. ANOTHER AREA THAT IS AFFECTED IS THE MINI FUSE TO THE COURTESY LAMPS. IT HEATS UP, BUT DOES NOT FAIL. THE LAST AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER VACUUM SWITCH. IT ACTS AS IF THE WHEELS ARE OUT OF BALANCE AROUND 50MPH. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS AND THEY EITHER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR TRY AND TELL ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE AT FAULT. THEY PUT INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE FUEL TANK ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHICH MADE IT RUN WORSE. I ASKED TO HAVE THE INJECTORS REPLACED WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FOLLOW PROCEDURE BULLETIN #00-06-04-003 BEFORE TAKING THAT STEP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, BUT THEY HAVEN'T OFFERED TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS. MY THINKING IS THAT THE PROBLEM IS REALLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOW IT WAS RESOLVED? PROBELM #2: WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND WANTS SHIFT LANES ON IT'S OWN. ON SWEEPING TURNS IT TURNS TO THE RIGHT ON IT'S OWN. I HAD THE FRONT END ALLIGNED AND A NEW SET OF TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ANY ADVISE?

AT 34298 MILES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMMENCED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN BY TURNING STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE TRAVELED LIKE ICE WAS ON ROAD, SOON AFTER RETURNING TO NORMAL TRAVEL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFNORMATION.*AK

FUEL LINE IN FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED UP. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT. *YH

THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR (SWP, MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL) SENDS AN INPUT TO THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE (PSCM) WHICH IN TURN THEN CONTROLS POWER STEERING PUMP FLUID FLOW BASED ON VEHICLE SPEED AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION. THIS ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM IS CAUSING A VERY SERIOUS INTERMITTANT STEERING PROBLEM ONLY DURING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THIS HAS TWICE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE NATURAL REACTION TO THIS FAILURE (WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL) IS TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER TO THE RIGHT TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL. IN BOTH NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS THERE WAS A CAR ON MY RIGHT SIDE WHICH I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO AND AT LOW SPEED NOT MUCH OF A CONCERN BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT IS SERIOUS. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER, WHICH HAS BEEN COURTEOUS AND HELPFULL, TELLS ME THEY HAVE HAD TWO TRUCKS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN FOR THE SAME TROUBLE (SWP SENSOR) AND A CO-WORKER ALSO HAS THE SAME TROUBLE, SO THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AFFECTING OTHER GM VEHICLES INCLUDING SUBURBAN, TAHOE, YUKON AND SIERRA. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BUT PLAN TO REPLACE THE SWP SENSOR MYSELF QUITE SOON AS THE DEALER SAYS MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. ESTIMATED DEALER REPAIR COST IS 160.00. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IS THE FIRST TIME IN SOME 30 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A MALFUNCTION OF THIS TYPE, WHEN IT HAPPENS AT FREEWAY SPEED

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL SLIPS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WHICH CAUSES FUEL PUMP TO BURN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLAMS FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHEN HOT OR VEHICLE IS CARRYING A LOAD. TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. MANUFACTURER DENIES A PROBLEM EXISTS.

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN UP, AND THE SEAT ITSELF COLLAPSED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES RELEASING THEMSELVES BEFORE STOPPING. ABS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY/PREMATURLEY ENGAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER .*AK

I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE GAS STATION AND IT WAS FINE. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK TO LEAVE AND WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE TRUCK BACK AND IT WOULD GO FORWARD IN ONLY 1ST AND 3RD GEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED FOLLOWING LOCKING UP OF TRANSMISSION CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF DRIVER. THERE IS A RECALL ON EARLIER MAKES AND MODELS; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

STREEING ON VEHICLE JERKS FROM ONE SIDE OR OTHER , SOMETIMES IT PULLS REAL HARD TO ONE SIDE, AND SOMETIMES NOT HARD AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM TWICE ALREADY, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK INSTALLING A NEW SENSOR SOLVED THE PROBLEM. DRIVE BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACED BECAUSE THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN *YH

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN TIME,AND REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL RUN SOMETIMES/GO SLOW/RUN FAST, AND THEY ALWAYS RUN ON HIGH. CONSUMER STATES IT'S HARD TO SEE, AND MAY BE DANGEROUS. *AK

EVERYTIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE'S PULL TO RIGHT IS EVEN WORSE . CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NEVER FIND CAUSE. *AK

AT 62,000 MILES FAN CLUTCH BROKE AND NOW TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, 2ND GEAR IS GONE. THE REAR SEAL IS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED ALREADY AT 18,600 THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AT 25,600 THEN AT 35,300 THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED ROTORS AND ALL(PROBLEMS WITH CALIPERS) THE REPAIRING DEALER CLAIMED IT WSN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ALL REPAIRS WE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. NOW I AM FACING APPROXIMATELY $2,000. IN REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION.......CHEVROLET GIVE ME A BRAKE. E.*AK

STEERING LOCKS WHILE MAKING A TURN AND WHILE BRAKING. NLM

THIS FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED 5 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS TRUCK IN JULY 1997 AT 11,232 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN SEPT OF 2000 THE SAME PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY COULD DIAGNOSE IT UNLESS IT WAS DOING THE STALLING OUT, SO WE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ON DEC. 26 WE HAD TRUCK TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SAME PART REPLACED AS WAS DONE IN 1997 ONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS NEW TRUCK. THIS PART AS TOLD TO US BY CHEVROLET AND THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAD A SPECIAL POLICY # 00064 - OUR REF # C02653123 THRU CHEVR. WAS TOLD THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM IN REPLACING THE PART AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE RENIGIN ON IT. SAID WE WERE OVER OUR MILES - 120,000 OR 11 YRS. THE PART WAS GOING BAD AT 118,187 IN SEPT., BUT WE KEPT BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS NOT SHOWING UP AND WAS PROBABLY BAD GAS. WE TOOK IT 3 TIMES AND THEY NEVER DOCUMENTED IT ONLY FIXED OTHER PROBLEMS. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT, THE TRUCK HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR REPLACING THE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN SEPT. SO HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE OF THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS REFUSING TO BELIEVE IT WAS THAT UNTIL THEY REPLACED A WATER SENSOR TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE COMPUTER ON IT TO VERIFY IT AND WE HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT TO 2 OTHER MECHANICS THAT TOLD US THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS A BAD PART THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH SINCE 1994

WAS DRIVING STRAIHT AND THE TRUCK TOOK OFF ALL BY ITSELF...THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONLY VEHICLE WOULD TURN MORE THEN NORMAL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK