RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Silverado Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
19
Latest Feb 22, 2004
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.
7%
of 272 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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 suspension

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

BrakesSuspensionTransmission
Filed Feb 22, 2004

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 SILVERADO EXT CAB FLEET SIDE. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN I'M BRAKING. ALSO IT'S VERY HESITANT IN PICKING UP SPEED WHEN PASSING EVEN WITH MAJOR TUNE-UPS AT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS ONLY TO BE SERVICED. I'M CONSTANTLY PURCHASING FRONT TIRES FOR MY TRUCK, WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENTS BEING DONE OFTEN WITH THE PURCHASE OF THESE TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10058675
Incident
Mar 7, 2003
Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 2003

THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE PULLING WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE DEALER PAY FOR REPAIR. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10011865
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jun 1, 2001

PROBLEM #1: THE FUEL PUMP RELAY DOESN'T SEEM TO DISENGAGE AFTER FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE AND IT HEATS UP. THIS CAUSES ROUGH OPERATING OF THE ENGINE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE MAXI FUSE TO THE LIGHTING SYSTEM HEATS UP ALSO, BUT DOES NOT FAIL. ANOTHER AREA THAT IS AFFECTED IS THE MINI FUSE TO THE COURTESY LAMPS. IT HEATS UP, BUT DOES NOT FAIL. THE LAST AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER VACUUM SWITCH. IT ACTS AS IF THE WHEELS ARE OUT OF BALANCE AROUND 50MPH. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS AND THEY EITHER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR TRY AND TELL ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE AT FAULT. THEY PUT INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE FUEL TANK ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHICH MADE IT RUN WORSE. I ASKED TO HAVE THE INJECTORS REPLACED WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FOLLOW PROCEDURE BULLETIN #00-06-04-003 BEFORE TAKING THAT STEP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, BUT THEY HAVEN'T OFFERED TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS. MY THINKING IS THAT THE PROBLEM IS REALLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOW IT WAS RESOLVED? PROBELM #2: WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND WANTS SHIFT LANES ON IT'S OWN. ON SWEEPING TURNS IT TURNS TO THE RIGHT ON IT'S OWN. I HAD THE FRONT END ALLIGNED AND A NEW SET OF TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ANY ADVISE?

NHTSA ID
746250
Incident
Feb 25, 2001
Suspension
Filed Dec 13, 2000

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONLY VEHICLE WOULD TURN MORE THEN NORMAL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
876477
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jul 18, 2000

I CURRENTLY TOOK MY 1997 SILVERADO TO HAVE THE FRONT-END ALIGNED AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $150.00 THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THE KNOCK-OUTS NOT BEING DONE AT THE FACTORY. IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM THAT GM IS RESPOSSIBLE FOR BUT ACCORDING TO CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE TO EAT THE BILL. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
725650
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 10, 2000

WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN VEHICLE WILL JERK. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
856699
Incident
Feb 7, 2000
Suspension
Filed Feb 8, 2000

FRONT END CAN NOT BE ALLIGNED DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
856467
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 10, 2000
Crash reportedFire reported

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES AND GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT CLANKS LOUDLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, DOESN'T IDLE CORRECTLY, AND SHUTS OFF. I HAVE HAD IT REBUILT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION IT EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION IS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 INCH )

NHTSA ID
717147
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 23, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL GO FROM DIFFERENT LANES, AND THERE IS VIBRATION WIHTIN THE STEERING WHEEL. GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. ALSO, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHFITING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR VEHICLE HAD BEEN INTO THE SHOP TWO TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
848558
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 3, 1999

THE PROBLEM WITH THE "WANDER" IS AT ANY SPEED. THE FRONT END WILL SUDDENDLY PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN EVER I HIT THE MOST SMALLEST OF IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
710873
Incident
Aug 29, 1999
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 10, 1999

VEHICLE WANDERS WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER, BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS MATTER. * POWER STEERING MOVED IRRATIONALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO MOVE INTO OTHER LANE. *AK

NHTSA ID
841624
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jul 23, 1999

VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHENEVER VEHICLE REACHES 30 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
843252
Incident
Feb 14, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jul 23, 1999

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND PICKING UP SPEED, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANDER TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
843107
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS NEEDED.*ADJ

NHTSA ID
841826
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 11, 1999

THE STEERING HAS "TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT" WHICH CAUSES STEERING DIFFICULTY. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL GO TO THE RIGHT WHICH MAY CAUSE CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
839436
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jun 8, 1999

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SENSOR WHEEL ROTATION WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER TO THE RIGHT. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED DURING THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY 99. PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA ID
838133
Incident
Mar 4, 1998
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Feb 1, 1999

FRONT ROTORS FAILED CAUSING WARPING. *YC

NHTSA ID
607960
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 25, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ID
543603
Incident
Jan 14, 1998
Suspension
Filed Oct 15, 1998

NOISE IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA ID
541973

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 .