Most common 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Share of the 64 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 2500 years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2022, 2020, 2015, 2025. Compare all years →
What 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 owners say
Brakes all 24 →
My brakes have not worked properly since I bought the vehicle new. The dealer has said they work properly and ABS systems work different than the old systems. If I have to hit the brake quickly, the pedal goes almost to the floor and the vehicle does not stop. Brakes need to be pumped to stop effectively but that is not possible at times, especially in city driving. I have had many many close calls and have bumped the vehicle in front of me once and smashed into another vehicle once. My insurance rates were raised for several years as a result. I have to drive this pick-up truck very cautiously but I'm worried that something more serious could happen to me or my wife while driving. GM has a recall on 1999-2002 silverados for this type of brake problem. I have the same problem, but they don't seem to care that I have the same safety hazard with my 1997 Silverado with 44,000 miles on it. …
Stopping at a stop light the brakes went to the floor and pulled right. I went into the intersection around 5 feet. Required a master cylinder and left front hub assembly to fix problem. Cost: 808.57 this follows rear brake problems at 27,097 miles that required pads, rotors, and calipers at a cost of 668.27.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Wipers quit when in use. Work intermittently. They are unpredictable. They have been that way for years. My 1999 tahoe does the same thing. My 1996 Silverado did the same thing as well and I received a recall notice and the dealer repaired problem. These two vehicles are virtually identical to the 1996 Silverado, and are showing the same symptoms. The wipers will work erratically especially if it's a heavy rain and can quit in the middle of operation making the vehicle very unsafe. Please find out why the 1996 Silverado was covered under a recall and the 1997 Silverado and the 1999 tahoe were not covered under the same recall when they are showing the same dangerous faulty windshield wiper problems. Again this problem has been going on for years and I'm frustrated that the dealer will not fix this problem that was covered under a recall for the 96 Silverado. Thank you
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet k2500. The contact stated that he experienced problems with the windshield wipers because they would function properly on an intermittent basis. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. Both the dealer and manufacturer stated that the contact would be responsible for repair costs as the vehicle was not included in a recall related to the windshield wipers (could not find the recall in NHTSA database). The current mileage was approximately 55,000. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. Updated 01/11/2011 updated 03/28/11
Engine & cooling
I have a1997 Chevrolet 6.5t diesel, I was driving home from work doing about 45 MPH crossing a stop light and the truck just shut off for no reason and a semi was behind me and almost plowed in to the back of my truck but he was able to go around at the last second. I was on the freeway doing 70 MPH and the truck did the same thing just shut off for no reason and a car almost hit me but was able to stop in time. On all occasions I lost all power to everything brakes,steering and engine power. This has happened several times before and after the two above. Found out that GM had put out an under the table recall of the pmd and injector pump on the 6.5t diesel motor 12yr/100,000miles but did not publicly say anything. …
1997 k 2500 truck problem with engine stalling and surging will stall at high speeds and with hydro boost there are only 10 % braking power this has happened many times with each time a failure of a pmd box on engine that the dealer says is a major problem since 1994 I have had replaced 4 times with the result the same a dangerously close call when the vehicle surges in to traffic or the brakes fail when the engine stalls after looking the dealer was pushed buy extended the warranty on the OEM part but nothing has been done to repair the risk of driving after I leave the dealer and a failure happens I have to believe this is a problem across the country and accident other than mine must have happened the dealer and the stanadine dealer in toledo admit these are a continuing problems that is not going away. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Silverado 2500 rates better than average: 44% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Silverado 2500 at the same age. 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 2500?
The brakes — 24 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (10) and engine & cooling (8).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2022, 2020, 2015 and 2025. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 25% 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.