1997 Chevrolet Silverado: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado
On the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado, the failure owners report most often is other steering problem, with 44 reports on file. The earliest to appear is fuel pump failure, reported by a median of 70,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 1997.
High risk for a 1997 — 48th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. 365 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.
What breaks on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado
Owners have reported 48 named failure modes on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado, and the three most-reported carry 32% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other steering problem leads with 44 reports and about 15 per 1,000 vehicles.
ABS module or sensor failure follows with 40 reports, median 65,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Wiper or washer failure follows with 31 reports, usually reported between 62k to 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into brakes (79), steering (56) and glass (37).
The mileage the reports cluster at
83 of the reports on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 72,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 20% by 50,000 miles, 70% by 100,000 miles and 89% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 60,000 and 70,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
14% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: fuel pump failure around 69k, wiper or washer failure around 85k and other body or interior problem around 90k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 48. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 21 mention a crash, 15 a fire and 16 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.69, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other steering problem at $350–$2,400, ABS module or sensor failure at $500–$2,400, wiper or washer failure at $120–$800 and fuel pump failure at $600–$2,600. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
18% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other steering problem | steering | 44 | 5 | — | 50k | — | 14.6 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 40 | 6 | — | 66k | — | 13.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 31 | 15 | 62k | 85k | 100k | 10.3 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 26 | 10 | 69k | 69k | 83k | 8.6 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 23 | 4 | — | 58k | — | 7.7 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 18 | 9 | 71k | 90k | 100k | 6.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 16 | 1 | — | 25k | — | 5.3 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 14 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 4.7 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 13 | 5 | — | 157k | — | 4.3 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 12 | 2 | — | 47k | — | 4.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 9 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 3.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 9 | 2 | — | 54k | — | 3.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 7 | 3 | — | 25k | — | 2.3 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 6 | 1 | — | 72k | — | 2.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 1 | — | 188k | — | 2.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 6 | 2 | — | 138k | — | 2.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.7 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.7 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.7 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 4 | 1 | — | 127k | — | 1.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Cooling fan failure | cooling | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 4 | 2 | — | 75k | — | 1.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 1.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 30k | — | 0.7 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.7 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 112k | — | 0.7 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 54k | — | 0.3 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 85k | — | 0.3 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Seat, track or recliner failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 123k | — | 0.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.3 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 12 | 2 | — | 111k | — | 4.0 | — | Moderate |
This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado draws about 121 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 97th percentile of complaint rates among 1997 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.
The working figure is 3,006 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 1997 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other steering problem
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle pulls to the right intermittently. The pulling occurs suddenly and last for only a second. The contact had the vehicle inspected for the problem by an independent repair shop in 2000. The repair shop was unable able to determine the cause of the pulling. The problem continued and the contact called the local dealer yesterday. The dealer was able to determine a possible cause by phone and suggested repairing the steering sensor. *nm updated 03/17/06. *jb
In january 2004 the news reported a recall on chevrolet cars with the exact probblem I have been having since 2000. The power steering will over-assist causing the steering wheel to jerk and hence the vehicle to suddenly steer right or left. It feels like the steering has a mind of its own. This will happen when on a curve or when driving in a straight line. This problem is unpredictable and has caused some near misses and scary moments, particularly when driving on slippery snow covered streets. The failure occurs frequently and lasts for a day or a week at a time then goes away for an undeterminable period. Before I purchased this vehicle I had the same problem while test driving other 1997 pickups. Since there is currently a recall for this problem on chevrolet cars I feel it should be extended to the c/k, silverado pickups as well. It is only a matter of time before an accident will occur.*ak
ABS module or sensor failure
Consumer states after turning off the engine, there was a motor running that was vibratiing the whole vehicle. Consumer looked under vehicle and saw ABS burning red cherry hot. *ak
Consumer states: ABS brakes activated while stopping at low speed as a result the vehicle would not stop. Abs sensor has been replaced 3 times. Dealer is aware of the problem. *ak *sb *nm
Wiper or washer failure
Consumer complained that windshield wipers were working intermittently during inclement weather. Currently, the windshield wipers failed to operate in any condition. The edealer was notified. The ealer informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN. *ak *jb
Recall 03v159000 concerning windshield wiper motor. Windshield wipers worked intermittently during inclement conditions. Dealer was contacted. Dealer informed the consumer that this vehicle was not covered under that recall due to VIN. *ak
How it ranks in the 1997 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 1997 sits in the model line
High risk for a 1997 — 48th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 21 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 66 and 2013 worst at 82, with 1997 itself at 68.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 1997, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 1996–1998 generation specifically, 1996 is the strongest year at 66 and 1997 the weakest at 68.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-1998 generation, 1996 Chevrolet Silverado scores best at 66 and 1997 Chevrolet Silverado worst at 68.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: wiper or washer failure from about 62k, fuel pump failure from about 69k and other body or interior problem from about 71k.
On a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether wiper or washer failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
365 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 365 reports, 83 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 23% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado?
The most-reported failures are other steering problem (44 reports, median 50,000 miles), abs module or sensor failure (40 reports, median 65,000 miles) and wiper or washer failure (31 reports, median 85,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Silverado problems start?
Fuel pump failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 70,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 70,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 72,500 miles.
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 48th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 1997 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Silverado is best?
Within the 1996–1998 generation, 1996 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 1997 worst at 68. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed