1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · data through 07/12/2026

49Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System complaints

8.8%Of all 555 complaints

#3Most-reported category

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

How steering:hydraulic power assist system ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP86 · 15.5%

STEERING59 · 10.6%

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM49 · 8.8%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION33 · 5.9%

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER32 · 5.8%

Share of the 555 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“I AM HAVING THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM THAT I HAVE JUST HEARD ABOUT IN THE NEWS. MANY TIMES, WHEN I AM TRAVELLING ABOVE 35 MPH…”NHTSA complaint 708069 — filed 06/30/1999

“THE VARIABLE EFFORT POWER STEERING ASSIST CHANGES STEERING FORCES AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS CAUSES ERRATIC STEERING WHICH CAUSES UNEXPECTED SWERVING AND LANE CHANGES. I HAVE…”NHTSA complaint 708038 — filed 06/30/1999

“CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING JERKING/PULLING VEHICLE. THE STEERING MODULE AND THREE STEERING SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS…”NHTSA complaint 544618 — filed 03/25/1999

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

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have steering:hydraulic power assist system problems?

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 49 of 555 complaints on file (8.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have in total?

555 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 30 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering:hydraulic power assist system category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 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 07/12/2026.