RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Jan 9, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 555 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Jan 9, 2024

The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the corner of the front seat fell through the floor structure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was stated that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the original frame to repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11564482
Incident
Dec 26, 2023
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Mar 31, 2013

I REMOVED BED OFF MY TRUCK TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND NOTICED SECTIONS OF MY REAR FRAME MISSING OR JUST PAPER THIN DUE TO ROT/CORROSION AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT'S SAD I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 8YEARS AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT STILL HAS ALL OF ITS ORIGINAL BODY PANELS IN RUST/ROT FREE AND FLOORS ARE MINT JUST THE FRAME IS JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505163
Incident
Mar 11, 2013
Mileage
122,567 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 18, 2011

1997 CHEVY K1500 PICKUP, FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING, WENT TO REPLACE FUEL TANK AND FOUND THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER HAD RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE FUEL TANK ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, (THIS CROSSMEMBER SUPPORTS THE FRONT FUEL TANK STRAP. WHILE LOOKING AROUND FOUND VERY HEAVY RUST AND PIECES OF THE FRAME MISSING. HAD TO FABRICATE NEW CROSSMEMBER TO HOLD NEW TANK. *KB

NHTSA ID
10420024
Incident
Feb 12, 2011
Mileage
155,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 2, 2006

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500Z71. THE GALVANIZEDBRAID-STEEL TAIL GATE SUPPORT HINGE USED TO SUPPORT TAIL GATE BROKE. THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 1999-2000 FOR THE SAME THING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE 1997 ALSO. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA RECALL NOTICE SAYS THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THEY WILL REPLACE THEM ON THE 1999-2000 MODELS THE NEED REPLACED ON THE 1997 MODELS ALSO. *NM

NHTSA ID
10156659
Incident
Jan 10, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Apr 29, 2005

I LOWERED MY TAILGATE FOR MY DOGS TO EXIT AND THE CABLES BROKE, MY DOGS SLID OUT ONTO THE GROUND, AND THE TAILGATE WAS DAMAGED BY THE BUMPER. I HAD THE TAILGATE FIXED AT A BODY SHOP, PAINTED, AND REINSTALLED. AS FOR THE CABLES: I REPLACED THEM AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY ARE STARTING TO CORRODE AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118667
Incident
Mar 23, 2001
Mileage
97,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2004
1 injury reported

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CARGO DOORS HAD A HOOK ATTACHED TO THE CENTER UPPER EDGE OF THE TOP TRACK. THE CONSUMER STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE HOOK, KNOCKING HIMSELF UNCONSCIOUS. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE PAVEMENT BY THE DOOR LATCH HOOK THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE ENTRANCE WAY OF THE SIDE COMPARTMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10051837
Incident
Dec 15, 2003
Mileage
162,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 22, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD BLEW OPEN. *MR *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10052186
Incident
Oct 28, 2003
Body & structureInterior & seatsTransmission
Filed Feb 3, 2003

THE THIRD DOOR ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT OPEN, THERE WAS A TEAR IN THE SEATS, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING LATE AND HARD, THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AT 56,000, CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE SECOND VEHICLE AT 126,000 MILES.*JB

NHTSA ID
10004713
Mileage
56,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+6 more
Filed Apr 13, 2001

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON CONSUMER WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING.*AK BEARING SPLINTERED, CAUSING METAL PIECES INTO TRANSMISSION OIL, THE REACTION CARRIER, OVERRUNNING CLUTCH, CLUTCH SUPPORT, OVER CLUTCH RACE, AND TORQUE CONVERTER ALL FAILED. LEFT REAR DOOR PANEL BAD, RATTLE IN SIDE DOOR, REAR SIDE DOOR REPAIRED, RIGHT SIDE DOORS TRIM PANELS BECOME LOOSE, DOOR PANLES REPLACED, SIDE DOOR PANEL RATTLES. VEHICLE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, REAR TAIL LIGHTS NOT AT SAME HEIGHT, LEFT WINDOW SWITCH REPLACED, DOORS LOCKED WITH KEYS IN VEHICLE, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING, BATTERY FAILED FIVE TIMES, ANTITHEFT LIGHT ON RADIO CAUSING IT NOT TO WORK. AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AND VENT WOULD NOT ADJUST FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WINDOWS KEPT GETTING STUCK. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. POWER STEERING WAS NOISY, DEALER REPAIRED POWER STEERING, POWER STEERING BECAME NOISY AGAIN. REAR SHOES WERE REPLACED. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
885890
Incident
Mar 30, 2001
Body & structureBrakesSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 24, 1998

DRIVER'S SEAT BRACKET BROKE FIVE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
531140
Incident
Nov 21, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Dec 2, 1997

ENTIRE CHASSIS SHAKES AND SHUDDERS FROM 38-49 MPH. DEALER CLAIMS CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION HAS TOLD THEM ITS A FRAME DESIGN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
526473
Body & structure
Filed Jun 25, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 65 MPH, VEEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN REAR BETWEEN CAB AND BED, DRIVER UNAWARE, POINTED BY PASSERBY, TOTALED, ACCORDING TO DEALER, PIECE OF FRAGMENT/PAPER BLEW INTO CAB AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
813505
Incident
May 30, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .