Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
"CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER SHORT HIGHWAY DRIVE (ABOUT 30 MINUTES). THEN TRANSMISSIONS SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR, ASSOCIATED WITH A HARD CLUNK WHEN FINALLY IT SHIFTS. DEALER HAS REPLACED A "SPRING" WITH A HEAVIER DUTY ONE, BUT FIX IS TEMPORARY. CODE 1870 SHOWS UP AS DIAGNOSIS AT DEALER. L60E TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE CULPRIT.
DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING BOLT SHEERED OFF INTO REAR AXLE GEARS. DT
I STARTED EXPERENCING PROBLEM AT APPOX. 12000 MILES WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURLLY,SOME AFTER AT APPOX. 20000 MILE I HAD UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR, ( I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT) IT WAS THE RIGHT TORSION BAR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 27668 MILE I HAD TO PAY 1/2 THE COST APPOX $225.00 AFTER FIGHTING ALL THE WAY TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES,THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING STARTED ACTTING UP AT APPOX. 40000 MILES SUDDENLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SLIP UNACCPECTEDLY.THIS PART WAS REPLACE N/C , I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS THE FIRST AT APPOX. 38000 MILE STANDING ME IN BUFFALO ,TX 120 MILES FROM HOME ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, THE SECOND AND THIRD HAPPEDED IN THE CITY HOWEVER I NOW CARRY A SPARE ALTENATOR AND TOOLS BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHEN IT WILL GO OUT NEXT, I HAVE REPLACED THE POSITIVE SIDE BATTERY CABLES TWICE BECAUSE OF DESIGN THE LOOSEN AND THE ACR AND SHORT OUT, THE AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 53939 DUE TO COOLENT GETTING INTO THE UNIT I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THIS REPAIR APPOX. $525.00 THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 69015 ONLY 15K+MILES LATER WITH THE WARRENTY CARD IN HAND I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS WAS IT ,AT 107,267 MILES THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WITH ONLY 38K+ MILE ON A UNIT THAT CARRYS A 3YR/50K WARRENTY GM REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE THE UNIT MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 06/15/2001 WHILE I HAVE BEEN ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING WITH GM TO NO AVAIL ,( I WAS OFFER A CUSTOMER LOYALTY CERT. FOR $500. 00 TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION COST $2500. TO REPLACE NOT INCLUDING THE MOTOR MOUNT THAT BROKE WHEN THE UNIT LOCKED UP AT APPOX. 35 MPH ALL THE ADVERTISING MILLION AND BILLIONS OF $$$$$ SHOULD BE SPENT MAKING SURE THAT THEN PRESISTENT PROBLEM DO NOT ACCURE, NOT WHEN YOU SPEND 35K- 45K- FOR A VEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: DON'T KNOW TIRESIZE: 245R16LT)
1. BATTERY LEAKED ACID WHILE IDLE AND ULTIMATELY FAILED. LEAK CORRODED POSITIVE POWER CABLE AND UNDERCOATING. 2. ERRATIC STEERING WHILE DRIVING - STEERING POSITION SENSOR REPLACED FIRST TIME. 3. STARTER FAILED 3 TIMES - COMPLETE LOCK-UP 4. U-JOINT FAILED TWICE - SEALED/NON-GREASABLE POOR ACCESS TO ADD GREASE FITTING
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I HAD THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS REPLACED, (DEALER STATED IT WAS NEEDED), AND EVER SINCE, I HAVE NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO COME FROM DRIVESHAFT. I HAD THEM ( DEALER ) CHECK, AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE TIRES, OR PERHAPS A BEARING. THIS NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO GETTING U-JOINTS, HOWEVER I ALSO HAD CUPPING ON A RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND THEY REPLACED A MODEL, OR SOMETHING. I SAW ON THE NTSA BULLETIN NO. 9610 OF JAN 4, 2000 , THAT 1997 SUBURBANS HAD A COMPONENT PROBLEM. *AK
REAR SHAFT SEALS ARE LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE BRAKE DRUMS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN BRAKE LOSS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP OVER 4 TIMES DUE TO THE REAR AXLE LEAKING. MECHANIC HAD THEM REPLACED. *AK
CATEGORY: AXLE & DIFFERENTIAL; DESCRIPTION: FLUID LEAK AT FRONT LEFT DIFFERENTIAL GEAR BOX, VARIOUS FIXES HAVE BEEN TRIED INCLUDING VENT CONE NUT, GMS NUT, VENT TUBE, RESEAL GEAR BOX, TIGHTEN HOSE CLAMP, REPLACED SPLIT O'RING; NOTES: LOOKS LIKE THE DEALER WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THERE ARE 6 VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. ANOTHER FIX WILL BE TRIED ON 12/02/98 ON ANDERSON CHEVROLET SUPERSTORE BRANCH AT LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95032
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .