1997 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
61,517 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 34 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 38.2% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 11.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 13; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 6; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012035 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034581 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
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.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039565 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053119 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
STEERING PROBLEMS. SINCE MY TRUCK WAS NEW I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING AT LOW SPEED. SOMETIMES THERE IS ALSO UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST THAT PULLS THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT A DEALER AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A GM DEALER AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SOMETIMES, WHEN I PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS USUALLY A LEFT HAND TURN, I TOTALLY LOSE THE POWER STEERING…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057527 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND MADE SOME REPAIRS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, BRAKES STILL OPERATED POORLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061628 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
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. *AK AS A RESULT, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT IT WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS PERFORMING BY DESIGN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068388 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)
I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ON MY 3500 CHEVY. 1997 PICK UP TRUCK, THERE IS ONLY 56.000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED IN AND HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AT MY COST, I CALLED THE CHEY. FACTORY AND THE GIRL SAID THEY HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PUMPS. ALL I KNOW IS I'M GLAD I WASN'T TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS YOU CAN'T CONTROLL THE STEERING OR THE BRAKING ON THIS TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 56 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112297 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHILE RAINING. WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, COULD NOT SEE, HAD TO STOP AND WAIT FOR RAIN TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO FIX.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112297 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.