1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 complaint #11101786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10701321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10463886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10463886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10463886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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...

NHTSA complaint #10453783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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?

NHTSA complaint #10362951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

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?

NHTSA complaint #10362951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

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 complaint #10360104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

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 complaint #10315233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET C2500. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE METAL CRUMBLED FOR THE WORM STEERING SHAFT. HE MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10204061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IDLING ARM AND PITMAN ARM. THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS DETERMINED THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - THE FAULTY PART WAS THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10165215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/02/06.

NHTSA complaint #10155049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE DUE TO THE LATCH. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, NO APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10153915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

1997 CHEVROLET 6.5 TURBO DIESEL PICKUP. HAD FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC INJECTION PUMP. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN AT VARIOUS POINTS OF A TRIP. CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL, BUT HAS MILEAGE AND YEAR LIMITATIONS. COMMON PROBLEM AND CHEVROLET WOULD NOT COVER BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD 132,000 MI AND RECALL WAS SOMETHING LIKE 10YR/120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10110419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND THEY ONLY CAME UP TO THE PARK POSITION FOR INTERMITTENT OPERATION. POSITIONED THE SWITCH TO LOW AND HIGH AND THE WIPERS DID NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. SHUT OFF AND WIPERS SHUT OFF. WIPERS WOULD NOT RESTART ON REPEATED TRIES. TRIED LATER AND WIPERS WORKED PROPERLY. NOW THEY OPERATE SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES ONLY ON INTERMITTENT AND LOW, NOT ON HIGH. BUT, SOMETIMES ON HIGH. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET, BECAUSE EVERYTIME I GO TO THE DEALER, THEY ARE WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10109850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

(1) ONGOING (2) POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES TO TOO MUCH ASSIST TO NORMAL ASSIST, ESPECIALLY IN LEFT HAND TURN (3) DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS "EVO" SENSOR, WANTS $280 TO FIX IT. THIS PROBLEM IN 1997 CHEV C/K PICKUP TRUCKS READS LIKE A RASH IN QUANTITY REPORTS TO NHTSA, YET NHTSA SEEMS TO WANT MANY DEATHS BEFORE REQUIRING A DEALER RECALL. DO SOMETHING!!!

NHTSA complaint #10080709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10064654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10061454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO KNOWN DEFECTS AFFECTING GM CARS. I HAVE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS REGARDING SUDDEN ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN A LEFT TURN. THE UPCOMING RECALL OF 1996-7 CARS DOES NOT INCLUDE PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. MY '97 3/4 TON CHEVROLET WAS BUILT IN SEPT OF 96, AND HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY (RENO,NV) CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IT WILL COST ME APPROX $240 TO FIX IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO EXPAND THE RECALL, AS I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ALREADY!

NHTSA complaint #10054468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.