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1997 Chevrolet Silverado Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026

29Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints
10.7%Of all 272 complaints
#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION29 · 10.7%
STEERING21 · 7.7%
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR19 · 7%
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM17 · 6.2%

Share of the 272 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado overview page.

What owners report

“A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.”NHTSA complaint 862781 — filed 05/31/2000
“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…”NHTSA complaint 719707 — filed 03/05/2000
“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…”NHTSA complaint 717147 — filed 01/10/2000

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

319981119993200062001220023200312004

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado: 29 of 272 complaints on file (10.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado have in total?

272 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.