RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Feb 10, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes630.0%
  • Visibility525.0%
  • Exterior lighting210.0%
  • Steering210.0%
  • Electrical210.0%
  • Engine15.0%
  • Fuel system15.0%
  • Interior & seats15.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ANTI-LOCK SYSTEMS OVERRIDES AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES.

NHTSA ID 11072098 · filed Feb 10, 2018

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AROUND MARCH 2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY IN LONG ISLAND, NY WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED A HOLE IN THE LINE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. ONLY THAT PARTICULAR LINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF REPLACING ALL LINES FROM FRONT TO BACK. TODAY AUGUST 6, 2012 I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ONCE AGAIN IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT DUE TO THE BRAKE FLUID HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND ANOTHER BRAKE LINE THAT HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED A HOLE IN THE LINE WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND INCIDENT THE TRUCK HAD 141,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10469450 · filed Aug 6, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTION WHEN IN ACTIVATION; AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE QUALIFIED DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR, EXCESSIVE MILEAGE; AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THE CONTACT DISAGREED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND STATED THAT THE RECALL SUMMARY DID NOT MENTION THOSE FACTORS AS A REQUIREMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID 10379801 · filed Feb 1, 2011

SIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS.....ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER ONLY MOVES THE EITHER MIRROR DOWNWARD. WILL NOT MOVE EITHER MIRROR LEFT, RIGHT, OR UP. HAVE REPLACED THIS CONTROLLER TWICE BEFORE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ONE WITH THE DEALER AND ONE ON MY OWN. BOTH TIMES BRAND NEW PARTS. THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS ITEM BUT APPARENTLY DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. !!!! *TR

NHTSA ID 10270193 · filed May 28, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN, I TURNED ON THE WIPER SWITCH TO HAVE NOTHING HAPPEN BUT A SOFT BUZZING NOISE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING AND INTERMITTENT, SINCE IT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2003. I NOW FIND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND NOW WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. GM RECALL NO. 03023. GM REFUSES TO HELP AS THE RECALL HAS BEEN "CLOSED", AND THEIR RECORDS INDICATE THE REPAIR WAS MADE. I OWNED THE VEHICLE DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED! *TR

NHTSA ID 10335282 · filed Jun 8, 2010

BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM THE WIPERS STOP ON THERE OWN AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL, PER THE DEALERS INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE YET AS I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OF A VERY SERIOUS MATTER! *TR

NHTSA ID 10220378 · filed Mar 7, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

POWER STEERING SURGES, UNCONTROLLABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10249459 · filed Nov 20, 2008

EXTREME OVER STEERING AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. NEARLY CAUSED A FREEWAY ACCIDENT WITH CAR FULL OF KIDS. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 93 SUBURBAN WITH NO COMPLAINTS. HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS ONE 4 MONTHS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE STEERING IS SO ERRATIC. ALSO TRAVEL FREQUENTLY WITH HORSE TRAILER AND WORRY THAT THE OVER STEERING WILL CAUSE THE TRAILER TO SWERVE, CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *JB

NHTSA ID 10165589 · filed Aug 15, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BURNED WIRES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 197,000.

NHTSA ID 10415209 · filed Jul 26, 2011

WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN, I TURNED ON THE WIPER SWITCH TO HAVE NOTHING HAPPEN BUT A SOFT BUZZING NOISE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING AND INTERMITTENT, SINCE IT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2003. I NOW FIND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND NOW WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. GM RECALL NO. 03023. GM REFUSES TO HELP AS THE RECALL HAS BEEN "CLOSED", AND THEIR RECORDS INDICATE THE REPAIR WAS MADE. I OWNED THE VEHICLE DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED! *TR

NHTSA ID 10335282 · filed Jun 8, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ANTI LOCK BRAKES PULSATE AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT. ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK. *NM

NHTSA ID 10172825 · filed Nov 7, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1997 SUBURBAN - FUEL GAUGE PEGS AT PAST FULL. FUEL PUMP FAILS. I AM NOT SURE OF THE REASON FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN ABUT IT KEEP RECURRING AND I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO BE GOING TO A MECHANIC EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS. I HAVE LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE NET MANY TIMES AND THE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THIS AND SIMILAR PROBLEMS APPEARS TO BE GROWING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10267912 · filed May 7, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NO REAL EVENTS, NO COLLISION, ETC. JUST NORMAL USE, GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANISM, STRUT(S) CONTROLLING FRONT ELEVATION BROKE AND SEAT FRONT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. SEAT STILL MOVES FROM REAR AND FORWARD AND BACK. SEAT IS NOT STABLE AND PIVOTS BACK ON REAR MOUNTING /ADJUSTING POINTS. WE NO LONGER SEAT ANYONE BEHIND THE DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE IT COULD CRUSH THE REAR PASSENGER IF SUBJECTED TO ENOUGH IMPACT. IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY A BODY SHOP THAT WE JUST RE-WELD, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO GUARANTEE IT WILL HOLD WITH IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10228141 · filed May 19, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .