1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Electrical Problems
24 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (24)
Your windshield wipers fail to operate correctly or stop working entirely during rain and bad weather, forcing you to manually push them up and down on the highway or open the hood and reseat the fuse to get them working again. This is a serious safety issue because you can't see the road properly. Even though a similar defect was recalled on your 1996 Suburban and fixed by replacing the wiper component, your 1997 Silverado's VIN doesn't match the recall list, so the dealership won't replace the part without warranty coverage. The fix would involve replacing the windshield wiper motor and related electrical components.
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NO WARNING OF BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON THE 1997 CHEVY C1500 IT BLOWS THE FUSE TO BRAKE LIGHTS. VEHICLE CAN BE OPERATED WITH OUT BRAKE LIGHTS WITH OUT DRIVER KNOWLEDGE. *NM
1997 CHEVROLET 1500 FUEL PUMP.*MR WIRING BURNED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT. THE WIRES WERE BURNED SO IT MELTED THE INSULATION AND THE WIRING CONNECTORS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY CABLE WIRES BECAME HOT AND THE WIRES MELTED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *NLM
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE IS A HORN RING UNDER THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAS TWO WIRES. MOST LIKELY ONE OF THE TWO IS BROKEN WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO STAY ON. HE ALSO STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. CONSUMER HAD THE PART REPLACED AND HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CLEAR THE COMPUTER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS FRIEDBECAUSE THE WIRES SHORTED OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JG
WIRES WERE MELTING INTO GAS TANK.*AK
WIRES LEADING TO FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE INSIDE TANK INSULATION HAD GOTTEN HOT ENOUGH AND MELTED IN UPPER CONNECTOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD THE PROBLEM REGULARLY.*AK *YD
ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS DOOR, POSSIBLY LOCATED AT ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 53-C814-263. *SLC
ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS DOOR, POSSIBLY LOCATED AT ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 53-C814-263. *SLC
WIRES INSIDE FUEL TANK OVERHEATED AND MELTED, INCLUDING SOME OF PLASTIC PARTS. 0DI 717119, EXPLAINED EXACT PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE COMPONENT'S PLASTIC CASING THAT SURROUNDED COMPUTER WAS FILLED WITH FUEL. VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AT LEAST ONCE. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ALSO WIRES WERE CHECKED. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SOME OF THE COMPONENTS WEERE BAD. VEHICLE WAS REDIAGNOSED & NOTHING WORKED. MECHANIC FINALLY DECIDED TO CHECK COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
CONNECTION IN WIRING HARNESS CAME LOOSE AND STARTED TO MELT. CONSUMER SAID THAT THIS WIRE IS WITHIN THE GAS TANK, AND COULD POSSIBLY EXPLODE. *AK
WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT WE TOLD THE SELLER OF THE PROBLEMS HE SAID THEY WOULD BE FIXED. THEY DIDN'T GET IT, A WEEK LATER IT STARTED TO LOSE CHARGE OF BATTERY I NOTICED THERE WAS AICD ON THE BOTTOM SO I REPLACED IT THATS WHEN IT ALL STARTED, I 'VE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 5X'S. IT HAS HAD 2 ALTERNATORS, 2 BATTERIES, IN THE LAST 3 1/2 MONTHS
BATTERY LEAKING ACID ON TOP OF THE BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE FUSE BOX FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO THE FUSE BOX FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM
FUEL TANK MELTED DUE TO WIRE BEING EXPOSED TO THE CONNECTOR WHICH IGNITED A FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE OFF, LOCKED AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NOT USED FOR 7 HOURS. ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT STARTED A FIRE. IN DISPUTE WITH GM AS TO WHAT CAUSED SHORT. THEY DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND SAY IT WAS AN AFTERMARKET ELECTRICAL ACCESORY THAT WAS INSTALLED 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, BUT GM WILL NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT TO ME OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
COMPUTER DEFECT CAUSING COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION CONTINUALLY.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING INTERMITTENT LOSS OF LIGHTING, GAUGES, AND POWER STEERING.
STARTER FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO KEPT PLAYING STATIC AND AN UNDER THE DASH FIRE OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
HORN FAILED.