RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

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.
64
Latest Jun 14, 2018
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.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
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.
5
2 injuries, 3 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 64 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

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

2 campaigns 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
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 64
Visibility
Filed Jun 14, 2018

WIPERS QUIT WHEN IN USE. WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS. MY 1999 TAHOE DOES THE SAME THING. MY 1996 SILVERADO DID THE SAME THING AS WELL AND I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND THE DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM. THESE TWO VEHICLES ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE 1996 SILVERADO, AND ARE SHOWING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE WIPERS WILL WORK ERRATICALLY ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A HEAVY RAIN AND CAN QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE FIND OUT WHY THE 1996 SILVERADO WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL AND THE 1997 SILVERADO AND THE 1999 TAHOE WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL WHEN THEY ARE SHOWING THE SAME DANGEROUS FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. AGAIN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND I'M FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL FOR THE 96 SILVERADO. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11101786
Incident
Jun 14, 2018
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2015
Fire reported

I LOCKED THE TRUCK USING ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS THAT EVENING.GOT UP NEXT MORNING DOOR PANNAL HAD COUGHT FIRE.BUT MUST HAD GONE OUT FROM LACK OXGEN INCAB.

NHTSA ID
10748616
Incident
Aug 13, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2015

STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND PULLED RIGHT. I WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION AROUND 5 FEET. REQUIRED A MASTER CYLINDER AND LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY TO FIX PROBLEM. COST: 808.57 THIS FOLLOWS REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AT 27,097 MILES THAT REQUIRED PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS AT A COST OF 668.27. *TR

NHTSA ID
10701321
Incident
Mar 11, 2015
Mileage
48,200 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2012

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. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER THE TWO ABOVE. FOUND OUT THAT GM HAD PUT OUT AN UNDER THE TABLE RECALL OF THE PMD AND INJECTOR PUMP ON THE 6.5T DIESEL MOTOR 12YR/100,000MILES BUT DID NOT PUBLICLY SAY ANYTHING. THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST CAN'T GET OUT OF MY HEAD IS WHAT IF I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME GOING CAMPING AND TOWING MY TRAILER WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED GOING DOWN A STEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND THE TRUCK TO SHUT OFF WITH NO POWER TO STOP. I KNOW THAT CAR MAKERS HAVE A % OF ACCIDENTS BEFORE THEY WILL LOOK AT RECALLS AND DEATHS ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE %'S AND FOR GM TO HIDE THE RECALL IS VERY DISHONEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463886
Incident
Jan 10, 2012
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 2, 2012

CHEVY ADMITS A PROBLEM, I THINK MINE HAS SUCH IT STALLS FOR NO REASON AFTER A COMPLETE $700 TUNE UP..SHOP SAYS HAS SYMPTOMS, WHY NOT RECALL? THIS IS DANGEROUS. $243 LOW TO REPAIR TO $450.. NICE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10453783
Incident
Apr 27, 2011
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 29, 2010

I OWN A 1997 SILVERADO 6.5 DIESEL ENGINE, W/279K MILES, TRUCK WAS RUNNING OK BUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS ENGINE STALLING AND STOP WITHOUT REASON, TOOK IT TO A REPAIR CENTER, DIAGNOSE WITH FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILURE, DIESEL DEALER EXPLAINED THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT, FUEL INJECTION PUMP HAS AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT (PMD) LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE PUMP WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT SENT FAILURE SIGNAL TO THE MAIN COMPUTER. CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO VERIFIED THE ISSUE, ANSWERED THAT YES INDEED THEY AGREED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ALSO SAID THEY HAD 'CAMPAIGN' NOT A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT TO PUBLIC. I ASKED FOR HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS TOLD THAT I RUN OUT OF OPTIONS THEY ONLY HONOR THIS PROBLEM FOR 10 YEARS OR 120K MILES? I WAS NOT AWARE AND NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GMC. THIS IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN WITH TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES, IF THE ENGINE STOPS OR STALL GOING DOWN THE HILL IN ANY URBAN OR RURAL AREA; PASSING ANOTHER CAR IN A BUSY HIGHWAY AND STALLING OR JUST THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH KIDS INSIDE AND NO POWER (HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AND CASUALTIES!!) I USUALLY AM TOWING A HORSE TRAILER ON BUSY HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY STALL OR STOPPING IN FRONT OF A SEMI-TRAILER, CROSSING A RAIL ROAD AND STALLING IN THE MIDDLE WITH PEOPLE INSIDE A TRAIN COMING ITS WAY! THESE ARE A FEW CONSEQUENCES THIS FAILURE CAN CREATE, WHILE THIS IS A FACTORY FAILURE AND POOR DESIGN. I HAD REPLACED THE (PMD) AND AFTER SPENDING OVER $2500.00 STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THE PRESENT TIME I AM NOT DRIVING THE TRUCK MUCH UNTIL I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED FROM YOUR AGENCY TO SEE THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. IS THIS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF SOAKING THE PUBLIC WITH REPAIR BILLS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I NOW HAVE HAD THE PMD REPLACED ONE YEAR AFTER THE FIRST INJECTION PUMP SERVICE AND AGAIN ONE MORE YEAR LATER THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW RETURNED AND ANOTHER $2500 IS REQUIRED TO FIX IT YET AGAIN. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10362951
Incident
May 23, 2008
Mileage
244,537 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THEY WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL RELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (COULD NOT FIND THE RECALL IN NHTSA DATABASE). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 03/28/11

NHTSA ID
10360104
Incident
Sep 21, 2010
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 DIESEL TRUCK. THE SENSOR IN THE ENGINE HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AND ALLOW IT TO RESET. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE A DAY SINCE THE FALL OF 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE 120,000 MILE WARRANTY. HIS VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE FOR $1200. THE GM MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE THE WARRANTY LIMIT HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,548.

NHTSA ID
10315233
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Mileage
143,548 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

16NA260

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

010730002B

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON; THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR; AND / OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERATIVE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026420—
2025230040.7
20241393051.4
2023441049.5
2022903055.9
2021846161.8
202010110163.7
2019747061.3
2018525060.8
2017545053.1
20161225053.0
20151756160.0
2014402153.8
2013513146.7
2012533154.4
20111044151.2
2010215149.8
2009615159.7
20081914360.2
20072043358.6
20061771043.3
20052691043.8
20043682048.9
20034492152.7
20023513460.3
20013001348.9
20001323259.9
1999812046.4
1998732051.7
1997Viewing642048.5
1996200—
1995300—
1994300—

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.