Most common 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Share of the 555 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022, 2024. Compare all years →
What 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say
Steering all 140 →
When driving and entering a curve the power steering jerks to the direction of steer. This is said to be a problem with the steering position sensor causing the variable assist steering to over-compensate and causing the vehicle to veer dangerously. The forums are full of people with this problem that has plagued this system.
Going through a left hand curve at speeds between 30mph to 60mph I get a feeling of the steering wheel wanting to dive & a brief loss of control when going around a long sweeping curve. It happens on every long sweeping left hand curve. If you aren't ready for it you could lose control & hit an oncoming car head on. To correct the failure I will have to replace the sensor & I will keep the old part. From what I have read on the internet about these sensors is there have been many people that have had these issues & some that had them replaced up to 3 times in a couple of years. All agreed that it was a dangerous situation. The part involved is called the "power steering speed sensor" (variable assist power steering) & is located on the steering column. …
Brakes all 134 →
1997 Chevy Silverado k1500 z71. The anti-lock brake was preventing me from stopping at low speeds. They have recalled all the newer models to fix the defect, but not the older models. The only way to disable the anti-lock brake is to cut the anti-lock speed sensor for it. Anti-brake light comes on after. At least, I have brakes. I was involved in many accidents, fortunately, with no major injuries other than many bumper scratches and dents. To avoid hitting a car at stop, I had to run off the road intentionally many times. This truck could get people killed if they are not recalled.
While exiting a ramp in lexington, ky, the antilock braking system on my pick-up failed, resulting in my truck not being able to stop. This resulted in my truck entering on-coming traffic and caused an non-injury accident. My family was present in the vehicle, including my 3 year old son. The truck was able to make it home, and is preparing to be repaired. The braking system continues to mal-function without warning, reducing or eliminating the ability to stop the vehicle. The anti-lock system kicks in constantly, and when this happens, the truck will not immediately stop.
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 77 →
The wipers just stopped working in the middle of a storm and I had to pull to the side of the road and I tried everything I could to get the wipers to work I called a friend and he said to tap the wiper motor and it did get the wipers to work until I got home and the next day I called and got a new wiper motor and installed it on my truck and I have not had a problem since. The wiper motor was not cheap and I'm on a fixed income. I would like to be reimbursed for the cost of the wiper motor I'm not worried about the time it took me to replace it. I hope that you can help me out with this matter. Thank you
Dt: when consumers vehicle gets wet the windshield wipers quit working. 1997 Chevrolet k1500 pickup with 33000 miles. Vehicle started experiencing this problem about six months ago with 32,000 miles on it. Consumer bought vehicle on 10-14 1997, vehicle was never in a wreck, nor had any body work been done on it. Consumer first noticed problem when he was washing vehicle in driveway and went to turn on the windshield wipers to find that they would not work. Consumer contacted manufacturer on July 20, 2005. Manufacturer stated that they could not find that this problem was covered by anything due to age of vehicle. Consumer said that he had heard that this was a problem on these vehicles with windshield wipers not working due to circuit board. He heard that vehicle could be fixed for free if fitted in a certain time frame. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?
Based on 555 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Silverado 1500 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado 1500 at the same age. It is one of the Silverado 1500 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 Silverado 1500?
The steering — 140 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hydraulic power assist system. Next are the brakes (134) and windows, wipers & sunroof (77).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022 and 2024. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 89,000 miles; 16% 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.