Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

20 reports

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60,000 miles · Jan 21, 2004

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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1997 GMC SUBURBAN- MULTIPLE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION FAILURES. AT 60,000 MILES, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD. RETURNED TO SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES FOR WORK. FINALLY, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPELETLY. REQUIRED VALVE COVER AND TRANSMISSION REBUILD @ COST OF $2,000. ON DECEMBER 27 '03, HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. ON JAN 17 '04, DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO ANTIFREEZE IN NEW RADIATOR. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST: ~$600. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION. SAME DIAGNOSIS. BOTH STATE THAT GM IS AWARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. ADDITIONALLY- REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWO TIMES; REPLACED WATER PUMP TWO TIMES; REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN FALL 2003. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10054576

46,801 miles · Nov 18, 2003

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE FROM ITS MOUNTING AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR ALSO SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY NOT LONGER COVERED THE BELT. T…

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NHTSA ODI #10042591

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AT 67,000 MILES AND PROBABLY WELL BEFORE THIS BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL PICKED UP ON ROUTINE MAINTENACE CHECK. NORMALLY, I WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND MOVE SINCE I HAVE GMPP (EXTENDED WARRANTY) WITH NO OUT OF POCKET COSTS. NOT IN THIS CASE. THE PROBLEM HERE WITH THE MANIFOLD GASKET IS NOT ABOUT NOISE POLLUTION. IT IS ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE AND OTHER NOXIOUS GAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE. BEFORE THE LAWYERS AT GMC PICK UP THEIR PENCILS AND START TAKING NOTES, THE END RESULT IN MY CASE WAS ONLY ONE OF FEELING TIRED AT THE WHEEL. PROBLEM SOLVED WHEN THE NEW MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE INSTALLED. EVERYONE HAPPY, NO ACCIDENTS--NOT QUITE SO FAST.. WELL HERE IS THE PROBLEM: I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC TO THIS SERIES OF VEHICLE AND TO BE EXPECTED EVERY 36,000. IF TRUE, THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVING 1997 AND EARLIER GMC SUBURBANS AROUND TIRED OR WORSE. AS A PHYSICIAN, I AM WELL AWARE THAT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVELS OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS IS UNHEALTHY. I WOULD LIKE GMC TO PRODUCE DATA TO THE NHTSA ON THE FREQUENCY OF MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS IN THIS SERIES VEHICLE/ENGINE, THE LIKLIHOOD OF SUCH LEAKS SENDING EXHAUST EMISSIONS INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBABILITY OF SUCH LEAKS PRODUCING CATASTROPHIC RESULTS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE NEXT TIME I PICK UP A PAPER AND READ THAT SOMEONE DRIVING A GMC VEHICLE "FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL" I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT UNRELATED TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761813

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2002

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HESITATE AND EXHIBIT POOR ACCELERATION, DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE, FUEL INJECTION PUMP, AND ADDED FUEL CONDITIONER. *TT

NHTSA ODI #563531

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

EVERY TIME DRIVER MAKES A RIGHT HAND TURN ENGINE SPUTTERS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL, HAS NEVER STALLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 30 DAYS, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894170

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

HAVE HEAR MANY AND SEEN MANY RIGHT SIDE HEADGASKET LEAKING COOLENT THINK THERES SOMETHINK WRONG WITH THEM! DEALER IS NO HELP! THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748252

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AT ANY SPEED, WHICH CAUISED FUEL PUMP TO BURN OUT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER THIS INCIDENT. CONSUMER HAD REPL THREE FUEL PUMPS REPLACED, BUT, PROBLEM WAS STILL REOCCURRING. ASKING NHTSA ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891736

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY/FREEWAY, LOST CONTROL OF BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO SAFETY ALL 3 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER, 1ST TIME SAID IT WAS "MASS AIR FLOW CONTROLLER" 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, THIS TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG GUESSING IS FUEL INJE…

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NHTSA ODI #744562

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUTS OFF, ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLICKER. ENGINE SURGE AT 65MPH...FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 65 & 10 MPH CONTINUOUSLY & ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLICKER. DEALER DIAGNOSTICS SAYS NOTHING WRONG. I FEEL IT'S DANGEROUS & LIFE THREATENING. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOT TAKING ME SERIOUSLY. PLEASE HELP! *AK

NHTSA ODI #741103

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ROADS WERE SNOWY WHEN ENGINE DIED FOR NO REASON. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & ENDED IN A DITCH. TOWED TRUCK/ PULLED VEHICLE OUT OF DITCH. HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. VEHICLE PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. NO CODES OF PROBLEM SHOWED. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP ON DIESEL ENGINE LAST MOMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878015

Official recalls

03V159000 · 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

EA02006 · 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

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

PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

PE98060 · Erratic Steering Boost While Driving

Opened Nov 13, 1998 · Closed May 12, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

ALLEGED THAT THE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING UNIT INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDES FULL BOOST TOT HE POWER STEERING GEAR AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS.

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