Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (1997)

955 consumer complaints on file.

#10178916January 17, 2007
STEERING
MY STEERING IN MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS ERRATIC. IT IS ULTRA EASY AT TIMES AND ULTRA DIFFICULT AT OTHERS. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT WILL SUDDENLY JERK OUT OF MY HAND. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT MY STEERING SENSOR LOCATED ON MY STEERING COLUMN. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE. THE WARRANTY PERIOD UNDER WHICH CHEVROLET WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE EXPIRED BEFORE I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHILE I WAS IN AGHANISTAN. MY VEHICLE NO LONGER FALLS UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DID NOT NOTIFY MY AT ANY TIME OF A RECALL/CONCERN. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY CONCERNS UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178936January 17, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM AND A RECALL WAS RECOMMENDED BY NHTSA. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK, DON'T WORK, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN EVER THEY ARE TURNED ON. CHEVROLET HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO DATE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171664October 23, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1997 K1500 CHEVROLET SILVERADO KELSEY HAYES ABS ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT (NO WHEEL SLIP) BETWEEN 5-10 MPH WHEN BRAKES APPLIED HARD OR SOFTLY. THIS LEADS TO INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE UNLESS BRAKES RELEASED AND REAPPLIED QUICKLY. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISS COLLISIONS WITH PARKED VEHICLES (NO COLLISION HAS YET OCCURRED.) ONE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER ON 9/2005 (PART NOT AVAILABLE) THIS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT ~4 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN RECURRING. A SECOND DEALER STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V379000) DUE TO RUST ACCUMULATING AROUND FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 1997 MODEL YEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED AND OPERATED PRIMARILY IN MN, SD, AND NY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171273October 18, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS AND 80,000 MILES OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE FUEL PUMP HAS DIED ON ME 5 TIMES. ALL 5 TIMES THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH AC DELCO PARTS FROM GM. THE LAST TWO TIMES IT WENT OUT I HAD IT REPLACED BY A CHEVY DEALER IN TAMPA. THE SECOND TO THE LAST FAILURE CAUSED A DOMINO EFFECT THAT ENDED UP BEING VERY COSTLY TO ME. FRAGMENTS FROM THE PUMP TRAVELED TO THE FILTER, SOMEHOW MADE IT PAST THE FILTER AND RUINED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. FRAGMENTS FROM THAT TRAVELED FURTHER ALONG AND DESTROYED THE THROTTLE BODY METERING VALVE AND ALL 8 FUEL INJECTORS. AFTER HAVING ALL THIS WORK DONE, THE LAST FUEL PUMP ONLY WORKED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS BEFORE IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT LUCKILY DID NOT RUIN THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE GM PART BEING DEFECTIVE, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH AS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I'VE NEVER LET THE TANK GET BELOW 1/3 FULL BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAN DAMAGE THE PUMP BELOW 1/4 FULL. THE PUMP FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS CAUSED A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169698October 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
NO WARNING OF BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON THE 1997 CHEVY C1500 IT BLOWS THE FUSE TO BRAKE LIGHTS. VEHICLE CAN BE OPERATED WITH OUT BRAKE LIGHTS WITH OUT DRIVER KNOWLEDGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168814September 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS ENGAGED RESULTING IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167537September 7, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP IN MY VEHICLE 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THIS IS A HIGHLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AS THE ENTIRE TRUCK BED HAS TO BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE FUEL PUMP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167077August 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ON 08/30/06, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AFTER OBSERVING THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #03V159000, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER ON OTHER MODELS MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165215August 11, 2006
STEERING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IDLING ARM AND PITMAN ARM. THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE FAULTY PART WAS THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163558July 26, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ABS MOTOR BEGINS SPINNING WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELS UNDER 10 MPH. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160072June 17, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
MY SON WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE POWER ASSIST WAS LOST. THIS MADE THE TRUCK ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I HAVE REMOVED THE PUMP AND FOUND THE INTERNAL SHAFT HAD BROKEN. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A MANAGER FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FLEET. I NETWORK WITH A LARGE GROUP OF EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS INCLUDING INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE TRUCKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159975June 16, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP BROKE AGAIN ON MY 1997 CHEVY DIESEL PICK UP THIS WILL BE THE 4TH PUMP ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH GM HAS HAD A KNOWN PROBLEM AND COVERED THE PREVIOUS 3. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO PAY $2400.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158592May 30, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO CRASH OR DAMAGE OR INJURY. JUST ABS ON A 1997 TAHOE THAT HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THEY ENGAGE AT LOW SPEED BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SLIDES AND WHEN THEY ENGAGE YOU CAN HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG SPRING ENGAGING, WEIRD SOUND. WE HAD NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE WITH ABS SO DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ABNORMAL SOUNDING AND FEELING BUT DIDN'T LIKE IT AND FELT UNCOMFORTABLE. I KEPT TALKING TO PEOPLE AND THEY SUGGESTED I CHECK OUT SERVICE NOTICES/RECALLS. WAS GLAD TO SEE A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH THE 1999 TO 2002 BUT OF COURSE THAT DOESN'T COVER MY 1997. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158375May 26, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
MY 1997 Z71 KEPT DYING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FUEL PUMP. SO I GO TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT HAD SHORTED. THE POWER WIRE AND CONNECTIONS WERE MELTED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND ASSEMBLY IN THE TANK. COST ME OVER $700.00 PLUS LABOR. I WAS TOLD I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T EXPLODE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158186May 24, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT WORK. IT STARTED OUT THE WASHER WOULDN'T ALWAYS WORK AND THEN THE WIPERS FOLLOWED SUIT. THE FIRST TIME MY WIPERS DIDN'T WORK MY VISIBILITY DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT WAS A DANGEROUS DRIVE HOME. I LOOKED UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE DID NOT GET RECALLED. OTHER MODELS IN MY YEAR WERE RECALLED AND MY MODEL IN PREVIOUS YEARS WERE RECALLED. CHEVY DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $175 TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD. I REMOVED THE BOARD CLEANED IT RE-SOLDERED IT AND REINSTALLED IN 30 MINUTES. EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157787May 18, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157240May 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO I OWN WILL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING LEADING TO VERY POOR VISIBILITY. THEY WILL WORK FINE FOR THE FIRST 15-20 MINUTES WHILE IT IS RAINING AND THEN SUDDENLY QUIT MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER RECALLS FOR VEHICLES VERY SIMILAR TO MINE REGARDING A "CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD" FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156659May 2, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500Z71. THE GALVANIZEDBRAID-STEEL TAIL GATE SUPPORT HINGE USED TO SUPPORT TAIL GATE BROKE. THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 1999-2000 FOR THE SAME THING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE 1997 ALSO. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA RECALL NOTICE SAYS THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THEY WILL REPLACE THEM ON THE 1999-2000 MODELS THE NEED REPLACED ON THE 1997 MODELS ALSO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156152April 26, 2006
STEERING
MY 1997 CHEVY 1500 PICKUP HAS A STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AS YOUR ENTERING A TURN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO CROSS THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD. TO DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MECHANICS OFFER SUGGESTIONS RANGING FROM THE STEERING BOX TO STEERING SENSORS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM TO THIS TRUCK, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME YEAR MODEL ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I GUESS GM WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE THEY DECIDE RECALL THIS YEAR MODEL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155049April 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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