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1997 GMC C1500 Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19942
19964
19971
199812
1999
Compare all C1500 Suburban years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1

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: 2 of 4 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

2 reports
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115,000 miles · Dec 20, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL "WENT TO THE FLOOR " WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. DASHBOARD FAILED TO SHOW A "RED" BRAKE LIGHT UNTIL ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER WHEN I CHECKED BRAKES AGAIN. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A…

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BRAKE PEDAL "WENT TO THE FLOOR " WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. DASHBOARD FAILED TO SHOW A "RED" BRAKE LIGHT UNTIL ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER WHEN I CHECKED BRAKES AGAIN. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "BUILT IN SAFETY REDUNDANCY" TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING ? LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296503

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 GMC K-1500 SUBURBAN HAD SEVERAL ABS FAILURES. THE ABS ENGAGED AT A LOW SPEED WHEN COMING TO A STOP, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE CANNOT IN THE EXPECTED DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTACTED GM …

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 GMC K-1500 SUBURBAN HAD SEVERAL ABS FAILURES. THE ABS ENGAGED AT A LOW SPEED WHEN COMING TO A STOP, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE CANNOT IN THE EXPECTED DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL 05068 DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN CASE # 71-474-687-217. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12000. *AK UPDATED 03/15/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182103

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.