1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 52about this part
- Share
- 9%of 555 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 140,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 52 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 9% of the 555 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 140,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 1997 z71 kept dying while I was driving down the road. I talked to a mechanic and he said it sounded like the fuel pump. So I go to change the fuel pump and the fuel pump sending unit had shorted. The power wire and connections were melted. I had to replace the pump and assembly in the tank. Cost me over $700.00 plus labor. I was told I was lucky it didn't explode.”
NHTSA complaint #10158375, filed 2006-05, 140,000 miles“Fuel pump broke again on my 1997 chevy diesel pick up this will be the 4th pump on this vehicle since new. I had to pay for this one because I was told that it was not covered even though GM has had a known problem and covered the previous 3. So I don't understand why I had to pay $2400.00 to get this fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #10159975, filed 2006-06, 157,392 miles“I have owned the vehicle 3 weeks. On monday august 6th, the vehicle stalled on a street in a commercial area. I was able to coast to a parking space. The engine restarted and I drove the vehicle ca. 50 yards before another failure, when I coasted to a stop sign. The vehicle did not restart, and I was towed to my home. On wednesday augus 8th, the vehicle stalled 3x at a discount store parking lot, and finally stalled at work on the same day. The mechanic said that this was the pmd on the chevy 6.5l diesel engine, and was a common failure. …”
NHTSA complaint #10469962, filed 2012-08, 111,643 miles“This truck was bought new in 1997 and I have owned it and maintained it in good running order since then. I was stopped at a light when the truck suddenly stopped running. After having it towed to my home and doing some trouble shooting I determined the fuel pump was not working. I removed the gas tank and after removing the fuel pump discovered the grey wire to the pump had the insulation burned off for approximately one and a half inches. This damage was on the inside of the gas tank. The plug that the wire goes through was charred and melted away. …”
NHTSA complaint #10381930, filed 2011-02, 237,000 miles“We are currently having our 4th fuel pump placed in our truck, this time after it died on the interstate. We towed the truck home and tried to diagnose the problem when we got under the hood we discovered the ignition control module was overheating it was so hot my husband burned his finger. We replaced it but that didn't fix it. We sent the truck to the shop and were told it was the fuel pump again, the wires on the pump were burn and melted which was causing the icm to overheat. …”
NHTSA complaint #10133268, filed 2005-08, 106,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10208027Jan 14, 2022This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester…
- 10034428Feb 1, 2010Chevrolet:gmc: engineering information-fuel tank pressure sensor, dtcs p0446, p0451 or p0454 set. Gmc engineering is attempting to determine the root cause of the above concern.
Fuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3% |
| 2025 | 7 | 6% |
| 2024 | 28 | 9% |
| 2023 | 38 | 10% |
| 2022 | 46 | 7% |
| 2021 | 32 | 4% |
| 2020 | 41 | 5% |
| 2019 | 39 | 4% |
| 2018 | 19 | 4% |
| 2017 | 32 | 4% |
| 2016 | 27 | 3% |
| 2015 | 30 | 3% |
| 2014 | 34 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 3% |
| 2011 | 11 | 2% |
| 2010 | 8 | 2% |
| 2009 | 15 | 3% |
| 2008 | 23 | 3% |
| 2007 | 19 | 2% |
| 2006 | 18 | 5% |
| 2005 | 16 | 3% |
| 2004 | 21 | 3% |
| 2003 | 28 | 3% |
| 2002 | 20 | 4% |
| 2001 | 62 | 13% |
| 2000 | 41 | 7% |
| 1999 | 28 | 5% |
| 1998 | 12 | 3% |
| 1997 | 52 | 9% |
Other parts of the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
140 complaintsBrakes
134 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
78 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
57 complaintsEngine cooling
35 complaintsSuspension
34 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsSeats
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsEquipment
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology