1997 Chevrolet C/K Pickups Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield wipers that stop or fail to start intermittently, usually without warning in rain, and a loose or binding steering feel traced in complaints to the power-steering assist sensor. Brake complaints cluster around antilock activation when it is not expected, and cooling-system complaints describe coolant seeping at an intake-manifold fitting; reported mileage varies widely, from under 20,000 to well past 130,000.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or fail to start intermittently

   • 27 complaints (38%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 1999–2012

   Owners describe wipers that quit mid-sweep or fail to come on, sometimes working again after a bump or after the ignition is cycled, and often in heavy rain. Many trace the symptom to the wiper motor controller board and note that a 2003 recall for the wiper motor covers other GM vehicles but their truck's VIN was not included. Complaints say dealers either declined the repair as outside the recall or charged for a replacement wiper motor module. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 40,000 to over 180,000 miles, frequently in rain.

   Recall 03V159000

   What to check: Turn the wipers on at every speed, including intermittent, and watch for pauses or a failure to start; a humming motor with no movement points to the controller board. Ask whether the wiper motor module has been replaced and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My windshield wipers have intermittently quit working.I have contacted the dealer about this problem and was informed that there was a recall on this problem for the same year model but mine was not included.however it has the same defect as the other 1997 models that has been recalled gmc needs to be aware of this and amend its recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110077, filed 2005-02, 92,000 miles

   “Windshield wipers began to fail intermittently. During each failure, to date, I have pulled off the road and raised the hood. With the wiper in the on position, I rap sharply on the motor and the wipers begin to operate normally. This would indicate a short in the system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10091320, filed 2004-09, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering feels loose, binds, or pulls unexpectedly

   • 15 complaints (21%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners describe steering that suddenly feels very light and over-assisted, or binds and then releases, sometimes pulling the truck toward one side without warning. Several complaints attribute it to the electronic variable-effort steering sensor, and some report pump or sensor replacements that did not fully resolve it. Dealers in the complaints often could not reproduce the condition or replaced the power-steering pump, sensor, or lines. Mostly reported between roughly 29,000 and 110,000 miles, often noticed in curves or on mountain roads.

   What to check: Drive on a curvy road and feel for sudden changes in steering effort or a bind-then-release sensation; ask whether the power-steering assist sensor or pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering is unpredictable, it has a mind of its own. I have taken it to the dealer I bought it from and they still cant figure out the problem. With all the complaints I see on this website why is nothing being done to fix this problem? This has happened since I first purchased vehicle. This is a very dangerous situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053169, filed 2004-01, 56,000 miles

   “1997 Chevrolet k 20 pickup truck steering .vehicle has variable speed sensor that failed causing steering problems when cornering........happened on a slick road and almost had an accident.....I have done some research and found out that 1997 1998 and 1999 trucks had this type steering..as many owners as I could find have all had this problem and every Chevrolet dealer I called have had admitted they have had countless trucks in for this repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058292, filed 2004-02, 48,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Antilock brakes activate when not needed

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2013

   Complaints describe the antilock system engaging during ordinary stops on dry pavement, at times at very low speed, with the pedal feeling sensitive or the stopping distance lengthening. Some owners report new pads, rotors, drums, or a master cylinder without the behavior going away. In other complaints braking felt weaker than expected during harder stops. Reported from about 18,000 to 100,000 miles, typically during normal low-speed or dry-road braking.

   What to check: Test the brakes at low speed on dry pavement and note any pulsing pedal or ABS chatter; ask for service records on the ABS sensors, wheel bearings, and brake hydraulic parts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1997 Chevrolet silverado truck. Over the last several months I have been experiencing random failure in the anti-lock brakes, they engage in situations where there is no reason to. Recently I viewed a report that your organization is investigating the same problem with 1999 - 2002 models, but the problem in that investigation exactly describes my problem. Since the problem is random, you cannot be prepared when you don't quite stop as fast as expected. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10119419, filed 2005-05, 89,000 miles

   “The antilock brakes on 1997 Chevrolet w/t 4wd pickup kept activating on dry pavement. I understand GM has had similar problems with other trucks but won't recognize the problem with this truck. This is my second complaint and I just emailed GM again about the problem. They told me to take it to a dealer to have it diagnosed. I would have to pay for the service and GM would contact the dealer to see if they (GM) would pay to repair it. I don't want to do this because I'm afraid I might get stuck with the whole bill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10148794, filed 2006-01, 18,000 miles

Buying note. This is an old truck, so condition and service history matter more than the complaint list: verify the wipers work at every speed, feel the steering through a few curves, and test the brakes at low speed before buying. Records showing recent replacement of the wiper motor module, power-steering assist sensor, fuel pump, and coolant fittings would be worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.