Most common 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups problems
Share of the 72 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints by model year
Best C/K Pickups years: 1995, 1996, 2002. Years to avoid: 1998, 1997. Compare all years →
1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups recalls (1)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups:
Vacuum brake booster
Alleged that the vacuum brake booster can fail resulting in loss of brake effectiveness and extended stopping distances.
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
What 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 30 →
I was returning home when it started raining. I tried to turn on my windshield wipers and they did not come on. The rain became very heavy and I was unable to see. I had no was to turn off or stop so I slowed down to about 10 MPH in a 45 MPH zone, so I could even stay on the road. When I finally had a chance to pull off the road I did. The wipers did not work at any speed, nor did the wiper wash mode work. After I made it home I checked the fuse for the wipers and it was okay. I turned the ignition switch on and the wipers worked. As we have had a lot of rain in our area, this occurred 3 seperate times where the wipers failed to work when I needed them. After I had gotten home, and checked again, they worked. I researched on the web at a Chevy site and found that this was a common problem with the vehicle, mine is a 1997 Chevrolet k pickup truck. …
Recently had wipers fail during heavy storm while on freeway. Nearly caused crash. Condition is intermittent. Checked NHTSA website and found recall (03V159000) and documents showed entire production from my model was included. Took truck to penske chev. Of cerritos, ca. Asked them to check for recall applicability. They told me "the truck was too old" and my VIN number was "not a good VIN". They called GM and got the same info, no record of VIN. I am the original owner (never received owner notifications) and showed them monroney label, original bill of sale and title with this VIN. Service writer told me that without VIN, there would be no repair, despite the paperwork provided and GM recall document with affected range. Dealer acted like I was trying to steal from them.
Steering
1) burnt electrical wires for the electric fuel pump. Location is inside the gas tank. Had to replace the fuel pump to rectify the problem. Explosion hazard. 2) power steering- wheel would jerk vehicle towards oncoming traffic. Happens without warning. Noticed many complaints on this problem without anything being done about it. Even by the ntsb! Is someone receiving a kickback on this thing or what? 3) burnt electrical connection-connector between the HVAC cooling fan and the selector switch inside of dash. 4) clunking noise/hard shift, from transmission 4l60e-happens constantly from 1st to 2nd gear. More noticeable when vehicle is warm.
1997 Chevrolet k 20 pickup truck steering .vehicle has variable speed sensor that failed causing steering problems when cornering........happened on a slick road and almost had an accident.....I have done some research and found out that 1997 1998 and 1999 trucks had this type steering..as many owners as I could find have all had this problem and every Chevrolet dealer I called have had admitted they have had countless trucks in for this repair.
Brakes
I have a 1997 Chevrolet silverado truck. Over the last several months I have been experiencing random failure in the anti-lock brakes, they engage in situations where there is no reason to. Recently I viewed a report that your organization is investigating the same problem with 1999 - 2002 models, but the problem in that investigation exactly describes my problem. Since the problem is random, you cannot be prepared when you don't quite stop as fast as expected. My truck is in excellent condition and I cannot expect my son to be able to handle this situation as he is an in-experienced driver. I was going to schedule soon to have it fixed when I viewed the article about a potential recall. I am awaiting to hear your decision and hoping you include earlier models (1997) such as mine if there is a recall.
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to apply brake pressure at various speeds the brakes failed. This occurred without warning during normal braking on normal roads. The dealership turned the rotors, packed the wheel bearings, replaced the cylinders, sealed in rear axles, replaced the brakes and pads however the problem still exists. The manufacturer has been alerted. Updated 6/19/2006 -
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups a good car?
Based on 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 C/K Pickups rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the C/K Pickups at the same age. It is one of the C/K Pickups years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 30 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer. Next are the steering (19) and brakes (8).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet C/K Pickups?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998 and 1997. See the full Chevrolet C/K Pickups years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 19% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.