IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
1997 GMC Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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: 30 of 200 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.
- 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
What owners actually said
200 reportsTHE CONSUMER ROUTINELY INSPECTED THE BRAKES IN 11/02 AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. ON 06/03, WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF BRAKES, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTSIDE BRAKE PADS HAD A "CHUNK" MISSING. *AK THE FRONT OUTSIDE PADS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEPA…
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER ROUTINELY INSPECTED THE BRAKES IN 11/02 AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. ON 06/03, WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF BRAKES, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTSIDE BRAKE PADS HAD A "CHUNK" MISSING. *AK THE FRONT OUTSIDE PADS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE METAL SHOE DUE TO RIVET HOLE WEAR, AND HAD FALLEN APART IN THE CONSUMERS HANDS AND THE PADS WERE NOT WORN OUT. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER STATES THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS A INVESTIGATION#PE98060 CONCERNING STEERING. *AK
DAMAGED SENDING UNIT IN 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. *MR A SMALL PLASTIC PART IN THE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK BROKE LOOSE AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO SENDING UNIT. THE ATTACHMENT OF THE PLASTIC RUNNER TO THE BASE OF THE TANK WAS NOT SECURED ON THE ASSEMBLY. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. *JB
THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 47000 MILES (1997 GMC). *NLM
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS. ALSO STATED THAT THE TWO REAR SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALLS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT SHE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT SHE IS RESPONSIBLE OF GETTING TH…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS. ALSO STATED THAT THE TWO REAR SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALLS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ALSO SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THAT SHE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT SHE IS RESPONSIBLE OF GETTING THEM FIX. MR
EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM, WHEN THE TRUCK HAS RUN 50 MILES OR SO ON THE FREEWAY, STOP AT OFF RAMP. THE TRUCK SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2 ND WHEN I PULL AWAY. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL I SHUT THE TRUCK OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND START AGAIN. THEN IT IS FINE FOR A WHILE AND WILL REPEAT THE SAME, SOMETIMES WEEKS APART, MORE OFTEN IN THE SUMMER…
Read full complaint
EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM, WHEN THE TRUCK HAS RUN 50 MILES OR SO ON THE FREEWAY, STOP AT OFF RAMP. THE TRUCK SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2 ND WHEN I PULL AWAY. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL I SHUT THE TRUCK OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND START AGAIN. THEN IT IS FINE FOR A WHILE AND WILL REPEAT THE SAME, SOMETIMES WEEKS APART, MORE OFTEN IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. MY DRIVING PATTERN IS ONE OF SHORT TRIPS, SO I GUESS THIS IS WHY MY PROBLEM IS SPARODIC. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONE WEB SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER GM CARS AND TRUCKS,THE CODE #1870 SEEMS TO FIGURE IN MOST CASES, MOST PEOPLE HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH GM, AND ARE STUCK WITH BILLS OF 2-3000 DOLLARS. I HOPE YOU CAN CHECK THIS OUT, SEEMS TO COVER GM CARS AND TRUCKS FROM THE 80S-01. THANK'S GRAHAM BROWN. DT
VEHICLE WOULD STALL ABOUT ONCE A WEEK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEN ONE DAY IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED FROM THE TANK THE POWER WIRE WAS SHORTED AND MELTED INSIDE THE TANK, HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE TANK ASSMY. CONSISTING OF THE PUMP, SENDING UNIT AND WIRING HARNESS, THE REPAIR SHOP SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT IT…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WOULD STALL ABOUT ONCE A WEEK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEN ONE DAY IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED FROM THE TANK THE POWER WIRE WAS SHORTED AND MELTED INSIDE THE TANK, HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE TANK ASSMY. CONSISTING OF THE PUMP, SENDING UNIT AND WIRING HARNESS, THE REPAIR SHOP SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT EXPLODE, AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITE I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT DATES BACK TO NEW MODELS RELEASED IN 1996, AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT ....WHY????? DT
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER BACK AND FORTH INTO BOTH LANES BEFORE REGAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSE BODY DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL OF VEHICLE. TREAD WAS COMPLETELY OFF TIRE WITH METAL BANDS REVEALED. NLM
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.
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