1997 Chevrolet Pickup Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on two patterns: steering that suddenly pulls, twitches or loses power assist, and brakes that feel soft, take the pedal to the floor or engage the antilock system when it should not. Both are described as intermittent and hard to reproduce, and owners frequently say the dealer could not identify a cause. Many reports come from trucks past 60,000 miles, though some describe symptoms from low mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering wheel pulls or jerks on its own

   • 21 complaints (28%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2008

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly jerking or pulling to one side while driving straight, cornering, or at low speed, sometimes with a momentary loss of resistance that feels like the power assist dropping in and out. Several say the wheel had to be fought to complete a turn, and some report the dealer replaced a steering sensor without resolving it. Others were told nothing was wrong after inspection. Reported across a wide mileage range, from trucks with a few thousand miles to ones over 130,000 miles, and often described as intermittent at low speeds or in curves.

   What to check: Drive the truck at low speed and through gentle curves and feel for any twitch, pull or drop in assist; ask whether the power steering sensor or pump has been replaced and keep records if it recurs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the steering becomes very loose and the suddenly catches. I have have contacted the dealership and they feel certain it is a power steering speed sensor. I have encounter many other consumers who have experienced the same problem. This should be a recall item. Very dangerous while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #752633, filed 2001-09

   “While making a right turn steering wheel will suddenly pull hard to right, almost as if someone grabbed wheel and pulled it. I do not remember having this problem until I had brake trouble at around 58,000 miles. The front pads were replaced, rotors resurfaced, and packed front wheel bearings. After having the brakes fixed, I still have the problem of the steering pulling to the right while making a right turn. Seem to have the same problem with a 1997 gmc, yukon.”

   NHTSA complaint #749026, filed 2001-07
2. 2
   Brakes

   Soft or low brake pedal, long stopping distance

   • 19 complaints (25%)
   • typically at 3.5 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2002

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going near or to the floor when stopping, sometimes with the antilock system engaging on dry pavement at low speed and the pedal dropping away. Some owners say the pedal was rigid after a vacuum booster failure, and a few report brake service or front brake work that did not resolve the symptom. Dealers were often unable to identify a cause. Reported across a broad mileage span; several owners note the problem appearing during gradual or low-speed stops rather than hard braking.

   What to check: Test the pedal on a gradual stop from low speed and again on a firm stop; ask for brake service records and whether the vacuum booster or antilock system has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our dealership and general motors help desk indicated that because the vehicle's mileage is beyond the extended warranty criteria, they do not want to fix the vacuum brake boosters even though there have been problems with the GM trucks as reported in the detroit free press on june 29, 2001. Is there anything we can do or anyone to contact regarding the problem? Will the manufacturer (GM) pay for this defect? Or does it have to be a recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #751316, filed 2001-08

   “At slow speeds aproximatly 5-10 MPH the antilock system kicks in and the brakes fail to stop the vehicle.mostly coming to a slow stop such as in a parking lot.I hear the ABS motor running and the brake pedal drops the vehicle then feels as though it is not going to stop in time.this is on a good traction surface and there is no wheel lock up.it seems to act up almost every stop for days and then I may not have it occur for a few days then it returns.”

   NHTSA complaint #757377, filed 2002-01
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers quit or work intermittently

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 31,200 mi at 7.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2004

   Owners report the wipers stopping without warning, sometimes working intermittently when stopping and going and eventually failing completely, often noticed in rain. At least one owner found that a wiper recall existed for similar vehicles but that their truck was not covered by it. Reported from very low mileage (around 31,000 miles) up through older trucks, typically noticed in wet weather.

   What to check: Run the wipers through all settings, including intermittent, and check whether any wiper motor or wiper system campaign has been completed for the specific truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in a rainstorm windshield wipers failed intermittently. Recall 03v159000 was issued. However, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10087467, filed 2004-08, 31,200 miles

   “Consumer complained about a windshield wiper problem. Windshield wipers worked intermittenly. Consumer found that there was a recall on some of these vehicles, but this vehicle was not one of them.”

   NHTSA complaint #10091725, filed 2004-10
4. 4
   Brakes

   Fuel odor and fuel system electrical faults

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 2.7 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Complaints describe a strong fuel smell at the rear of the truck, especially after filling the tank, and a check engine light that comes on around fueling. A few owners report fuel or melted wiring in the tank sending unit area, and one describes fuel reaching the engine wiring and computer after an injector failure. Reported on trucks of varying age, often noticed at or shortly after refueling.

   What to check: Smell around the filler neck and rear of the truck after fueling, and ask whether the fuel pump or tank sending unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa says that there are defects with this vichicle, GM says that there are no recalls, my front brakes where replaced at 24,000 rear brakes where check showed no sign of wear.the passenger seat will not lock at times , sometimes you get a strong oder of gas at rear of truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #742374, filed 2001-03

   “Sensor kit inside the gas tank wiring harness melted, causing a possible fire hazard within the gas tank. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced the sensor kit/fuel pump and the filter.”

   NHTSA complaint #855422, filed 2000-01

Buying note. These are old trucks with well-known wear items, so a thorough road test matters more than paperwork: check steering behavior through curves, brake pedal feel on gradual stops, wipers on every setting, and transmission fluid condition. Ask for service records and note that many complaints describe symptoms dealers could not reproduce.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.