IllustrationSTEERING GOES SOFT UNEXPECTEDLY IN TURN, RESULTING IN TENDENCY TO OVERSTEER, POSSIBLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *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
What owners actually said
414 reportsBATTERY LEAKING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *YC
SECOND TIME THAT FUEL INJECTION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND CAUSE CANNOT BE FOUND. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
IE98079, WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE "TOO LOOSE" WHICH MAY RESULT A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
STEERING FRONT SENSOR HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
I PURCHASED MY 1997 3/4TON 4X4 SUBURBAN IN OCT 97. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS HAVING IT,IN DECEMBER, 1997 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES SQUEAKING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS. THEN 2MONTHS LATER,IN FEBRUARY, 98 SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I BECAME CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. TH…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY 1997 3/4TON 4X4 SUBURBAN IN OCT 97. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS HAVING IT,IN DECEMBER, 1997 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES SQUEAKING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS. THEN 2MONTHS LATER,IN FEBRUARY, 98 SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I BECAME CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTH SINCE, AND WE ARE NOW IN APRIL, 99 AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. LUCKY TO GET 1-2 THOUSAND MILES ON THE PADS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES FOR THIS. DEALER WAS CONCERNED AS TO WHY THEY WERE WEARING SO QUICK. NOW 4-5 SETS IN THIS SHORT OF TIME. THE LAST TWO TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THEM I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEM STILL SQUEAKING, AND I WANTED TO HAVE FIXED. NOW ADDED TO THIS PROBLEM IS THE FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, AND WHEN IT IS RAINING OUT THE VEHICLE HOPS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP. IT IS VERY SCARY. THIS IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN, AND I AM AFRAID IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. IM MARCH ,99 I BROUGHT BACK TO SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE SQUEAK, PULL OF THE FRONT END. WHEN I LEFT THAT DAY VEHICLE HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD CONTACT GMC REP.HAVE HIM COME OUT MAYBE HE COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS ON MAR3,1999. I WAITED TILL APR 8,1999, DORIAN TAFT GMC REP. CAME OUT. I REQUESTED IN WRITING THAT I BE PRESENT WHEN HE WAS OUT SO WE COULD DISCUSS MY CONCERNS. I WAS NEVER CALLED, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE GMC REP WAS IN A HURRY DIDNT HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH ME OR CHECK MY VEHICLE OUT LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN,AND THAT WAS WHOLE PURPOSE. IM VERY UPSET AND THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAT. MY VEHICLE CONCERNS PROBLEMS STILL STAND.I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY UNSAFE & THINK THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF NOW. LONGEST SET OF PADS LASTED APPROX 2000 MILES. FRONT RIMS ARE A CONSTANT BLACK. PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *AK
PREMATURE DISC BRAKE FAILURE AND VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT .
THE SEAT BELTS IN THE THIRD ROW OF THE SUBURBAN DO NOT SELF ADJUST. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE AFTER MARKET SEAT BELTS, INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PUMP, TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, RESULTING IN STALLING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML
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