IllustrationTHE BRAKES VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AND HESITATE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK
1997 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Suburban years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban are substantially higher than the model-year median of 118.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 76 of 414 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports13 fire reports13 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
92 reportsBRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. ALSO, POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE, AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. CONSUMER WAS AWARE IF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING IN CONJUGATION WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM.*AK
FIRST TIME APPLIED BRAKES AT INTERSECTION, EXTENTED STOPPING. BRAKES CHECKED OK, REPLACED BRAKES ANYWAY. SIX MO. LATTER, SECOND TIME, DRIVING 25 MPH. DRY, CLEAN PAVED ROAD. APPLIED BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK COMES ON, BRAKES FAILED, CAUSED ACCIDENT. TRAVELED AT LEAST 2 AN A HALF CAR LENGTH BEFORE INPACT. SUBURBAN CHECKED, ONLY THING FOU…
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FIRST TIME APPLIED BRAKES AT INTERSECTION, EXTENTED STOPPING. BRAKES CHECKED OK, REPLACED BRAKES ANYWAY. SIX MO. LATTER, SECOND TIME, DRIVING 25 MPH. DRY, CLEAN PAVED ROAD. APPLIED BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK COMES ON, BRAKES FAILED, CAUSED ACCIDENT. TRAVELED AT LEAST 2 AN A HALF CAR LENGTH BEFORE INPACT. SUBURBAN CHECKED, ONLY THING FOUND WAS BRAKE OIL READ AT 190 DEGREES, AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE. *AK
BRAKES. *JB
FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY AT 12,000 MILES. SINCE 1997 HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
HEATER AND AC CONTROLS WENT OUT TWICE. FACTORY REPLACED THEM @ $125, THEN 9 MONTHS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. FACTORY SAID IT WAS UNDER 12 MONTHS, BUT I HAD DRIVEN OVER 12,000 MILES SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. WINDSHEILD WIPER MODULE GOES BAD. WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY STOP OR WONT TURN ON. ON 3RD MODULE NOW. BRAKE…
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HEATER AND AC CONTROLS WENT OUT TWICE. FACTORY REPLACED THEM @ $125, THEN 9 MONTHS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. FACTORY SAID IT WAS UNDER 12 MONTHS, BUT I HAD DRIVEN OVER 12,000 MILES SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. WINDSHEILD WIPER MODULE GOES BAD. WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY STOP OR WONT TURN ON. ON 3RD MODULE NOW. BRAKES, CONSTANT GRINDING AND WEAK STOPS. HAVE REPLACED ROTORS 4 TIMES. SAME RESULTS. STEERING LOSES TENSION WHEN STEERING TO THE LEFT. PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING BUT HAS MADE ME ALMOST LOSE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES.
FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK SHORT CIRCUITED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MY SUBURBAN TO BLOW UP, SINCE I HAD JUST FILLED IT WITH OVER 30 GALLONS OF GAS THAT MORNING. MY FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A NEW WIRING ASSEMBLY AND FLOAT MECHANISM. MY MECHANIC SAID THE SHORT CIRCUIT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO OVER AMPER…
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FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK SHORT CIRCUITED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MY SUBURBAN TO BLOW UP, SINCE I HAD JUST FILLED IT WITH OVER 30 GALLONS OF GAS THAT MORNING. MY FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A NEW WIRING ASSEMBLY AND FLOAT MECHANISM. MY MECHANIC SAID THE SHORT CIRCUIT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO OVER AMPERAGE OF THE FUEL PUMP. THAT IN TURN, CAUSED THE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO MELT TOGETHER AND SHORT OUT THE ECM FUSE, TWICE. I BELIEVE CHEVROLET IS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. I HOPE OTHERS ARE AS LUCKY AS I WAS! P.S. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE ALSO VERY POOR!! BAD DESIGN...1997 WAS A LEMON SUBURBAN, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND DESIGNED ALL OVER AGAIN!*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
ABS FAILURE, ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND FRONT AND REAR BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA .I BELIEVE THE LETTER MAY HAVE BEEN MISPLACED WHILE IN TRANSITION FROM DIMMS TO ARTEMIS VIA TRAN TECH EMPLOYEES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITION FAILED. THERE WAS A VIOLENT GEAR CHANGE BETWEEN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEE…
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ABS FAILURE, ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND FRONT AND REAR BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA .I BELIEVE THE LETTER MAY HAVE BEEN MISPLACED WHILE IN TRANSITION FROM DIMMS TO ARTEMIS VIA TRAN TECH EMPLOYEES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITION FAILED. THERE WAS A VIOLENT GEAR CHANGE BETWEEN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE BATTERY LEAKED AND ALSO THE CABLES WERE CORRODED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENLY COME ON WITH OUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. *MR
Official recalls
203V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid
Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
DP00001 · Oem Hitch Receiver Platform Cracking
Opened Jan 31, 2000 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT CRACKS IN THE HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM MAY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE TRAILER AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv
Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.
EA95026 · Poor Brake Performance
Opened Sep 20, 1995 · Closed Sep 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
POOR PERFORMANCE OF ABS BRAKES