Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 32 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.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
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
SHIFTS HARD AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND AND JERKS THE VEH. I TALKED TO MANY TRANSMISSION SHOPS. AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 97 MODELS IT COST AROUND $300.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. SOMETHING TO DO WITH SHIFTING TUBE THAT HAS TO BE DRILLED OUT BECAUSE OF FLUID PRESSURE. THIS IS ALSO TRUE WITH EVERY VEH WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION. NOW YOU NOW THE TRUTH SO FIX THE PROBLEM GM. YOUR GETTING AS BAD AS F.O.R.D. *AK
CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CHANGED ROUGHLY WHEN EXITING OFF A RAMP. DRIVER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT 5-10 SECONDS, THEN RESTART TO RESET THE COMPUTER. *AK
NAR 6-03-2003 *MR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BURNED UP AS A RESULT OF OVERDRIVE.
THE TRANSMISSION MADE A SOUND WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. *JB
WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL GIVES AND CAUSES TEMPORARY STEERING LOSS. TS THE VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES, THE PCV VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE #2 AND #3 HEAT SHIELDS IN THE TRANSMISSION TO CRACK. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS REPAIRED AND NOW THE 4 LOW GEAR IS INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. NOTICEABLY AFTER PURCHASE, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT GIVES WHEN BRAKING. *JG
CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION FALIURE. SHOULD LOOK INTO OTHER INSTANCES. *AK
THE A/T HESITATES COMING OUT OF A TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN ACCELERATING AND IS SLOW TO SHIFT UP IN GEARS. ON WET PAVEMENT THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES AND SPINS THE REAR WHEEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO SIDE WAYS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNON GOING PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE SERVICED. I WAS CHARGED $2,600.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT DOES THE SAME THING AND NOW LEAKS FLUID. THE HOTTER THE TRANSMISSION GETS, THE WORSE IT PERFORMS. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE EVENLY ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS EVIDENT ON THE UNUSUAL WEAR TO THE REAR BRAKES. ON AN EMERGENCY STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. IN THE PAST THE DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WEIGHT IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE BATTLED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK. FINALLY EVERTHING MENTIONED GAVE OUT, THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE TRUCK HAS TO MANY MILES. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE CONCERNS, FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS, WRITINGS BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHAT OK ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET ASSISTANCE IN WRITING. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED MY RESPONSE, BUT DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FAILED, SHORT CIRCUIT FUSE CAUSED FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. INJECTOR FAILED. WATER PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT ASIST IN REPAIRS. *SLC
ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION VALVE IS FAILING AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IS TEMPERATURE RELATED.*AK
TRANSMISSION SLAMS FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHEN HOT OR VEHICLE IS CARRYING A LOAD. TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. MANUFACTURER DENIES A PROBLEM EXISTS.
I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE GAS STATION AND IT WAS FINE. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK TO LEAVE AND WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE TRUCK BACK AND IT WOULD GO FORWARD IN ONLY 1ST AND 3RD GEAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED FOLLOWING LOCKING UP OF TRANSMISSION CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AT 62,000 MILES FAN CLUTCH BROKE AND NOW TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, 2ND GEAR IS GONE. THE REAR SEAL IS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED ALREADY AT 18,600 THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AT 25,600 THEN AT 35,300 THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED ROTORS AND ALL(PROBLEMS WITH CALIPERS) THE REPAIRING DEALER CLAIMED IT WSN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ALL REPAIRS WE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. NOW I AM FACING APPROXIMATELY $2,000. IN REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION.......CHEVROLET GIVE ME A BRAKE. E.*AK
A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A RIGHT HAND CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO TRY TO TURN RIGHT BY ITSELF. YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT STEADY TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OFF THE ROAD. *AK
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 )
STEERING WAS KNOWN TO LOCK UP SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TRUCK WAS OWNED FOR LESS THEN SIX MONTHS. WAS IN SHOP FOR STEERING SIX TIMES. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE THEN WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION. NO REVERSE AND ONLY HAD 1ST AND 2ND. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COSTLY. MY DREAM IS NOW A NIGHTMARE. THE STEERING COULD BE FATAL TO ANY DRIVER I JUST GOT LUCKY AND WASN'T DRIVING FAST WHEN IT LOCKED UP.
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM. FROM TIRES ,ELECTRIC MIRRORS ,ELECTRIC WINDOWS,CLANKING/BANGING DRIVE SHAFT NOISE AND OTHER LITTLE QUIRKS. THE ONLY THING THAT I FEEL THAT WILL LAST (LONGER THAN MY PAYMENTS) IS THE MOTOR. THE DEALER OF THIS AUTO WASN'T MUCH BETTER; "THEY" JUST SAID THAT IT WAS AGOOD THING THAT I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!!
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
THE NUMBERS FAILURE AND FATALITIES AND ANYTHING THAT HAS A SERIES OF 9 IS ONLY IN THE BOXES SO THAT THE FORM WOULD ADVANCE TO THE NEXT STEP. EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE TRUCK AS IT IS SHIFTING TO THIRD GEAR THE REAR DIFFERENTAL OR THE TRANMISSION MAKES A LOUD KLUNKING SOUND. I ALSO HAVE A RATTLE UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER SAYS THAT IS THE SHOCKS. THEY HAVE TIGHTENED THEM UP BUT THEY STILL RATTLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM MYSELF BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP. MY VOICE IS JUST NOT LOUD ENOUGH.
SHIFT CABLE CLIP FELL OFF CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SHIFT CABLE HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR IN 1997. MJS
TRUCK IS CONSIDERED A LEMON BUT DEALER STATES THAT IT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR A BUY BACK. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
AT ABOUT 48000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING A HARD SHIFT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS A LONG DRIVE OR SHORT . IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES. WHENEVER IT HAPPENS ALL I NEED TO DO IS PULL OVER, TURN THE ENGINE OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS, TURN IT ON AGAIN AND IT'S GONE TILL THE NEXT TIME. SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON SOMETIMES IT'S OFF, DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM OCCURING. I DO NOT DRIVE MY TRUCK HARD. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY READ THE COMPUTER CODE AND TOLD ME THE THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND WOUD COST ABOUT $1500 TO RE-BUILD IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK UNTIL YESTERDAY. I RAN INTO A REGGIE WILLIAMS WHO HAS THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL TRUCK, SAME ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM DOWN TO THE MILAGE WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING, HE WILL ALSO BE SENDING IN A FORM. SINCE MEETING REGGIE I HAVE BECOME VERY SUSPICIOUS. I'VE HAD OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS AND THEY LAST A LONG TIME WITHOUT PROBLEM, AND THOSE I HAVE HAD ARE MINOR. I CONTACTED THE CHEVY CUSTOMER SUPPORT PEOPLE AND THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT MYSELF AND REGGIE ARE EXPERIENCING. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS DURING FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION, TOTALING CAR HIT 1ST, THEN HITTING ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF IT. *MJS
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