IllustrationTHE FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *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 reportsNO 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 …
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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
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY ON THEIR ON. DEALER WAS AWARE THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AFTER HAVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#03V159000 WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
THERE WAS RECALL ISSUED JUNE 19, 2003 FOR OUR VEHICLE 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, GM RECALL NO. 03023 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AND HAD OUR WIPERS FAIL ON US DURING A TRIP ON A HIGHWAY THAT IS KNOWN FOR ITS ACCIDENTS. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND EVENTUALLY GOT THEM TO WORK AGAIN. WE …
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THERE WAS RECALL ISSUED JUNE 19, 2003 FOR OUR VEHICLE 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, GM RECALL NO. 03023 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AND HAD OUR WIPERS FAIL ON US DURING A TRIP ON A HIGHWAY THAT IS KNOWN FOR ITS ACCIDENTS. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND EVENTUALLY GOT THEM TO WORK AGAIN. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO OUR MECHANIC THAT VERY SAME NIGHT. HE INFORMED US OF THE RECALL. WHEN CONTACTING CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 WE WERE FIRST TOLD THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALREADY HAD THE WIPERS FIXED ON THIS RECALL, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE WE OWNED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL WAS RELEASED. WE WERE THEN PUT ON HOLD FOR A LONG TIME THEN TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS ONLY VALID IF YOUR VEHICLE HAD 70,000 OR LESS MILES. THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL VISIBILITY PROBLEM. HOW IS MILEAGE RELATED TO VISIBILITY? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A AGE REQUIREMENT FOR THE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND WE FALL INTO THE RANGE, OUT VEHICLE WAS 6 YEARS AT THE RECALL DATE. HOW DO I GET CHEVROLET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. YOUR CAMPAING ID NUMBER IS 03V159000.
THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED UNDER A RECALL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *JB
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