1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP Recalls, Complaints & Safety

1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP 1500. CONSUMER STATES DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF FROM INSIDE *TGW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP. WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. HE HAD TO DO THIS TWICE BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOOSE AT LOW SPEEDS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THUS, INCREASING THE CHANCE OF A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. *TC

VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE TIRE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. *SC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENLY. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. *AK *SC

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE RIGHT SEAT BELT DUE TO AN INTERNAL PROBLEM CAUSED THE BELT NOT TO COME OUT. *SC *JB

WHEN THE TANK IS FULL A FOUL ODOR SEEPS THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

STEERING COLUMN STABILIZER SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. *AK

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER FELT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURN. THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM

STEERING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE STEERING SENSOR FIVE TIMES SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW.*AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE, I TURNED TO LOOK BACK, UPON WHICH THE DRIVER SEAT BACK SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING COLLASPED, SPRINGING MY NECK. THE VEHICLE IS NO DRIVERABLE DUE TO THE SEAT BACK CAN NOT BE LOCKED INTO POSITION. DT

1 injured

THE VEHICLE?S HOOD OPENED UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF A CORRODED HOOD LATCH. ( CONSUMER WRITING IN ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND) *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. *JB THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE PARKING. *MJ

AT SLOW SPEEDS APROXIMATLY 5-10 MPH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE.MOSTLY COMING TO A SLOW STOP SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT.I HEAR THE ABS MOTOR RUNNING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS THE VEHICLE THEN FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME.THIS IS ON A GOOD TRACTION SURFACE AND THERE IS NO WHEEL LOCK UP.IT SEEMS TO ACT UP ALMOST EVERY STOP FOR DAYS AND THEN I MAY NOT HAVE IT OCCUR FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT RETURNS.*AK

A JERKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL JERK OR TRY TO TURN ON ITS OWN WHILE GOING STRAIGHT OR ON A TURN. IT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE STEERING ACTS UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND SPEEDS AND CANNOT BE PREDICTED. *AK

TREAD THROWN FROM TIRE CAUSING FENDER DAMAGE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: DN11BIC179 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL CONVIENCE STORE THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE EXTREMELY RIGID. MY WIFE WA DRIVING AT THE TIME AND HAD (3 MONTHS PRIOR) UNDERGONE BACK SUGERY. IT CAUSED HE TREMENDOUS PAIN TO FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP. SHE PROCEEDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND CALL ME. (AT HOME) I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DETERMINED THE BOOSTER HAD IN FACT FAILED. ( I AM AN AUTO TECHNICIAN BY TRADE) THE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED ($168) AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS ALIEVEATED. IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT A GREATER SPEED, IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, I BELIEVE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED AND HER INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECOMES VERY LOOSE AND THE SUDDENLY CATCHES. I HAVE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FEEL CERTAIN IT IS A POWER STEERING SPEED SENSOR. I HAVE ENCOUNTER MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.*AK

OUR DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS HELP DESK INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CRITERIA, THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTERS EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE GM TRUCKS AS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON JUNE 29, 2001. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO OR ANYONE TO CONTACT REGARDING THE PROBLEM? WILL THE MANUFACTURER (GM) PAY FOR THIS DEFECT? OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE A RECALL?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY PULL HARD TO RIGHT, ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE GRABBED WHEEL AND PULLED IT. I DO NOT REMEMBER HAVING THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD BRAKE TROUBLE AT AROUND 58,000 MILES. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED, ROTORS RESURFACED, AND PACKED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES FIXED, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE STEERING PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1997 GMC, YUKON.*AK

STEERING WHEEL PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT WHEN STEERING THROUGH A CURVE. IT IS A VERY SUDDEN MOVEMENT AND LASTS FROM 1-3 SECONDS AND CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES GOING THROUGH A CURVE. I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND WAS PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD TRAVELING AT 55 MPH NEARLY MISSING A TREE. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME.

Crash

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATES AND BLOWS FLUID OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION VENT. THIS LEFT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TRUCK TOWED BACK TO DEALER THAT DAY. DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRANSMISSION GET SO HOT BEFORE , AND BURN THE FLUID BLACK. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I DON'T BELEIVE THEM FOR A SECOND! I ASKED IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY CAN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD CHECK MY FLUID ONCE A WEEK TO SEE IF THE FLUID IS TURNING BLACK, AND TO SMELL THE FLUID TO SEE IF IT'S BURNING. THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER I WANT AFTER SPENDING $27000.00 FOR A NEW TRUCK! BEFORE THIS PROBLEM AROSE I NOTICED ON HOT DAYS AFTER DRIVING DISTANCED OF UP TO 40 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY , ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN. WHEN I BEGIN TO GO AGAIN THE TRUCK SHIFTS INTO 1,2, AND 3RD GEAR HARD, ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE TRUCK. I BELEIVE THERE IS A PROBLEM OUT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND CHEVROLET IS TRYING TO HIDE IT, OR CAN'T FIX IT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THAT CAN BREAK DOWN AT ANYTIME OR ANYWERE ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I AM GOING TO SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE OWNER OF TRABUCCO CHEVROLET TO SEE IF I CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH HIM. BUT I AM PREPARING MYSELF FOR THE SAME SONG AND DANCE JUST LIKE I GOT WHEN I APPROACHED ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT THE CHEVY LUMINA REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS. IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER CLASS ACTION SUIT TO MAKE CHEVROLET DO ANYTHING. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK WITH THE INTENSION OF KEEPING IT FOR 10 TO 12 YEARS. NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT, THIS IS A $27000.00 MISTAKE I MADE FOR TRUSTING CHEVROLET AGAIN!! BUT MORE THAN THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THESE VEHICLES BREAK DOWN DURING OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY!! I AM JUST HAPPY THAT AFTER WAITING 40 MIN. ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A TOW TRUCK THAT NOBODY IN MY FAMILY WAS HURT. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOES BY AT 65 SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED.

AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE MAKERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJOR PARTS OF A BRAKE SYSTEM. WE HAD TO TAKE TIME TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED AND PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. WE SHOULD NOT IN THIS COUNTRY PRODUCE SUCH UNSAFE VEHICLES.*AK

Crash

AFTER READING ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER DATED 6/29/01 ON BOOSTER FAILURES I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST.*AK

EA-01-013; WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS NOTED SEVERAL TSB'S REGARDING THE PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON DRY SUNNY DAY AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONTAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

Crash 2 injured

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIANCED PORBLEMS WITH LOSING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. CHECKED FLUIDS, AND THE FLUIDS LOOKED FINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE A PUMP IN ENGINE. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS. I HAD THE SEAT BRACKET REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW THE SEAT BRACKET HAS PLAY IN IT AGAIN. THIS IS UN-SAFE BECAUSE WHEN YOU ACCELERATE (AT ANY SPEED) THE SEAT ROCKS BACK EFFECTING THE GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND REACH TO THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO RECALL AND I COULD PAY TO HAVE THE BRACKET REPLACED. THIS WOULD MAKE THREE TIMES AND THERE WOULD BE NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T WORK ITS WAY LOOSE AGAIN. THIS ITEM PROBABLY REQUIRES A RE-DESIGN. P.S. I'M OF AVERAGE BUILT 6 FEET TALL, 180 POUNDS SO MY SIZE SHOULDN'T BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA SAYS THAT THERE ARE DEFECTS WITH THIS VICHICLE, GM SAYS THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS, MY FRONT BRAKES WHERE REPLACED AT 24,000 REAR BRAKES WHERE CHECK SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR.THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT LOCK AT TIMES , SOMETIMES YOU GET A STRONG ODER OF GAS AT REAR OF TRUCK. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES ON DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WHLE CONSUMER STILL HAS FOOT ON BRAKE. OTHER TIMES, BRAKES FEEL SOFT, AND OTHER TIMES, BRAKES KIND OF KICK BACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE FIXED PROBLEM ALREADY. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM STARTED EARLY (@3500MILES), BUT DID NOT SUFFER A COMPLETE FAILURE UNTIL 1/99 AT 53478 MILES AND AGAIN AT 110000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP LIST IT AS A BROKEN SUN GEAR SHELL. THE BATTERY BEGAN LEAKING ACID AT THE POSITIVE CABLE CONNECTION CREATING SOME KIND OF MELT DOWN THAT LOOSEN THE CONNECTOR BEYOND REPAIR AND CAUSED POWER FAILURE. THE DRIVE SHAFT HAS BEEN CLUNKING SINCE @3500 MILES, BUT EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THE DEALER JUST LUBES THE DRIVE SHAFT SLIP YOKE, BUT THIS DOES NOT FIX IT. THE FUEL PUMP HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND JUST SHUT DOWN TOTALLY. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE TOTALLY SOLVED. THE TRUCK STEERING SEEMS TO SLIP OR OVERSTEER WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE DRIVER TO RUN OFF TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON WHICH DIRECTION YOU TEND TO BE STEERING AT THAT MOMENT.. FIRST IT STARTED OCCASSIONALLY, THEN BECAME MORE FREQUENT. I HAVE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BELT, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE DECREASED THE FREQUENCIES, BUT HAS NOT TOTALLY CURED THE PROBLEM. ANY HELP YOU HAVE ON THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES PADS TWICE( 20,000-48,500) AND REPLACEMENT OF CALIPERS. *AK