IllustrationBRAKE PADS FAILED.
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 reportsBRAKE PADS WORE PREMATURELY, AND THE CALIPERS MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS. THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM/ CALIPERS AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
HAD TO APPLY BRAKES AFTER GOING 50-55MPH ON ICE. VEHICLE HIT GUARDRAIL HEAD ON & SPUN AROUND & REAR HIT GUARDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. VEHICLE'S FRONT PUSHED BACK INTO TIRES. VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
BRAKES ARE ALMOST NONEXISTENT WHEN DRIVING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THEY MAKE A VERY DEEP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE SKIDS AND THE PEDAL LOCKS UP. IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE THEY ARE SQUISHY.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY MPH FROM 2-3 TO 65 MPH ON A PANIC STOP THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND HE DOES NOT THINK IT IS THE ABS. DEALER HAD CHECKED OTHER VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM ABOUT THE SAME PROBL…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY MPH FROM 2-3 TO 65 MPH ON A PANIC STOP THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND HE DOES NOT THINK IT IS THE ABS. DEALER HAD CHECKED OTHER VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE ABS BRAKES HAS CAME ON 561 TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE BRAKE 5 TIMES, AND THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE THE TRUCK WAS GOING 10MPH. THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP AT THAT SPEED. THE DEALER STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM …
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THE ABS BRAKES HAS CAME ON 561 TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE BRAKE 5 TIMES, AND THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE THE TRUCK WAS GOING 10MPH. THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP AT THAT SPEED. THE DEALER STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM ABOUT THE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE DRIVER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER 20 TIMES, AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT CALLED HIM BACK YET. HE TOOK MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS AND HOPES THAT NHTSA CAN ASSIT HIM WITH ANY KIND OF HELP. *AK
LOSS OF ABS BRAKES , RESULTING IN A REAREND COLLISION. BRAKES WENT FLOOR,ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON AFTER INCIDENT. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE SOES AND PADS. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING 20 MPH UPON AVOIDING HITTING A PATCH OF ICE CONSUMER THEREFORE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FORCING THE OCCUPANT ARMS AND HANDS TO BE FORCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATES DUE TO…
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WHEN TRAVELING 20 MPH UPON AVOIDING HITTING A PATCH OF ICE CONSUMER THEREFORE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FORCING THE OCCUPANT ARMS AND HANDS TO BE FORCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATES DUE TO DISLOCATION OF THE AIR BAG SENSORS.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THER IS PRESSURE IN THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKES LOCK AND DO NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY.
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