21 complaints reported

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
21
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2008 Crash

MY BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE DEALER HAS SAID THEY WORK PROPERLY AND ABS SYSTEMS WORK DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD SYSTEMS. IF I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKE QUICKLY, THE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. BRAKES NEED TO BE PUMPED TO STOP EFFECTIVELY BUT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN CITY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD MANY MANY CLOSE CALLS AND HAVE BUMPED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ONCE AND SMASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE ONCE. MY INSURANCE RATES WERE RAISED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS A RESULT. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS PICK-UP TRUCK VERY CAUTIOUSLY BUT I'M WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS COULD HAPPEN TO ME OR MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING. GM HAS A RECALL ON 1999-2002 SILVERADOS FOR THIS TYPE OF BRAKE PROBLEM. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE THAT I HAVE THE SAME SAFETY HAZARD WITH MY 1997 SILVERADO WITH 44,000 MILES ON IT. WHY ISN'T MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? THESE BRAKES HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY 1. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2000
Jul 2002

WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH AND COMING OFF THE RAMP, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ALSO MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK *SCC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2002
Mar 2002

BRAKE PEDAL GOES HALF WAY DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, HAD BRAKES REPAIRED. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ADJUSTMENT TO KEEP BRAKE PEDAL FROM GOING DOWN. *AK THERE WAS NO BRAKING BY THE REAR WHEELS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ADJUSTMENT ON THE WHEEL. *YH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2001
May 2001

FRONT ROTORS WARPED AT 38000 MILES. HAD THEM TURNED AND REPLACED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 1998
Sep 2000 Crash

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY LOCK UP AND SKID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. THER E WERE NO INJURIES, BUT ONE FATALITY. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Jul 2000

ABOUT EVERY 10,000 IN THE LAST 3 YEARS BRAKES ROTORS/ CALIPERS AND PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Feb 2000

AFTER TWO MONTHS HAD TO HAVE ROTORS CHANGED. WHEN PRESSING BRAKES FRONT END SHUTTERS AND ROTORS ARE WARPING. IF IN AN EMERGENCY, TRUCK WILL NOT STOP AS SOON AS IT SHOULD, AND THE WHOLE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE. CHEVROLET HAS PROVIDED NO HELP. *AK *ML

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 1997
Nov 1999

WE TOOK DELIVERY OF OUR NEW ORDERED PICKUP ON 3/21/97. FROM THE FIRST DAY WE EXPERIECED FRONT WHEEL LOCKUP AND SKIDDING OF OUR FRONT TIRES, IT ALSO PULLS VERY HARD TO THE SIDE THAT LOCKS UP. IT SEEMS TO LOCK UP ONE WHEEL AT A TIME, NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND WE CAN NOT TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME. WE HAVE HAD IT IN GOOTEE CHEVROLETS REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY DAYS, THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SO THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. MY WIFE IS NOW SO SCARED SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. SHE HAS HAD MANY, MANY CLOSE CALLS BY ALMOST HITTING OTHER CARS. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF I CAN USE THEIR SCAN TOOL AND PLUG IT INTO TO TRUCK SO THAT WHEN IT HAPPEN IT WILL PICK IT UP, BUT THEY WOULD DO IT. THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY CAN'T FIND IT SO I SHOULD CONTACT GM. GOOTEE SAID IT'S NOT THEIR PLOBLEM IF THEY CAN'T PICK IT UP ON THEIR SCAN TOOL WHILE THEY HAVE OUR PICKUP. I HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER WITH GM FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS FILED SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE PICKUP, THE NUMBER IS 9801159918.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 1997
Sep 1999

BRAKE PEDAL SANK COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND REMAINED AT FLOOR FOR APPROXIMATELY 0.5 TO 1 SECOND BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM BEGAN OPERATION AND PEDAL BEGAN TO RETURN TO NORMAL FEEL. CONDITION HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. DURING MOST RECENT INCIDENT, I HAD TO REACT QUICKLY TO VEHICLES STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME, ENGINE LOAD WENT FROM MAINTAINING STEADY 55 MPH TO DECELERATION. BRAKE BOOSTER ON THIS VEHICLE IS HYDRAULIC, DRIVEN BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DELAY IN BRAKE OPERATION IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH, IN MY OPINION, THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAVE NOT HAD SYSTEM SERVICED BECAUSE I CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 1999
Sep 1999

WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Apr 1999

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHEN DRIVING OVER ANYTHING THAT CAUSED THE AXLE TO MOVE. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 1997
Jan 1999

WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, STOPPED, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . ABS DID NOT KICK IN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ORDER FOR G.M TO PAY FOR MY TRUCK THE WOULD REQUIRE ME TO SIGN A RELEASE FOR ALL LIABILITY. *AK.ET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 1999
Oct 1998

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHOW EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Apr 1998

WHENEVER THE ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY FEEL VERY HARD; ALSO, MAKE NOISE WHEN APPLIED. VEHICLE WOULD STOP 1 CAR LENGTH FURTHER. HAPPENED 5 TIMES. IT'S INTERMITTENT. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT. PROBLEM NOT FOUND. ABS ALSO FAILED WHEN APPLIED OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT/RAIL ROAD TRACKS/BUMPS, ETC. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 1997
Apr 1998

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE HIT A BUMP. LOST BRAKING POWER. VEHICLE STOPPED 1/10 MILE FURTHER. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC CALLED MANUFACTURER. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. WAS TOLD THEY WERE DESIGNED TO WORK LIKE THAT. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 1997
Mar 1998

BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO SENSOR FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 1997
Mar 1998

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, THEN SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Feb 1998 Crash Injury

CONSUMER'S MOTHER AND FATHER WERE LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN THEIR BRAKES FAILED. THEIR TRUCK DRIFTED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING APPROX. 55-60MPH, AND THEY WERE BROADSIDED BY A FULL SIZED VAN LOADED WITH LEAD PIPES. THE TRUCK IS NOW IN BAY CITY MICHIGAN TOWED BY TIMS TOWING. CONSUMER DOESN'T HAVE THE NUMBER TO HOLDER OF THE TRUCK AT THIS TIME. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 1997
Feb 1998

ABS BRAKES; INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Feb 1998

BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD WHEN APPLIED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 1997
Oct 1997

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED PULSTATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THA THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES AND PADS/REAR ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE SHOES ONLY LAST 13000 TO 20000 MILES. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 1997

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 21 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.