1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Electrical Problems

WINDSHIELD WIPER DEFECT: WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, OR AT ALL, DURING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE PUTS A DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS AT RISK OF HARM DUE TO INHIBITED VISIBILITY. HAVE HAD TO SUDDENLY CHANGE LANES ON HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY RAIN, PULL OFF, STAND ON EDGE OF DOOR TRIM WITH TRAFFIC DRIVING BY, AND PUSH THE WIPERS MANUALLY UP AND DOWN TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. SOMETIMES I WILL HAVE TO OPEN THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK, PUSH THE FUSE TIGHT, PUSH THE WIPERS TO START THEM, AND THEN GO. OUR 1996 CHEVY SUBURBAN WAS RECALLED DUE TO A WINDSHIELD WIPER DEFECT, THEY HAVE WORKED FINE SINCE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.. I HAVE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DEFECT REPAIRED ON THE 1997 C1500 TRUCK. SINCE THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT DO IT WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE VIN NUMBER ON THE TRUCK DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL ( THE SERVICE MANAGER PULLED UP THE RECALL AND CHECKED THE VIN NUMBER OF OUR TRUCK AGAINST THE NUMBERS ON THEIR LIST ON 08/06/2011 AT 12:20 P.M.), THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. THIS IS BECAUSE, AS IT IS NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED BY GM, REGARDLESS OF MY REMINDING THEM THAT NOT REPLACING IT REMAINS A SAFETY RISK TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEGAN IN 2001. SINCE OUR SON IS GOING TO GET HIS LICENSE, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE TRUCK, I WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE HIS VEHICLE IS A SAFE ONE. IF I HAD KNOWN WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS MATTER, I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS 8 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, EXCEPT REPLACE THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418422

Incident

Nov 28, 2010

Mileage

142,265 mi

NO WARNING OF BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON THE 1997 CHEVY C1500 IT BLOWS THE FUSE TO BRAKE LIGHTS. VEHICLE CAN BE OPERATED WITH OUT BRAKE LIGHTS WITH OUT DRIVER KNOWLEDGE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169698

Incident

Sep 26, 2006

Mileage

174,000 mi

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. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED IN SEPT 01, APRIL 04 THE SECOND PUMPS' FUEL LEVEL SENSING UNIT (A THIN PIECE OF METAL SLIDING ACROSS A SET OF CONDUCTORS) BECAME CORRODED AND GOT STUCK ON EMPTY, AND NOW THE 3RD PUMP HAS BURNT MELTED WIRES. ALL REPAIR WERE AT MY COST. WE REAL LUCK THE THING DIDN'T BLOW UP! BUT TRYING TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE PRAYING TO NOT BE HIT BY THE 70+ MPH TRAFFIC IS TERRIFYING. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE "COMMON" AMONG GM TRUCK OWNERS, SO WHY HASN'T GM STEPPED UP TO HELP? *JB

NHTSA ID

10133268

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

106,000 mi

1997 CHEVROLET 1500 FUEL PUMP.*MR WIRING BURNED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT. THE WIRES WERE BURNED SO IT MELTED THE INSULATION AND THE WIRING CONNECTORS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10079813

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

I HAVE HAD A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCUR WITH A FAILURE IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INVOLVING THE WIRING HARNESS AND VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (VCM) OF MY 1997 CHEVROLET K1500. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO A CHEVROLET DEALER, FOR SERVICE DUE TO A CRANK BUT NO-START ISSUE ON JANUARY 29, 2004. UPON DIAGNOSIS BY THE MECHANICS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAD SOMEHOW DEVELOPED A LEAK, WHICH CAUSED FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD-UP WHERE THE WIRING-HARNESS ENTERED THE UNIT. THEN, FUEL WAS FORCED AT HIGH PRESSURE BETWEEN THE WIRES AND INSULATION UNTIL IT POOLED UP INSIDE THE VCM. THE DEALER'S MECHANIC, PER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, STATED THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW VCM, WIRING HARNESS, AND INJECTOR SYSTEM IS NECESSARY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONSULTED WITH A DIFFERENT GM MECHANIC FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT EXPLODE, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT GM OWNERS ASSISTANCE ABOUT THIS MATTER, HOWEVER THEY WERE OF NO HELP AND WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE DANGER OF THIS SITUATION. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A DAMAGING ENGINE FIRE AND POSSIBLE INJURY OR WORSE. THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING THAT A RECALL WOULD BE PLACED ON THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062793

Incident

Jan 29, 2004

Mileage

124,614 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY CABLE WIRES BECAME HOT AND THE WIRES MELTED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

8015352

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE IS A HORN RING UNDER THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAS TWO WIRES. MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE TWO IS BROKEN WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO STAY ON. HE ALSO STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. CONSUMER HAD THE PART REPLACED AND HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CLEAR THE COMPUTER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS FRIEDBECAUSE THE WIRES SHORTED OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JG

NHTSA ID

566981

WIRES WERE MELTING INTO GAS TANK.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009763

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

WIRES LEADING TO FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE INSIDE TANK INSULATION HAD GOTTEN HOT ENOUGH AND MELTED IN UPPER CONNECTOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD THE PROBLEM REGULARLY.*AK *YD

NHTSA ID

897958

Incident

Oct 14, 2001

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS DOOR, POSSIBLY LOCATED AT ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 53-C814-263. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6901252

Incident

Aug 20, 2001

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS DOOR, POSSIBLY LOCATED AT ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 53-C814-263. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900447

Incident

Aug 20, 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

FUEL PUMP FAILED REPLACED AT MY COST BY DEALER.COOLANT HOSE FROM INTAKE TO HEATER FAILED COMMON PROBLEM ALTERNATOR REPLACED AT MY COSTED AT MY COST,COMMON PROBLEM. INTATE LEAK(COOLANT) NOT YET REPAIRED. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AT MY COST,PART ONLY AVAILABLE FROM GM.

NHTSA ID

740189

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WIRES INSIDE FUEL TANK OVERHEATED AND MELTED, INCLUDING SOME OF PLASTIC PARTS. 0DI 717119, EXPLAINED EXACT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

877487

Incident

Jan 3, 2001

ENGINE COMPONENT'S PLASTIC CASING THAT SURROUNDED COMPUTER WAS FILLED WITH FUEL. VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AT LEAST ONCE. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ALSO WIRES WERE CHECKED. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SOME OF THE COMPONENTS WEERE BAD. VEHICLE WAS REDIAGNOSED & NOTHING WORKED. MECHANIC FINALLY DECIDED TO CHECK COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

876394

Incident

Oct 24, 2000

CONNECTION IN WIRING HARNESS CAME LOOSE AND STARTED TO MELT. CONSUMER SAID THAT THIS WIRE IS WITHIN THE GAS TANK, AND COULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE. *AK

NHTSA ID

867839

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT WE TOLD THE SELLER OF THE PROBLEMS HE SAID THEY WOULD BE FIXED. THEY DIDN'T GET IT, A WEEK LATER IT STARTED TO LOSE CHARGE OF BATTERY I NOTICED THERE WAS AICD ON THE BOTTOM SO I REPLACED IT THATS WHEN IT ALL STARTED, I 'VE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 5X'S. IT HAS HAD 2 ALTERNATORS, 2 BATTERIES, IN THE LAST 3 1/2 MONTHS

NHTSA ID

727141

Incident

Apr 17, 2000

BATTERY LEAKING ACID ON TOP OF THE BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

866938

THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE FUSE BOX FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ID

552050

Incident

Nov 17, 1998

FUEL TANK MELTED DUE TO WIRE BEING EXPOSED TO THE CONNECTOR WHICH IGNITED A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

856438

Incident

Dec 12, 1999

VEHICLE OFF, LOCKED AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NOT USED FOR 7 HOURS. ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT STARTED A FIRE. IN DISPUTE WITH GM AS TO WHAT CAUSED SHORT. THEY DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND SAY IT WAS AN AFTERMARKET ELECTRICAL ACCESORY THAT WAS INSTALLED 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, BUT GM WILL NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT TO ME OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

717952

Incident

Dec 2, 1999

A MARK VIII, WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT LINE CRACKED, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION LEAK, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

853096

Incident

Oct 13, 1999

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND PADS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULLING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

543624

Incident

Apr 7, 1998

COMPUTER DEFECT CAUSING COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA ID

543166

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING INTERMITTENT LOSS OF LIGHTING, GAUGES, AND POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

538637