Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 105 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.
The 25 most recent of 105, in the owner's own words
ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN ERRATIC CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STARTED IN 2006 AND ENDED IN 2009. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULLY LOADED, THE CONTACT NOTICES THAT THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC 15 TIMES AND THEY HAVE MADE NUMEROUS REPAIRS, INCLUDING VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE STEERING UNIT, STEERING SENSORS, ACTUATOR, AND ALSO ADDITIONS TO THE SPRINGS OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ALL OF THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY REPAIRED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,464 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 10/08/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB
I HAVE LOST STEERING AND BRAKING ON 1996 6.5 TURBO DIESEL SUBURBAN THREE TIMES NOW I DRIVE NORMALLY. I AM 42 AND HAVE A FAMILY OF SEVEN. WHEN BRAKING THE POWER BOOSTER HAS ZERO PRESSURE AND IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP AND AT THE VERY SAME TIME ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST. I THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, SO I REPLACED IT, NO CHANGE. STILL NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I REPLACED HYDROBOOST UNIT BRAKING AND STEERING RETURNED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HYDROBOOST THREE TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. I COMPLETELY REMOVED THE SOLENOID MAGNET FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO TEST IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSES THE HYDRO BOOST UNIT TO FAIL, I DID THIS BETWEEN HYDRO UNIT 1 AN 2, I REINSTALLED MAGNET BETWEEN UNIT 2 AND 3 THE FIRST TIME I LOST BRAKING AND STEERING THERE WAS NO WARNING, I WENT TO STOP AND HAD HARD, NON POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. THE SECOND, THIRD TIME I KNEW TO REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING THE STEERING GETS HARD OR THE BRAKES GET HARD, THEN I REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, BRAKE AND STEERING RETURN TO NORMAL I COMPLETELY FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING FLUID EACH TIME INTO A CLEAN BUCKET, NO BIG PARTICLES OR HOSE MATERIAL. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS, IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN A WINDING TWO LANE STEEP DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN ROAD, WITH A HEAVY SUBURBAN AND YOU LOOSE STEERING AND BRAKES I TURNED IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS AS CORES TO GET MY MONEY BACK. *NM
I BOUGHT A USED SUBURBAN AND SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT. I REALLY HAVE TO KEEP A TIGHT GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A ROAD WITH ALOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS BECAUSE IT JERKES HARD AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WORRY THAT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING IT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK BECAUSE IT SOMETIMES HAS SENT ME TOWARDS THE LANE NEXT TO ME OR OFF THE ROAD COMPLETLY, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. I JUST WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR WHAT WILL REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.
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
BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. ALSO, POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE, AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. CONSUMER WAS AWARE IF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING IN CONJUGATION WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM.*AK
I OWN A1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT. WE ASKED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO FIX THE DOORS TO CLOSE PROPERLY, WHICH THEY CLAIMED TO DO. I NOTICED THAT THE DOOR DID NOT LINE UP AND THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE STRIKE PLATE. EVIDENTLY THAT MEANS THEY USED A SLEDGE HAMMER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ONE OF THE LOCKED DOORS OPENED UP AS SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LUCKILY MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN HIS CARSEAT. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. SHE COULD NOT RECLOSE THE DOOR AND SO SHE TIED IT SHUT. I FOUND THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS STILL SHUT. I HELD THE HANDLE UP AND MANUALLY LIFTED THE LATCH AFTER WHICH THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE. ANOTHER SAFTEY ISSUE; WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS AND OCCASIONAL SNOW AREA. I WORRY THAT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING, AND SOMETIMES IT HAS SENT ME TOWARDS THE LANE NEXT TO ME, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED ONCE AFTER THE SHAFT COMPLETLY SEPERATED FROM THE PUMP WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN WITH 7 BOYSCOUTS FROM A CAMPING TRIP IN THE SNOW. LET ME TELL YOU IF THAT HAD BEEN MY WIFE IN THE CAR SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF. IN 2 1/2 YRS. I HAVE REPLACED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR, DOOR HANDLES, TRANSMISSION, REAR END SEALS AND AXLE, FRONT END, A/C EVERYTHING,WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH OF SOME SORT,BRAKES EVERY 20,000 OR SO, THEY TELL ME THE HEAD GASKET IS BAD,THERE IS A WHINING SOUND I THINK IS THE FAN CLUTCH,AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE ITS EITHER THE U JOINTS OR THE LIMITED SLIP CLUTCHES, HUB OR BOTH. I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THIS CAR. ALL LAMB CHEVROLET OF PRESCOTT VALLEY AZ HAS SAID IS THEY WARRANTY THEIR VEHICLES TO 36,000 MILES. THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME ONE OF THEIR NICE NEW TAHOES. WHICH HE CLAIMS THEY HAVE IMPROVED. OH YEA THE SALES PRICE IS 42,000. ON A 36,000 VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN ON THE CAR THEY SOLD ME 2 YEARS AGO.*AK
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING FAILED. *AK *JB
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WANDER AND JERKED TO THE LEFT. THERE WAS RECALL 03V527000 FOR THE STEERING GEAR BEARING, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THIS OCCURRED DUE TO THE SENSOR CONTROLLING POWER ASSIST (EVO SENSOR/EXHAUST VALVE OPENING). *SC
WHEN TURNING RIGHT, STEERING SEEMS TO ASSIST MORE, CAUSING ABRUPT OVERSTEER. HAPPENS INTERMITANTLY.*AK
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. IT MOVES VERY EASILY UP OR DOWN WITHOUT USING THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER. *AK
EXPERIENCING UNINTENDED POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHEN MAKING TURNS (TUPICALLY TO THE RIGHT), LOSING COTROL OF STEERING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT BEFORE IT RECOVERS.
HEATER AND AC CONTROLS WENT OUT TWICE. FACTORY REPLACED THEM @ $125, THEN 9 MONTHS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. FACTORY SAID IT WAS UNDER 12 MONTHS, BUT I HAD DRIVEN OVER 12,000 MILES SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. WINDSHEILD WIPER MODULE GOES BAD. WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY STOP OR WONT TURN ON. ON 3RD MODULE NOW. BRAKES, CONSTANT GRINDING AND WEAK STOPS. HAVE REPLACED ROTORS 4 TIMES. SAME RESULTS. STEERING LOSES TENSION WHEN STEERING TO THE LEFT. PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING BUT HAS MADE ME ALMOST LOSE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES.
FUEL PUMP WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK SHORT CIRCUITED, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MY SUBURBAN TO BLOW UP, SINCE I HAD JUST FILLED IT WITH OVER 30 GALLONS OF GAS THAT MORNING. MY FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A NEW WIRING ASSEMBLY AND FLOAT MECHANISM. MY MECHANIC SAID THE SHORT CIRCUIT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO OVER AMPERAGE OF THE FUEL PUMP. THAT IN TURN, CAUSED THE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO MELT TOGETHER AND SHORT OUT THE ECM FUSE, TWICE. I BELIEVE CHEVROLET IS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. I HOPE OTHERS ARE AS LUCKY AS I WAS! P.S. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE ALSO VERY POOR!! BAD DESIGN...1997 WAS A LEMON SUBURBAN, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND DESIGNED ALL OVER AGAIN!*AK
STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IT IS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT SHAFT PITMAN BROKE.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MAKING A TURN POWER STEERING WHEEL HAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK
STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY TURNS DURING TURNING MANEUVERS AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS. FEELS LIKE A QUICK TUG ON STEERING WHEEL AND THEN RETURNS BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. *TT
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC STEERING ABILITY, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB
AT SPEEDS OF OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS LEFT AND RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. I THEN HAVE TO CORRECT AND/OR OVERSTEER TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN 1999, AT APPROX 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 60/70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB
THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB
THESE TRUCKS WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS, PASSENGERS & OTHER MOTORISTS AROUND THESE VEHICLES.IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT GM SHOULD DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
ABS FAILURE, ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND FRONT AND REAR BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA .I BELIEVE THE LETTER MAY HAVE BEEN MISPLACED WHILE IN TRANSITION FROM DIMMS TO ARTEMIS VIA TRAN TECH EMPLOYEES. THE POWER WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITION FAILED. THERE WAS A VIOLENT GEAR CHANGE BETWEEN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE BATTERY LEAKED AND ALSO THE CABLES WERE CORRODED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. *JB
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE SUBURBAN AND TAHOE LINE SAY THAT THEIR POWER ASSIST HAS FAILED ALSO AND HAD TO ENDURE COSTLY/OVER PRICED REPAIRS. DT
MY STEERING JUMPS TO THE LEFT UNEXPECTILY AS IF SOMEONE GRABS THE WHEEL AND TURNS IT FAST . NLM
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 .