IllustrationFUEL PUMP CLOGGED UP AND BURNED TWICE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *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 reportsABS SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING DUE TO DEFECT IN SNAP RING OF TRANSMISSION. THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL AT SLOW SPEED CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO THINK THE REAR TIRES WERE SLIDING, THEREFORE THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD WORK. THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THE SNAP RING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS MISPOSITIONED CAUSING THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO HAVE TO MUCH END PL…
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ABS SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING DUE TO DEFECT IN SNAP RING OF TRANSMISSION. THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL AT SLOW SPEED CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO THINK THE REAR TIRES WERE SLIDING, THEREFORE THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD WORK. THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THE SNAP RING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS MISPOSITIONED CAUSING THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO HAVE TO MUCH END PLAY, THEREFORE CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR TO LOSE SIGNAL, AND THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN EVERYTIME YOU STOPPED. THE COMPUTER NEVER LOGGED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM HAD EVER BEEN WORKING, OR HAD EVER WORKED. AFTER REASSEMBLE THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE. THIS PROBLEM APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR IN THE REAR BRAKE SHOES, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ABS WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME. AFTER THIS WORE OUT THE SHOES, THE BRAKES STARTED FAILING. *AK
ODI # ON LAST REPORT: 720833. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
POSITIVE POST OF THE BATTERY TERMINAL WAS SCREWED IN TOO FAR, AND IT DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK INSIDE OF THE TERMINAL, TO FELL OFF.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
APPARENT UNREPAIRABLE DANGEROUS STEERING SITUATION, BATTERY PROBLEM, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO MERCHANTABLE FOR PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS OFFERED FOR SALE. *AK
WHILE DEPESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENTED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
OUR SUBURBAN NOW HAS ITS 3RD BATTERY IN 3 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY'S POST BROKE OFF LEAKING ACID, DESTROYING STARTER WIRING, CAUSING ASSOCIATED FRAME DAMAGE. THE DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS WITH SUBURBAN VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ACID DAM…
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OUR SUBURBAN NOW HAS ITS 3RD BATTERY IN 3 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY'S POST BROKE OFF LEAKING ACID, DESTROYING STARTER WIRING, CAUSING ASSOCIATED FRAME DAMAGE. THE DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS WITH SUBURBAN VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ACID DAMAGE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS IN THE FALL OF 1999. WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AT FULL COST TO US SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. TODAY JULY 10, 2000, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE TRAY HOLDING THE BATTERY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE POSITIVE CABLE TERMINALS ARE CORRODED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR SOON AFTER MAKING A STOP VEHICLE SHIFT GEARS HARD FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. DLR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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