Most common 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
Share of the 61 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 3500 years: 2014, 2017, 2012. Years to avoid: 2024, 2025, 2021, 2020, 2022. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500:
Rear axle separation from vehicle
The single consumer complaint received by NHTSA reported an incident in which application of the service brakes of the subject vehicle precipitated an unforewarned loss of vehicle control as the left rear axle separated from the vehicle.inspection of the vehicle following the incident disclosed that the left rear dual wheels had jammed into the fender well as the axle separated from the left leaf spring assembly.the…
What 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 owners say
Brakes all 26 →
In an emergency or panic stop ABS brake system malfunctioned. Once consumer applied the brakes there was 3 or 4 seconds of no braking power. As a result, consumer rear ended another vehicle. Manufacturer said that it was a normal behavior of the vehicle and was performing by design.
While driving and upon making a stop the brake pedal went completely to the floor. Vehicle then surged forward. It felt as if something disengaged, and the pedal went to the floor. Consumer had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Consumer found that a clip broke which left the brake pedal swinging. The clip which holds the master cylinder rod to the brake pedal broke allowing the rod to slip off.
Fuel & propulsion system
Consumer called complaining about the gas tank. Vehicle only has 84000 miles. Fuel tank split between two to three inches in between the tank. Manufacturer was contacted, and stated that there was a recall on 1998 model, but consumer never received a recall letter, and manufacturer will not reimburse the money.dealer was not contacted, vehicle was repaired at an independent shop.
Truck has a diesel engine with a defective injector pump. Engine will shut off with out notice, no indication, just instantly shuts off completely while driving. I have had to replace a total of 5 or 6 injector pumps since purchasing this vehicle new. The last occurrence was March 2014.
Wheels & tires
Driving 60mph heard a loud pop. Pulled over & saw the left rear tire had lost all tread. Tread had hit vehicle & bent fender. Part of tread was still on tire which had deflated. Placed spare on. Took vehicle to tire retailer & had it replaced. Other 3 tires were okay. 1997, Chevrolet 3500(replacement) with 13,000 miles. Firestone, steel tex, r4s lt 265/75r16, dot vnw81xm278.
We have a 1997 chev one ton truck with 6 tires. We checked our tires yesterday and found them to have cracks in several of the side walls and one even seemed to be starting a bubble. These tires have been maintained by air pressure checked and rotated. There is about 27,000 miles on these tires lt225/75/r16
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 a good car?
Based on 61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Silverado 3500 rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado 3500 at the same age. It is one of the Silverado 3500 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 3500?
The brakes — 26 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (7) and wheels & tires (7).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2017 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2025, 2021, 2020 and 2022. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 30% 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.