"How reliable is the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?"

"Based on 693 NHTSA complaints, the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 90000 miles. The most common issue is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip."

"What are common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip, accounting for a significant portion of the 693 total complaints filed."

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 693 complaints

693

Total Complaints

90,000mi

Median Mileage

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

65,000 25th Percentile

90,000 Median Mileage

124,614 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Steering

Hydraulic Power Assist System

Automatic Transmission

Windshield Wiper/Washer

Fuel Pump

Motor

Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Front

Gasoline

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ABS BRAKES, WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLIED, PEDAL WENT NEARLY TO THE FLOOR, ABS GRABBED FOR A SECOND, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, PUMPED BRAKES, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED , 5MPH. *AK"

"WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS & THEN PROCEEDING, NOTICED SMOKE FROM (ABS) BRAKING AREA, BRAKING (ABS) AREA TURNED BLUE. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, COULD NOT FIND OR FIX PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. MFR SAID TO CALL HOTLINE. SENDING INVOICES. *AK"

"DRIVING VEHICLE, STARTED SMOKING FOR NO REASON, STARTED APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), THEY WERE HOT, PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR. HAPPENED 5 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER WHILE SMOKING. WAS FIXED PRIOR TO PROBLEM, REAPPEARING AGAIN. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 86 complaints

25th: 75,000 mi Median: 87,000 mi 75th: 99,950 mi

Steering 59 complaints

25th: 36,000 mi Median: 60,000 mi 75th: 76,000 mi

Hydraulic Power Assist System 49 complaints

25th: 68,750 mi Median: 75,500 mi 75th: 102,750 mi

Automatic Transmission 33 complaints

25th: 56,000 mi Median: 75,000 mi 75th: 90,300 mi

Windshield Wiper/Washer 32 complaints

25th: 68,800 mi Median: 90,000 mi 75th: 109,150 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 90 TX: 66 FL: 34 OH: 33 MN: 31 GA: 30 MI: 25 OK: 23 NY: 22 IL: 21

Who Files Complaints?

53.1%

Original Owners

46.9%

Second+ Owners

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1998	452	73,575	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	17
1999	711	109,200	Service Brakes	51
2000	731	102,000	Service Brakes	87
2001	627	87,000	Service Brakes	84
2002	620	90,000	Service Brakes	60
2003	958	82,000	Service Brakes	33
2004	951	70,000	Service Brakes	47
2005	642	64,000	Electrical System	27
2006	462	60,000	Service Brakes	23
2007	1049	70,000	Air Bags	31
2008	1090	70,000	Air Bags	45
2009	553	70,000	Air Bags	10
2010	449	67,000	Air Bags	10
2011	695	72,000	Air Bags	32
2012	273	74,433	Unknown Or Other	8
2013	385	62,186	Unknown Or Other	12
2014	2184	62,826	Steering	105
2015	1390	52,000	Service Brakes	82
2016	1025	45,000	Service Brakes	62
2017	928	41,555	Power Train	50
2018	715	35,090	Power Train	16
2019	1436	11,232	Engine	46
2020	934	12,500	Engine	20
2021	924	47,000	Engine	27
2022	696	32,000	Engine	14
2023	430	25,500	Engine	16
2024	317	7,500	Engine	10
2025	98	2,650	Engine	2
2026	28	-	Engine	0

Active Recalls (2)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Campaign 06E043000 | 19/05/2006

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Equipment

Campaign 07E088000 | 24/10/2007

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Extend Your Brake Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation

Compare Chevrolet Silverado 1500

vs Ford F-150 →

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 parts on Amazon

→

Affiliate link

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28