1997 GMC Suburban Brakes Problems

WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE ABS KICKS IN AND INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE NEEDED. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO DEALER (AND OVER $500 IN REPAIRS) FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THEY CHECKED THE RECALL, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED. I HAVE SINCE SEEN THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE "REGIONAL" RECALL DIDN'T COVER THEM. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS AND GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THIS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT (OR WORSE). *JB

NHTSA ID

10184408

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

99,000 mi

ABS BRAKES DO NOT AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED (STILL ORIGINAL OWNER). SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING DOES NOT AND HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY AS WELL. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS $$$ HAVE BEEN SPENT AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND AT QUALIFIED AUTOMOBILE SERVICE REPAIR CENTERS CONTINUALLY REPLACING PARTS AND SOMETIMES THE SAME PARTS OF THE YEARS, THIS CONTINUES TO THIS DAY EVEN THOUGH THE SUBURBAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THIS INCLUDES MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE PADS, CYLINDERS, ETC. THIS BRAKING DEFECT SEEMS TO BE EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS OF THE 1997 GMC SUBURBAN C1500. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE BY GM ENGINEERS TO LOCATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM? *NM

NHTSA ID

10177448

Incident

Feb 24, 1997

Mileage

16,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS THREE TIMES AS FAR AS IT SHOULD BE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THE ABS SENSORS WERE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED 6 YEARS LATER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151004

Incident

Feb 23, 2006

Mileage

32,500 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATE THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN 05V379000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP.*AK THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING DUE TO RUST. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146346

Incident

Aug 27, 2001

Mileage

25,300 mi

I HAVE OWNED A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN 4X4 SINCE NEW. THE LAST 2 YEARS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AT SLOW SPEED INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE RECENTLY DISCONNECTED THE POWER TO THE SYSTEM AS IT HAS WORSENED. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WIDESPREAD ON THIS TRUCK AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146023

Incident

Dec 20, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING AT LOW SPEEDS THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ABS SENSOR RUSTED. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 05V379000 IN THE 1999-2002 MODELS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141738

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS CALLING IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 05V379000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS RECEIVING A FALSE READING WITH ABS BRAKES, AND HER STATE AND MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE EARLY SUMMER OF THIS YEAR AROUND MAY OR JUNE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT HUB. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE ABS SYSTEM FROM BOTH OF THE FRONT TIRES AND WAS NO LONGER HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE WINTER. *AK THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138043

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

76,000 mi

ABS ENGAGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR PARKING SUBURBAN. SLOW SPEED BUMPING INTO OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE ABS GOES TO FLOOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10134726

Incident

Aug 26, 2005

I HAVE OWNED THE SUB FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW. FIRST OFF I REALLY ENJOY DRIVING IT. I NEED TO SAY MY VEHICLE IS MODIFIED AND NOT STOCK. 9 INCH LIFT 38IN SUPER SWAMPERS, AND A COUPLE OF ENGINE UPGRADES. I CAN VERIFY HOWEVER EVEN BEFORE I INSTALLED THE LIFT AND TIRES I HAD A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS. #1 ALWAYS HAD UNEVEN WEAR IN THE FRONT BRAKES, 1 CALIPER (FRONT) WOULD ALWAYS BURN UP THE BRAKES FASTER. I MADE SURE I USED GM PADS FROM THE DEALER. I ALSO MADE SURE THE CALIPERS WERE MOVING FREELY AND GUIDE BOLTS LUBED WITH GM SUPPLIED GREASE. #2 POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE EVEN WITH VEHICLE UNLOADED, I GUESS I FIGURED THIS ONE OUT BY MYSELF. NOT TO BE RUDE BUT WHY WOULD GM EQUIP A VEHICLE WITH A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT IS RATED AT APPROX 7,300LBS WITH A TINY BRAKING SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION SMALL PADS+SMALL ROTORS=LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. #3 DETONATION, GOING UP SMALL INCLINES 1/4-1/2 ENGINE THROTTLE. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED. EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE GM'S PROBLEM I JUST WANTED TO GET MY 2 CENTS IN. I UNDERSTAND ALL GASOLINE IS NOT CREATED EQUAL, I HAVE TO USE 92-93 OCTANE WITH A FUEL ADDITIVE TO GET RID OF THE NOISE. IS THIS NOT A FUCTION OF THE KNOCK SENSOR? I MAYBE WRONG BUT SHOULDN'T THE KNOCK SENSOR BACK OFF IGNTION TIMING VIA THE ECU WHEN DETONATION IS PRESENT. #4 DOOR HINGES LOUD/NOISY BREAKING.

NHTSA ID

10056802

Incident

Oct 26, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE FROM ITS MOUNTING AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR ALSO SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY NOT LONGER COVERED THE BELT. THE BRAKES SHUTTERED WHILE BRAKING FROM 60 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042591

Incident

Jan 9, 2000

Mileage

46,801 mi

THE CONSUMER ROUTINELY INSPECTED THE BRAKES IN 11/02 AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. ON 06/03, WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF BRAKES, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTSIDE BRAKE PADS HAD A "CHUNK" MISSING. *AK THE FRONT OUTSIDE PADS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE METAL SHOE DUE TO RIVET HOLE WEAR, AND HAD FALLEN APART IN THE CONSUMERS HANDS AND THE PADS WERE NOT WORN OUT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10024809

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED, WITHOUT NOTICE OR AP PLICATION, WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY, TO SKID @ 150 FEET ACROSS DRIVING LANES, SPIN 180 DEGREES AND HIT THE OPPOSITE ROAD EASEMENT. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

NHTSA ID

760035

Incident

Mar 26, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. IT WILL COAST COUPLE FEET OVER THE REQUESTED STOPPING DISTANCE. HAS BEEN IN A COLLISION AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006016

WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL PEDAL WILL UNEXPECTEDLY FALL TO FLOORBOARD, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WILL FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. BRAKE PADS AND SHOES/ ROTORS, AND LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, WHICH HAS FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003098

Incident

Dec 27, 2001

CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE BENT AND LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED AND REPLACED BRACKETS. *TT

NHTSA ID

563531

Incident

Sep 24, 1998

1997 SUBURBAN,IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE,WHEN TR YING TO COME TO A STOP.THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES,WHENCHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND 2 CRACKED FRONT WHEEL HUBS, THEY CALLED GMC ENGERINERS TO REPORT PROBLEM, IAM THE ORIGERNAL OWNER ,NO ACCIDENTS AND ALL MAINTENCE AND SERVICE DONE BY GMC, THIS VECHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED FOR SAFTY REASONS

NHTSA ID

755003

Incident

Nov 5, 2001

WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED FOUR TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS WE OWNED IT, 50,000 MILES. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC AT HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

752394

THE BRAKES LOCK UP AT THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE. SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT WITH VEHICLE COLD OR WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET, BUT OCCURS AT ANYTIME WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND ALSO THE BRAKES LOCK UP, THE TIRES SKID, AND YOU HEAR A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM SOMETHING. (OBVIOUSLY IN THE BRAKING COMPONENT SOMEWHERE) I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A GMC DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I ASKED THEM SPECIFICALLY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ONE DAY WHILE IT WAS IN THEIR CARE AND IT WAS RAINING SINCE IT LOCKS UP MORE WHEN WET. BUT I QUESTION WHETHER THEY EVEN DROVE IT. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE/TIRE CENTER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CHECKED THE REAR BRAKES AND SAID I HAD A REAL AXLE SEAL LEAKING WHICH WAS LEAKING ON THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND PROBABLY CAUSING THE LOCKING PROBLEM. SO THE NEXT DAY I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHO REPAIRED THE REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK BUT DENIED AGAIN THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES LOCKING UP. BUT THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO, VERY DANGEROUSLY I MIGHT ADD. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.TODAY 5/2/01 THE BRAKES LOCKED AND I ALMOST SLID RIGHT THROUGH A STOP SIGN. WHAT CAN I DO NOW?*AK

NHTSA ID

744860

BOTH THE SENSORS FOR THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING THE HUBS. THE SUBURBAN DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO STOP IN TIME. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS THE SAME YEAR SUBURBAN AS I DO WHO JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE. IT WAS ALSO DONE AT THE SAME PLACE WHERE MINE IS IN FOR SERVICE. HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT IN THE SENSORS. WHEN I REQUIRED ABOUT THIS I WAS INFORMED THE OTHER VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED AT A DIFFERENT PLANT. HE HAS APPORXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE AS I DO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHY BOTH SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ID

741259

WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH WITH SPEED CONTROL SET DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE SPEED CONTOL BY HITTING SWITCH AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

877705

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

877586

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

875472

VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED SINCE NEW. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCES AND IT APPEARED ABS WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE WAS "NORMAL". HAVING OWNED 30 VEHICLES OF ALL TYPES I DO NOT BELIEVE SAME. ALSO TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH A COMPLAINT THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY VAGUE AND WOULD FEEL LIKE IT HAD A TIME DELAY. AGAIN WAS ADVISED STEERING WAS "NORMAL". DEALER TREATED COMPLAINANT LIKE THE PROVERBIAL VILLAGE IDIOT. NOW, THREE YEARS LATER I HAVE DISCOVERED I AM NOT THE ONLY VILLAGE IDIOT THAT OWNS A GMC SUBURBAN. I FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS I HAD. I JUST WANT TO VERIFY WHAT THEY HAVE REPORTED. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM HAS HAD NUMEROUS AND SEQUENTIAL LEAKS. THE DELAER SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS WHEN QUERIED ABOUT THE CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

735227

Incident

Mar 27, 1997

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SEEMS TO PULSATE AS IF ANTI-LOCK IS KICKING IN, AT ANY SPEED, AND DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

734898

Incident

Oct 10, 2000

THESE PROBLEMS DID NOT OCCUR FROM AN ACCIDENT, BUT RATHER THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TRIED EVERY AVENUE TO GET GMC TO STAND BEHIND THEIR AUTOMOBILES AND PRODUCTS, BUT WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. WE JUST WANT SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY TO HELP US WITH A CAR THAT IS A LEMON AND WAS A DANGER TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES. INCLUDING: STEERING WHEEL SENSOR WENT OUT ON A CURVE AT 45MPH, BRAKES WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, 2 ALTENATORS AND A BATTERY THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS STRANDED, AIR CONDITIONER QUIT FUNCTIONING AT 20,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 45,000 MILES, O2 SENSORS WENT OUT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION, ALTENATOR WENT OUT AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WARRANTY WORK, BUT SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT WARRANTY SINCE IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST AND SECOND TIME. AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A VALID COMPLAINT. WHEN WE WENT TO TRY AND TRADE THE CAR OFF THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A 2ND TIME AND WE COULD NOT TRADE THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAD A BUYER. THEY WERE AFRAID TO BUY A CAR WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS, SO WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT DOES'NT RUN 90 % OF THE TIME AND NO WAY OF GETTING RID OF IT. WE CAN'T EVEN GET THE LOAN AMOUNT OUT OF THE AUTO. WE REALLY NEED SOME HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO. YOUR TIME IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. KEN SUTTON. *AK

NHTSA ID

732485

Incident

Jun 15, 1998