RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet C30

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Nov 5, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 7, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet C30, most frequently naming the brakes, other / unspecified and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%
  • Transmission125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V037000

SEATS

Mar 7, 1997
624,433 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
The risk: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 2008

1997 MOTOR HOME ON CHEVROLET 454 CHASIS. AUTO PARK BRAKE LOCKED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. CHECKED NUMEROUS SOURCES AND FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED LISTING OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME WITH FIRES. THE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE BRAKE BAND AROUND THE DRIVE SHAFT AT THE REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. SMOKED FILLED THE VEHICLE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CALLED GM AND RECEIVED NO HELP. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE SINCE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS WITH THIS SYSTEM. MANY OWNERS SAID THAT EVEN AFTER REPAIRS THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. GM SHOULD HAVE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OR PROVIDE INFO FOR REPAIRS. MOST MECHANICS DID NOT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THIS SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247772
Incident
Oct 22, 2008
Mileage
52,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 11, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND JERK; NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES BEFORE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REAPPEARED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837747
Incident
Nov 21, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 7, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 55 MPH ON A THREE LINED ROAD ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, FORCING HIM TO KEEP LONGER DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. *AK

NHTSA ID
818611
Incident
Oct 30, 1997
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 2, 1997

MANUFACTURER DID NOT GREASE THE RIGHT SIDE OF FRONT WHEEL BARRIERS, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
810626

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C30 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999000—
1998210—
1997Viewing410—
1996560—
1995981—
1994791—
1993432—
1992221—
1991123—
1990232—
1989022—
1988135—
1987205—
1986136—
1985056—
1984144—
1983012—
1982012—
1981012—
1980021—
1979041—
1978021—
1977331—
1976241—
1975231—
1974021—
1973011—
1972001—
1971031—
1970011—
1967010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.