1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck: common problems

Owners of the 1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck filed 48 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 48
involving a crash: 4

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 27% of all complaints
2 Steering 27% of all complaints
3 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
4 Structure 8% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
6 Suspension 4% of all complaints
7 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
8 Engine and cooling 2% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 13 complaints (27% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 13 complaints (27% of all).
Powertrain: 7 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Structure: 4 complaints (8% of all).
Fuel system: 3 complaints (6% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 48 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

steering or power steering problems4 · 8%
brake failure3 · 6%
transmission slipping3 · 6%
door locks, latches, handles2 · 4%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 4%
jerking, harsh shifts2 · 4%
overheating, coolant loss2 · 4%
rust, corrosion2 · 4%
headlights and tail lights1 · 2%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Service brakes	13	2
Steering	13	0
Powertrain	7	1
Structure	4	0
Fuel system	3	0
Suspension	2	0
Electrical system	1	0
Engine and cooling	1	0
Exterior lighting	1	0
Tires	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0
Visibility	1	0
Wheels	1	1
Other	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

A recall was being issued on gm 1999 -2002 corrosion anti lock brake sensors. The 1997 chevrolet pickups were not included in this recall. Vehicle was experiencing the same anti lock brake corrosion as the 1999-2002 recalled vehicles.
Service brakes · crash · 2005-10-07 · NHTSA complaint #10139037
We were traveling on i80 (ohio tpk.) when the right rear wheel came off causing the van to loose control. We hit the highway's concrete center divider causing injury to my sons, my wife and aunt. Upon further inspection of the damaged vehicle I observed that all of the wheel lugs were sheared at the hub assembly.
Wheels · crash · 1999-10-04 · NHTSA complaint #712760
The contact stated that the interior driver side door handle detached when he exited the vehicle. This failure has occurred three times. He had to roll down the window and open the door from the outside to exit the vehicle. He has not notified the dealer because the vehicle was purchased from a private owner.
Structure · 2007-08-28 · NHTSA complaint #10201008
This is to inform you of a known problem with the 4l60e transmissions in the 1997 and up gm truck transmissions, the symptoms include the hard shift from first gear to second gear, and the slipping of the transmission in overdrive.
Powertrain · 2007-06-25 · NHTSA complaint #10194184
The brakes shake when being applied. I have reviewed information on your database which have this exact same complaint. I believe there are not more since the vehicles are over 5 years old and people believe it to be normal wear and tare. It is not normal. The anti locks are over sensitive.
Service brakes · 2005-09-02 · NHTSA complaint #10135178
The windshield wipers failed on several occasions while driving in severe thunderstorms, 1997 chevrolet truck 2500.
Visibility · 2002-08-13 · NHTSA complaint #567006
The previous year, june 1999, with less than 50,000 miles on the truck, they took the transmission out and tore it apart to find out what was causing a slipping problem. They finally settled on a valve that had gone bad. One week later they had to replace the same valve again.
Powertrain · 2002-03-26 · NHTSA complaint #759792
The electrical harness to the fuel pump was corroded and burnt, consumer replaced the fuel pump, according to the mechanic it was burnt two inches into the top of the fuel tank. Nlm
Fuel system · 2001-01-31 · NHTSA complaint #558604

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19971
19988
199920
20008
20011
20023
20031
20041
20052
20073

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,450 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Chevrolet Truck has 16 complaints (32 years in the data). This year has 48, above average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, steering, powertrain. Total complaints: 48. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (8%), brake failure (6%), transmission slipping (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1997 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1997 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.