1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year write most often about braking: a pedal that sinks toward the floor, stops that take longer than expected, and front wheels locking or the truck pulling to one side under braking. Wipers that stop mid-sweep or work only intermittently are the second recurring theme, with several owners noting their truck behaves like the 1996 models covered by a wiper campaign but their VIN was excluded. Diesel owners describe the engine cutting out at speed, which their shops traced to the electronic module on the injection pump, typically at high mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks to floor, longer stops

   • 16 complaints (25%)
   • median 34,100 mi at 11.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2015

   Owners describe pressing the brake and finding the pedal low or all the way at the floor while the truck keeps rolling before it slows. Some say they had to pump the pedal in city traffic, others that the ABS did not seem to engage, and some that the pedal felt hard and noisy over bumps or rough pavement. Complaints mention master cylinder, hub, booster and ABS repairs, and several owners say a dealer could not reproduce the problem or described the system as working as designed. The complaints that state mileage fall between roughly 20,000 and 48,000 miles, and several owners say the low pedal was there from near-new.

   What to check: From a stop and again at road speed, press the pedal firmly and feel for a low, sinking or spongy pedal, and check that the ABS lamp behaves normally. Ask for records showing whether the master cylinder, booster or ABS parts have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My brakes have not worked properly since I bought the vehicle new. The dealer has said they work properly and ABS systems work different than the old systems. If I have to hit the brake quickly, the pedal goes almost to the floor and the vehicle does not stop. Brakes need to be pumped to stop effectively but that is not possible at times, especially in city driving. I have had many many close calls and have bumped the vehicle in front of me once and smashed into another vehicle once. My insurance rates were raised for several years as a result. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10252329, filed 2008-12, 20,000 miles

   “While driving 50mph, stopped, applied brakes and pedal went to floor, resulting in extended stopping distance . Abs did not kick in. Dealer contacted, and repairwork done at owner's expense. In order for g.m to pay for my truck the would require me to sign a release for all liability. .et.”

   NHTSA complaint #834072, filed 1999-01
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers quit or run intermittently

   • 9 complaints (14%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners describe wipers that stop mid-sweep, run on only one speed, or come back to life minutes later, sometimes during heavy rain at highway speed. Some complaints trace it to cracked solder joints on the wiper motor circuit board, and a few owners say their truck shows the same symptoms as the 1996 trucks covered by a wiper campaign but their VIN was not included. Several report that a dealer declined the repair for that reason or that the fault could not be found because the wipers were working at the time. Mileage in these complaints runs from about 10,000 to 106,000 miles, so it appears both on low-mileage trucks and much later in life.

   What to check: Run the wipers through every speed including intermittent and watch for hesitation, a stall at the park position, or a refusal to restart. Ask whether the wiper motor or control board has ever been replaced and whether any wiper campaign work was done on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Turned the windshield wipers on and they only came up to the park position for intermittent operation. Positioned the switch to low and high and the wipers did not move any further. Shut off and wipers shut off. Wipers would not restart on repeated tries. Tried later and wipers worked properly. Now they operate sometimes and sometimes only on intermittent and low, not on high. But, sometimes on high. I have not had the problem repaired yet, because everytime I go to the dealer, they are working.”

   NHTSA complaint #10109850, filed 2005-02, 106,000 miles

   “The windshield wipers fail intermittently. When I was driving on the interstate highway in a blinding rain storm, they stopped working with the wipers straight up and down. I had a horrible time getting to the shoulder to stop. Then they started working again a few minutes later. They've done this four times in different states on different roads at different speeds. From reading your site, Chevrolet apparently had the same problem on 1.5 million trucks in the previous model year (1996), which was fixed with a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #722959, filed 2000-05
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering effort changes suddenly in turns

   • 6 complaints (9%)
   • median 52,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2006

   Owners describe the steering effort changing without warning mid-turn, with the wheel suddenly turning with extra assist or feeling as if it is free-wheeling, and the truck drifting toward the next lane. Complaints point to a steering wheel speed sensor described as an EVO sensor, to the power steering pump, or to a worn worm shaft, and one mentions a squeal when turning. Several owners say the dealer quoted a repair at their own cost rather than treating it as covered. The complaints that give mileage span about 16,000 to 90,000 miles, often during low-speed turns.

   What to check: Make several slow left and right turns and feel for any change in effort or kickback through the wheel, and listen for noise from the pump. Ask whether the EVO/speed sensor or the power steering pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering problem identical to known defects affecting GM cars. I have identical symptoms regarding sudden rotation of the steering wheel in a left turn. The upcoming recall of 1996-7 cars does not include pickup trucks built in the same time frame. My '97 3/4 ton Chevrolet was built in sept of 96, and has the same symptoms. My (reno,nv) Chevrolet dealership it will cost me approx $240 to fix it. Please investigate to expand the recall, as I've had a few close calls already!”

   NHTSA complaint #10054468, filed 2004-01, 72,500 miles

   “(1) ongoing (2) power steering suddenly goes to too much assist to normal assist, especially in left hand turn (3) dealership says its evo sensor, wants $280 to fix it. This problem in 1997 chev c/k pickup trucks reads like a rash in quantity reports to NHTSA, yet NHTSA seems to want many deaths before requiring a dealer recall. Do something!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10080709, filed 2004-07, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Front brakes lock and skid, truck pulls

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 34,100 mi at 11.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners report one front wheel locking and the truck pulling hard toward that side, or the brakes grabbing and skidding on wet pavement or when the axle moves over a bump, with the vehicle covering more ground than expected. In several complaints the truck rolled out into an intersection or into traffic, and one owner reports a collision. Dealers are described as unable to reproduce the behavior or as saying the brakes were within design. Most of these complaints do not state mileage, and several owners say the behavior started when the truck was nearly new.

   What to check: A normal dry-road test drive may not show it, so try a firm stop on a wet or loose surface and watch for wheel lockup, grabbing or a pull to one side. Ask for records of ABS and front brake work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While braking vehicle hit a bump. Lost braking power. Vehicle stopped 1/10 mile further. Took to dealer & mechanic called manufacturer. They refused to repair the brakes. Was told they were designed to work like that.”

   NHTSA complaint #822499, filed 1998-04

   “When the brakes are applied they lock up and skid, resulting in extended stopping distance, causing a collision. Ther e were no injuries, but one fatality. Dealer inspected the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #853753, filed 2000-02
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Diesel engine shuts off while driving

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 137,774 mi at 12.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2012

   Owners of the turbo-diesel describe the engine cutting out without warning at road speed, or surging, which also takes away power steering and brake assist until they coast down and restart. Complaints attribute it to the electronic module mounted on the injection pump, referred to as a PMD, and to the injection pump itself, and some owners say the part has been replaced more than once. Several report that the dealer acknowledged it as a known issue but declined coverage because the truck was past a mileage limit. These reports come in at high mileage, from about 125,000 to 280,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the injection pump or its electronic module has been replaced and whether any extended warranty or campaign coverage applies. On a test drive, watch for a stumble or a sudden shutdown when the engine is fully warm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a1997 Chevrolet 6.5t diesel, I was driving home from work doing about 45 MPH crossing a stop light and the truck just shut off for no reason and a semi was behind me and almost plowed in to the back of my truck but he was able to go around at the last second. I was on the freeway doing 70 MPH and the truck did the same thing just shut off for no reason and a car almost hit me but was able to stop in time. On all occasions I lost all power to everything brakes,steering and engine power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10463886, filed 2012-07, 125,000 miles

   “1997 Chevrolet 6.5 turbo diesel pickup. Had failure of the electronic injection pump. This caused the truck to unexpectedly shut down at various points of a trip. Chevrolet has a recall, but has mileage and year limitations. Common problem and Chevrolet would not cover because my vehicle had 132,000 mi and recall was something like 10yr/120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110419, filed 2005-02, 132,000 miles

Buying note. Give the brakes a careful check on any test drive, since a low or sinking pedal and front-wheel lockup come up repeatedly in owner reports, and confirm the wipers work at every speed. On diesel trucks, ask for documentation of injection pump and module work, as those shutdown reports cluster at high mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 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.