1997 Chevrolet Suburban

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULLY LOADED, THE CONTACT NOTICES THAT THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC 15 TIMES AND THEY HAVE MADE NUMEROUS REPAIRS, INCLUDING VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING UNIT, STEERING SENSORS, ACTUATOR, AND ALSO ADDITIONS TO THE SPRINGS OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ALL OF THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY REPAIRED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,464 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 10/08/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB

I HAVE LOST STEERING AND BRAKING ON 1996 6.5 TURBO DIESEL SUBURBAN THREE TIMES NOW I DRIVE NORMALLY. I AM 42 AND HAVE A FAMILY OF SEVEN. WHEN BRAKING THE POWER BOOSTER HAS ZERO PRESSURE AND IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP AND AT THE VERY SAME TIME ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST. I THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, SO I REPLACED IT, NO CHANGE. STILL NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I REPLACED HYDROBOOST UNIT BRAKING AND STEERING RETURNED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HYDROBOOST THREE TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. I COMPLETELY REMOVED THE SOLENOID MAGNET FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO TEST IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSES THE HYDRO BOOST UNIT TO FAIL, I DID THIS BETWEEN HYDRO UNIT 1 AN 2, I REINSTALLED MAGNET BETWEEN UNIT 2 AND 3 THE FIRST TIME I LOST BRAKING AND STEERING THERE WAS NO WARNING, I WENT TO STOP AND HAD HARD, NON POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. THE SECOND, THIRD TIME I KNEW TO REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING THE STEERING GETS HARD OR THE BRAKES GET HARD, THEN I REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, BRAKE AND STEERING RETURN TO NORMAL I COMPLETELY FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING FLUID EACH TIME INTO A CLEAN BUCKET, NO BIG PARTICLES OR HOSE MATERIAL. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS, IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN A WINDING TWO LANE STEEP DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN ROAD, WITH A HEAVY SUBURBAN AND YOU LOOSE STEERING AND BRAKES I TURNED IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS AS CORES TO GET MY MONEY BACK. *NM

I BOUGHT A USED SUBURBAN AND SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT. I REALLY HAVE TO KEEP A TIGHT GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A ROAD WITH ALOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS BECAUSE IT JERKES HARD AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WORRY THAT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING IT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK BECAUSE IT SOMETIMES HAS SENT ME TOWARDS THE LANE NEXT TO ME OR OFF THE ROAD COMPLETLY, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. I JUST WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR WHAT WILL REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.

NO ACCIDENTS. STEERING HAS BEGUN INSTANCES OF LOSS OF CONTROL. INFORMATION PROVIDED DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS INDICATES THE RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING BOX MAY HAVE A TENDENCY TO SLIP. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERMITTANT FAILURE MODE EXPERIENCED DURING DRIVING. THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 SUBURBAN C1500. IT IS NOT USED TO TOW AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE OWNED IT SINCE NEW, ALL OF THE 104,000 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY US, NO CHILDREN HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS 5 TIMES, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING YESTERDAY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

I OWN A1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT. WE ASKED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO FIX THE DOORS TO CLOSE PROPERLY, WHICH THEY CLAIMED TO DO. I NOTICED THAT THE DOOR DID NOT LINE UP AND THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE STRIKE PLATE. EVIDENTLY THAT MEANS THEY USED A SLEDGE HAMMER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ONE OF THE LOCKED DOORS OPENED UP AS SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LUCKILY MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN HIS CARSEAT. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. SHE COULD NOT RECLOSE THE DOOR AND SO SHE TIED IT SHUT. I FOUND THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS STILL SHUT. I HELD THE HANDLE UP AND MANUALLY LIFTED THE LATCH AFTER WHICH THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE. ANOTHER SAFTEY ISSUE; WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS AND OCCASIONAL SNOW AREA. I WORRY THAT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING, AND SOMETIMES IT HAS SENT ME TOWARDS THE LANE NEXT TO ME, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED ONCE AFTER THE SHAFT COMPLETLY SEPERATED FROM THE PUMP WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN WITH 7 BOYSCOUTS FROM A CAMPING TRIP IN THE SNOW. LET ME TELL YOU IF THAT HAD BEEN MY WIFE IN THE CAR SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF. IN 2 1/2 YRS. I HAVE REPLACED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR, DOOR HANDLES, TRANSMISSION, REAR END SEALS AND AXLE, FRONT END, A/C EVERYTHING,WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH OF SOME SORT,BRAKES EVERY 20,000 OR SO, THEY TELL ME THE HEAD GASKET IS BAD,THERE IS A WHINING SOUND I THINK IS THE FAN CLUTCH,AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE ITS EITHER THE U JOINTS OR THE LIMITED SLIP CLUTCHES, HUB OR BOTH. I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THIS CAR. ALL LAMB CHEVROLET OF PRESCOTT VALLEY AZ HAS SAID IS THEY WARRANTY THEIR VEHICLES TO 36,000 MILES. THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME ONE OF THEIR NICE NEW TAHOES. WHICH HE CLAIMS THEY HAVE IMPROVED. OH YEA THE SALES PRICE IS 42,000. ON A 36,000 VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN ON THE CAR THEY SOLD ME 2 YEARS AGO.*AK