RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Suburban Tires & wheels Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Tires & wheels reportsComplaints 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.
27
Latest Aug 20, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 414 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. 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. 27 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.

Owner reports naming tire or wheel

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2007
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR B.F. GOODRICH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STILL HAS THE TIRE AND THE TREAD. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

NHTSA ID
10200141
Incident
Jul 15, 2007
Mileage
132,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 12, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN TO BRIDGESTONE. THEY WOULD NEED THE TIRE TO BE SENT TO THEM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE SEPARATION. CONSUMER REFUSED TO SEND THE TIRE TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10127650
Incident
Apr 24, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 10, 2003

TIRE EXPLODED AT 40 MPH ON A CLEAR PAVED ROAD. *LA THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10050473
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 29, 2003

AT 40 MPH VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX 245/1675R. *AK

NHTSA ID
10044976
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 5, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 67 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. FIRESTONE, SIZE# LT 245/75R16, DOT# UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10032140
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 5, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX RADIAL A/T TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10032077
Incident
Aug 2, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 17, 2002

TREAD SEPARATED WITH NO WARNING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE PRESSURE AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED 80 PSI. DT

NHTSA ID
768554
Incident
Oct 11, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 24, 2001

TREAD INTACT SEPARATED FROM SIDE WALLS & WHEEL, TIRES INSPECTED LAST MONTH DURING A ROTATION AND BRAKE JOB. *AK (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16) (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA ID
752508
Incident
Sep 22, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 9, 2001

TREAD ON THREE OF FOUR TIRES IS STARTING TO SEPERATE AND TIRES ARE CUPPING. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA ID
748122
Tires & wheels
Filed May 28, 2001

I PURCHASED THIS SUBURBAN USED FROM VALENCIA NISSAN WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE NEW AT THAT TIME. ON THE INDICATED DATE, I WAS TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH, THE TRUCK STARTED TO RATTLE THEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. I SAFELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER. I HAD MY WIFE, 4YR OLD & 2YR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IN THE SAME FASHION THAT THE RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES DID. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS SET OF TIRES WAS ALSO UNDER RECALL. I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD CALL ME REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: V611B1A TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

NHTSA ID
746015
Incident
May 27, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 13, 2000

BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SEPARATED BELTS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LT 245/75R16 M+S) TIRES. NLM

NHTSA ID
557230
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 15, 2000

SEPARATION & CRACKING, EVEN ON SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA ID
734368
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2000

WHILE DRVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FELT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND STOPPED TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. DISCOVERED THAT A SECTION OF TREAD (4X4) HAD COME OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND CONTINUED TO NEXT TOWN. WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT, AND CONTINUED TRIP WITHOUT SPARE. ON RETURN TRIP ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 AND PULLING A TRAILER, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. BECAUSE OF NO SPARE, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE AND TRAILER TOWED HOME. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX R42 ON A 1997, CHEVEROLET, SUBURBAN; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 245/75R16, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. TIRE HAS ABOUT 60% OF TREAD LEFT. HAS TIRES AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS AND PHOTOS UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ID
872786
Incident
Sep 26, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 3, 2000

LEFT FRONT TIRE BELT SEPARATED AT 65MPH, VEHICLE STOPED, TIRE REPLACED AND UPON EXAMENING REMAINING TIRES, RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF BELT SEPERATING. CONSULTED FIRESTONE DEALER IN HOUMA, AND WAS TOLD THE SEPERATION WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARDS. REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES ON 21/MAY/2000 WITH ANOTHER BRAND. THERE ARE 2 REMAINING TIRES ON VEHICLE WHICH WILL BE REPLACED THIS MONTH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11B1A TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA ID
733379
Incident
May 21, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 3, 2000

WHILE ON VACATION HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT ON I75 JUST SOUTH OF ATLANTA. HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES FROM THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ATLANTA. THEY SAID THIS TIRE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST BUT IT CAME APART JUST LIKE THE OTHERS. IT WAS A VERY, VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE THE TIRES THAT BLEW OUT WERE PURCHASED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON US41 IN FORT MYERS, FL. WHICH IS MY HOME.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R/16 )

NHTSA ID
733285
Incident
Aug 18, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 2, 2000

TIRE ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE VEHICLE - U.S. GOVERNMENT OWNED TAG NO. I258844; TIRE IS IN EVIDENCE LOCKER; TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEED OF 65 MPH - SPEED SET BY CRUISE CONTROL; TREAD WRAPPED AROUND WHEEL AXEL, BUT DID NOT GO FLAT; LEFT REAR TIRE ALSO REPLACED AFTER INSPECTION AT TIRE SHOP; ALL TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHECKED AND WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)

NHTSA ID
733217
Incident
Sep 26, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 16, 2000

THE TREAD SEPERATED FORM THE TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

NHTSA ID
731612
Incident
Sep 11, 2000
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2000

STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES JERKS OUT OF MY HANDS AS IF I'VE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. ALSO FEEL THE TRUCK BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING AS IF THERE IS A BUBBLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ABOUT 7 TIMES WITH NOT RESOLUTION. HAD THE TRUCK CHECKED AT GOODYEAR DEALER 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. GOODYEAR SAID THE THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. SAID THEY WERE CUPPED OR CHOPPED. I PAID $700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TIRES AFTER DEALER REFUSED TO DO SO, BUT STILL EXPERIENCE BOUNCING SENSATION AT 60-70 MPH. NOTICED BOTH PROBLEMS THE DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )

NHTSA ID
731055
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 2, 2000

SHAKING, VIBRATIONS, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VN11BAB TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA ID
729978
Incident
Aug 22, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 1, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A "ROLLING BACKUP" THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON OUR SUBURBAN LITERALLY EXPLODED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY, AND FOUND A VERY LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE ROAD, AND NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND OF PUNCTURE TO THE TIRE. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE BLEW OUTWARD, AND LEFT A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 4" WIDE BY 7 INCHES LONG. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD, AND HAD APPROXMATELY 1200 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE 3 DAYS EARLIER, AND AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER ABOUT REPLACING THE TIRE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE WITH AN EXACT MATCH, SINCE THAT PARTICULAR LINE OF TIRES (STEELTEX AT) WAS A TIRE MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR GM TRUCKS AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED THE GM DEALER (GILCHRIST CHEVROLET IN TACOMA WA) AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE. WITH THE RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECTS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY SUBURBAN. THE "STEELTEX AT" SERIES HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE NEWS REPORTS, BUT I KNOW OF ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON HIS GM TRUCK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265R16 )

NHTSA ID
729850
Incident
Jul 15, 1997
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 22, 2000

PE00020, STEEL TEX AT WHICH WERE ORGINIALS ON THE 1997 CHEVROLET SUBARBAN, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16, DRIVER ON AUG 20, 1998 AT 9,000 MILES AND PASSENGER TIRE ON JUN, 1999 AT 19,980 MILES; THERE WAS A LONG CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE WHICH SEEMED THAT TIRE WAS SEPARATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE AT 245/75/R16 *MW

NHTSA ID
868346
Incident
Aug 20, 1998
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 15, 2000
Crash reported3 injuries reported

REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BELTS CAUSING ENTIRE TREAD TO PEEL FROM CASING RESULTING IN SERIOUS ROLL OVER ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: 0500 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA ID
728022
Incident
Jun 30, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 14, 2000

WAS DRIVING 65MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED OVER & CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD LOST TREAD. EXCHANGE TIRE WITH SPARE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE & RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT. DOES NOT HAVE THE TIRE OR DOT NUMBER. 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. FIRESTONE SIZE LT245/75R15 WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. *AK FIRESTONE 245/75/R16 *MW

NHTSA ID
867706
Incident
Aug 4, 2000
Powertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 18, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
717490
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 12, 2000

THERE IS A GRINDING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558923

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .