1997 Chevrolet Suburban Transmission Problems

TRANMISSION FAILED AFTER BUYING USED AT 75000 MILES. I CALLED GM AND CHECK FOR RECALL INFO. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER BROUGHT IT BACK AFTER BUYING NEW AND HAD THE TRANS REDONE. EVERY 15000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN. THEN IT BROKE A THIRD TIME. FORTUNATLEY I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRENTY AND DIDNT HAVE TO PAY THE 2ND AND THIRD TIMES. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION PLACE BUT AFTER READIND OTHER COMPLAINTS I SEE ITS THE VEHICLE. WHEN IS GM GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN SOMEONE DIES> WHEN YOU LOSE THE GEAR THERE IS A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN SPEED AND ITS HARD TO STEER. FEELS LIKE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN. I SHOULD KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME. NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS JUNK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088376

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. IT WAS IN EXCELLENT-LOOKING SHAPE AND LOW MILES. I HAVE HAD IT NOW FOR 3 YEARS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD TO HAVE IT WORKED ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, AND STARTER; AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR WORKED ON. I DO NOT DRIVE THAT MUCH, AND I HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY. IT'S ALWAYS NEEDING WORK. I'VE HAD IT FOR SALE FOR A WHILE, BUT CAN'T SELL IT FOR EVEN A SMALL SUM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080604

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

Mileage

88,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10063990

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY AT 12,000 MILES. SINCE 1997 HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060927

Incident

Feb 27, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH RELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO PUSH THE DIP STICK UP OUT OF THE DIPSTICK TUBE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ESCAPED. TRAVELING DOWN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HIT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IGNITED INTO A FLAME THAT BURNED ALONG THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE STEEL PLATE UNDER THE GAS TANK) AND EXTENDED TWO FEET BEYOND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE OURSELVES AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY. FOUR OTHER VEHICLES WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD AS WHITE SMOKE HINDERED THEIR FIELD OF VISION. THE MIL INDICATOR (I.E., CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) HAD A CODE OF P1870 (TRANSMISSION SLIPPING). THIS CODE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HUNDREDS OF TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH RELAY FAILURES IN GM/CHEVY FULL-SIZE PICK-UPS, SUBURBANS, AND TAHOES (DISCOVERED BY SEARCHING FOR "P1870" ON THE INTERNET AND QUERIES AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE). TECHNICIANS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TCC RELAY IS UNDERSIZED AND TENDS TO OVERHEAT CAUSING MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE (IN MY CASE, A FULL TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD WAS REQUIRED - $2000 PLUS TOWING AND RENTAL CAR). TECHNICIANS SAY THAT THERE IS AN AFTERMARKET TCC RELAY MADE BY SONNAX THAT, WHEN INSTALLED, PREVENTS THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (JUST LOOK AT THE BLACK CHARRING ON THE BOTTOM OF MY GAS TANK SHIELD) THAT CAUSED GREAT PERIL TO MY WIFE, FOUR CHILDREN, AND MYSELF. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052620

Incident

Dec 23, 2003

Mileage

77,400 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES GRINDING/RUMBLING WHILE IN HIGHEND TORQUE SITUATIONS (I.E. GOING UP SLIGHT GRADES NOT STEEP ENOUGH TO CAUSE DOWNSHIFT). STOPS WHEN I BUMP ACCELERATOR. REPLACED U-JOINTS, BUT DID NOT FIX. WAS TOLD BY GM TECH IT WAS PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTOR FAILING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050929

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD - NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. P1870 ERROR CODE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THIS SITE ANDMANY OTHER INTERNET SITES. GM TECHNICIANS ARE ALL FAMILIAR AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS - IT APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCT DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029172

Incident

Jul 25, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

TRANSMISSION BINDED IN FIRST GEAR AND SLIPPED IN MIDDLE GEARS. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS COOLANT AND/OR WATER IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COLOR WAS A DARK GREEN/YELLOW COLOR. WHEN TRANSMISSION PULLED OFF THERE WAS MUCH METAL, BEARINGS, AND A 2 TO 3 INCH BOLT FROM THE VALVE BODY. ALSO FOUND CRACKS IN SUNSHELL. INPUT DRUM AND PUMP VAIN AND CLUTCH(ES) NEEDED REPLACING. IN SUMMARY, IT NEEDED AN OVERHAUL. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021253

Incident

May 30, 2003

Mileage

132,370 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015817

Mileage

4,200 mi

CONSUMER STATES "THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FLOWING THROUGH FREELY, BECAUSE OF DESIGN. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10011988

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.*JB *TS

NHTSA ID

10009686

Incident

Mar 3, 2003

TRANSMISSION STARTING FAILING AT 50,000 (CODED SLIPPAGE). GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND BLEW TRANNY FLUID ALL OVER THE PLACE LEAVING US STRANDED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. STEERING HAS MOMENTARY OVERSTEER, CAUSING THE FEELING OF SLIPPING ON ICE (SAFETY CONCERN AS NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE), REPLACED ROTORS THREE TIMES, REPLACED FUEL SENDING AND WIRING UNIT (WIRES HAD ACTUALLY MELTED INSIDE THE GAS TANK!!). WHAT NEXT!!!! THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,000 ON IT. WE DO NOT PULL ANYTHING BEHIND IT, SO FEEL THAT TRANNY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. WHY WILL CHEVROLET NOT RECALL THESE PROBLEMS? HAVE HEARD OTHERS SAY THAT THE RADIATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE COOLING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ESSENTIALLY CAUSING EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFORE THERE IS LOSS OF LIFE OR A BAD ACCIDENT. TS

NHTSA ID

10000484

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10011448

Incident

Dec 2, 2002

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE "ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. FIRST TIME AT 52,000 MILES IN JULY '01, SECOND TIME AT 55,076 MILES IN SEPT. '01, THIRD TIME AT 63,196 MILES IN JUNE '02 AND FOURTH TIME AT 63,766 MILES IN JULY '02. FIRST TIME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE, BUT TRANSMISSION PERFORMED FINE ON TEST DRIVE. SECOND TIME UNKNOWN CODE. THIRD TIME, NO CODE GIVEN. FOURTH TIME TRANSMISSION CODE OF 1870, INTERNAL SLIPPAGE. WE NOTICED THAT COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AFTER 1/2 HOUR OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ABRUPTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. NEITHER WE NOR THE FORMER OWNER TOWED ANYTHING WITH IT. WE HAD TO GET A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH IS GOOD FOR 50,000 OR 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

764419

Incident

Jul 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.*JG

NHTSA ID

8011117

Incident

Jun 2, 2002

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND. READ THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM AND FOUND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL INCIDENCES WITH OTHER PEOPLE. NEXT FAILURE WAS FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS.

NHTSA ID

759833

Incident

Jan 15, 2002

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD AND MAKE A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD GEARS AFTER ABOUT THE FIRST 100 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN IN TWICE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN IT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY BAD, IT WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT END HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWICE WITHIN 15,000 MILES AND STILL PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED PERIODICALLY OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME - IT WAS REPORTED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE ON THE FRONT HUB WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

752049

Incident

Oct 31, 2000

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)

NHTSA ID

749987

Incident

Dec 10, 1998

THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH GM AND CHEVROLET TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS. HARD SHIFTING IS EXPERIENCED FOLLOWED BY " ENGINE LIGHT ON PANEL. A CODE 0F 1870 IS REPORTED WHEN IT IS SERVICED. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY PEOPLE PAYING $3000 FOR REBUILT TRTANSMISSIONS AND THE PROBLEM STIL IS NOT CORRECTED. GM HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT WILL NOT RESPOND. *AK

NHTSA ID

747308

Incident

Jun 10, 2001

JURKS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND INTERMITTENTLY, INFORMED BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

744631

Incident

Apr 24, 2001

OUR SUBURBAN IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND JUST WENT OVER THE 50,000 MILE MARK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT COMING LOOSE. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ONCE BUT CAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THE CAR WAS EVER IN A CRASH THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD.*AK

NHTSA ID

744231

Incident

Apr 6, 2001

HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; SLIPPAGE IN TRANS. PRODUCING HEAT/SMELL; MUCH METAL/DEBRIS IN BOTTOM OF TRANS. FROM FAILING COMPONENTS; MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN PRODUCTION/ASSEMBLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

743444

Incident

Apr 2, 2001

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY FROM GEAR TO GEAR AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (USUALLY 10 MILES OR MORE). DEALER HAS CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING APPEARS FINE (NO ERROR CODES) BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM. LOOKS LIKE THE ECM IS BAD BUT BECAUSE THE CODES ARE NOT PRESENT, NO ONE IS WILLING TO DIAGNOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

740280

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

730710

Incident

Feb 4, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

725637

Incident

Jul 11, 2000