IllustrationPULLS LEFT WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD OR WHEN BRAKING. MULTIPLE SERVICE ATTEMPTS. STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER CANNOT FIX, GM WON'T REPLACE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
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
Steering complaints
105 reportsSPEED SENSITIVE STEERING FAILS WHEN DRIVING. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN, THE STEERING IS HARD, THE SSS FAILS, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE, RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING, CAUSING SWERVING OR LOSS OF CONTROL.
AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AFTER TURNING A CURB, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD GO LIMP OR SLACK. DEALERSHIP HAD REPLACED THE EVO BUT PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED. *AK
THE POWER STEERING ON RIGHT TURNS OVERSTEERS. IT IS LIKE A SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER STEERING. SINCE IT IS INTERMETANT IT IS A SUPRISE AND HAS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASION THE SUPRISE WAS ENOUGH TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE SUBURBAN. WE HAD IT IN ONCE FOR REPAIR BUT THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTING. IT HAS BECOME WORSE AND WE HAVE TAKEN I…
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THE POWER STEERING ON RIGHT TURNS OVERSTEERS. IT IS LIKE A SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER STEERING. SINCE IT IS INTERMETANT IT IS A SUPRISE AND HAS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASION THE SUPRISE WAS ENOUGH TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE SUBURBAN. WE HAD IT IN ONCE FOR REPAIR BUT THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTING. IT HAS BECOME WORSE AND WE HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AGAIN FOR A REPAIR. THE SERVICE MAN SAID HE HAS HAD THREE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM.
THE LOW SPEED POWER ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATES AT CRUISE SPEED WHEN MAKING COURSE CORRECTIONS SUCH AS TURNING TO FOLLOW THE ROAD, TURNING TO PASS AND TURNING TO CORRECT FOR SIDE WIND.
VEHICLE STEERING SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY FAILS WHILE IN MOTION. ON ONE OCCURRANCE WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH STEERING FAILED AND VEHICLE MOVED TO THE LEFT HALF A LANE WIDTH; DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL.
VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING KICKS IN/OUT, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE BACK PRESSURE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE EFFECT INVOLVES MOMENTARY OVERSTEER AS IF SOMEONE HAS GRAPPED THE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVED IT 4-5 INCHES TOWARD INSID EOF CURVE. IF DRIVEN ON ICY ROADS, COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND RUNNING INTO A DITCH. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 55 MPH STEERING LOST POWER FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS TO 10 SECONDS. DURING THIS TIME CONSUMER CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE, IT BEGINS TO WANDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE, IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL, NEEDS TO APPLY BRAKES. EVENTUALLY POWER COMES BACK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 2ND TIME, DEALER CHANGED STEERING SENSOR. 1ST …
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 55 MPH STEERING LOST POWER FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS TO 10 SECONDS. DURING THIS TIME CONSUMER CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE, IT BEGINS TO WANDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE, IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL, NEEDS TO APPLY BRAKES. EVENTUALLY POWER COMES BACK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 2ND TIME, DEALER CHANGED STEERING SENSOR. 1ST TIME, DEALER CLAIMED COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, IT HAS LITTLE IF ANY ROAD FEEL, THE VEHICLE FLOATS WHEN DRIVEN IN WIND OR AROUND TRUCKS AND OTHER TRAFFIC. CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSTABLE, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
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