1997 GMC Suburban Electrical Problems

THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE HEATER FAN WOULD QUIT AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD INSTANTLY TURN ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD BE ON THE ABS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. THEN SUDDENLY ALL OPERATIONS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WOULD BE UNPREDICTABLE WHEN THE HEATER FAN AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL AND COME BACK. THEN YESTERDAY, THE SUBURBAN STARTED AND DIED 3 SECONDS AFTER STARTING. I RESTARTED THE SUBURBAN AND ALL SEEMED GOOD. I PUT THE SUBURBAN IN DRIVE AND ROLLED AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THE TRUCK DIED. I STOPPED AND PUT THE SUBURBAN IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. PLACED IT INTO DRIVE AND MADE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED OFF THE SUBURBAN AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE THE ENGINE. THE RADIO AND HEATER AND ALL OTHER ELECTRONICS WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON I.E. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", "BRAKE", "AIR BAG", "ABS". THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON IT AND NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593726

Incident

May 21, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

FUEL GAGE WAS ACTING ERRATIC WENT FULL THEN EMPTY WITH FULL TANK . A FEW DAYS LATER THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. FOUND FUSE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT BLOWN FOR FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP WIRING WAS MELTED IN FUEL TANK CAUSING SHORT. HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND HARNESS WHICH WAS PART OF THE PUMP HOUSING. ALSO REPLACED FUEL FILTER DUE TO LACK OF FUEL FLOW (NO POWER) A WEEK LATER.

NHTSA ID

10116159

Incident

Nov 11, 2004

Mileage

95,600 mi

1997 GMC SUBURBAN- MULTIPLE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION FAILURES. AT 60,000 MILES, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD. RETURNED TO SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES FOR WORK. FINALLY, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPELETLY. REQUIRED VALVE COVER AND TRANSMISSION REBUILD @ COST OF $2,000. ON DECEMBER 27 '03, HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. ON JAN 17 '04, DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO ANTIFREEZE IN NEW RADIATOR. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST: ~$600. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION. SAME DIAGNOSIS. BOTH STATE THAT GM IS AWARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. ADDITIONALLY- REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWO TIMES; REPLACED WATER PUMP TWO TIMES; REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN FALL 2003. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054576

Incident

Jan 17, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

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 VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE CHIEF STATED IT WAS POSSIBLE THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10033604

Incident

Aug 11, 2003

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

BATTERY LEAKED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ACID, TERMINAL CAME LOOSE, UNABLE TO START, CORROSION TO CABLES AND COMPONENTS IN AREA OF THE BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID

739300

Incident

Dec 8, 1999

ACID WAS LEAKING FROM BATTERY TERMINAL. THUS FAR, DEALER HAD TO REPLACE A/C LINES AND BATTERY CABLE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN PE99-073.*AK

NHTSA ID

864233

Incident

Feb 29, 2000

BATTERY CABLE FAILED, CAUSING SUBURBAN TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT DUE TO LACK OF POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID

724300

Incident

Mar 20, 2000

CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND NOTICED BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ON A/C CABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

863307

BATTERY HAS PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERABLE, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN ONE MONTH DUE TO EXASSIVE CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

862036

VEHICLE IS A DIESEL ENGINE. BATTERY HAS A LEFT AND A RIGHT SIDE. BOTH SIDES LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING CORROSION. INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE99073. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

860383

THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND ATE THROUGH THE BOLT ATTACHING CABLE TO BATTERY. VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD. ACID ATE INTO BRAKE LINES AND A/C LINES.

NHTSA ID

717758

Incident

May 1, 1999

ORIGINAL GM BATTERY (SIDE POST STYLE) LEAKED ACID ONTO STEEL BRAKE LINE CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING SYSTEM PLUS MAXIMUM CORROSSION OF UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK..WE WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM UNTIL WE TRIED TO GO TO WORK IN THE TRUCK AND FOUND NO BRAKES,,HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THHE HIGHWAY AT ANY GREAT SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CATASTROPHY..NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP OR GM TAKES THIS SERIOUS PLUS WE ARE OUT THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE..OF

NHTSA ID

717733

Incident

Aug 17, 1999

THE VEHICLE HAS CONSUMES OIL AT APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART EVERY 600 MILES,NO LEAKS VISIBLE. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE OIL PROBLEM IN MAY BUT DID NOT FIX IT. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IT HAS HAD A VIBRATION WHEN SPEEDS APPROACH 50 MILES PER HOUR AND INCREASES WITH MORE SPEED, NEW TIRES, CONTINUOUS BALANCING OF TIRES, DOES NOT HELP.

NHTSA ID

712620

Incident

Aug 27, 1999

BATTERY RUPTURED, CAUSING ACID TO LEAK DOWN ON THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

839450

THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS DO NOT WORK WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM OF THE SUBURBAN. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL SECURELY HOLD THE SEAT. I CONTACTED NHTSA TWICE AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES AND MANY OTHER PLACES. FINALLY A GM ENGINEER IN THE SAFETY DEPT. CALLED ME TOOK MY COMPLAINT. HE TRIED TO PUT A SEAT IN A SUBURBAN AND SAID YES THEY DO NOT WORK RIGHT. THEY WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM IN HOUSE. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING MORE FROM THEM. THE VECHILE PULLED TO THE RIGHT FROM DAY ONE HAD IT ALIGNED PROBLEM CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE BUSTED OFF. THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND SHUT PROPER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKES WORE OUT AT 26000 MILES AND EVERY 10 TO 15 SINCE. THE BRAKES AFTER 10,000 MILES WORE THROUGH THE ROTORS. THE PEDAL WILL OFTEN GO TO THE FLOOR OR THE VECHILE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT WORSE THAN IT ALREADY DOES. THE EGR VALVE ALSO FAILED AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT HOME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON ANY OTHER GM PRODUCT. I TALKED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY SO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY DIDN'T CARE. THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO IT. I AM FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM WITH THE CONTINUATION OF SAFETY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

704363

Incident

Mar 5, 1997

WE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND TOOK IT ON A TRIP FROM ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON TO LOLO, MONTANA. DURING THIS TRIP WE EXPERIENCED THE CLOCK INTERMITTENTLY STOPPING, THE RADIO SHUTTING OFF AND THE TRAILER BRAKES NOT WORKING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. AT THAT POINT THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FROM THAT POINT ON WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IN EXCESS OF 10 TO 12 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS. ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS WE HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 150 MILES, LEFT IT IN AIRPORT OR MOTEL PARKING AND TAKEN AN AIRPLANE TRIP ANYWHERE FROM 3 DAYS TO 7 DAYS IN LENGTH. UPON RETURNING THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD MAKING IT NECESSARY TO FIND SOMEONE TO GIVE US A JUMP. ON EACH OCCASIONS WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THEY THEY WORKED ON THE BRAKE CONTROLLER SAYING IT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER OCCASIONS THEY WORKED ON THE STEERING COLUMN SAYING THEY HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER TIME THEY FELT THE DELAYED RADIO SHUT OFF WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NONE OF THESE FIXES HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT STILL GOES DEAD WHEN WE DRIVE IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, SHUT IT OFF AND LEAVE IT FOR 3 TO 7 DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. IT IS INCONVENIENT NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE TIME INVOLVED IN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. THE DEALER INFORMED US THIS LAST GO ROUND THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT SPEND ANY OF THEIR TIME TO LOOK FOR A PHANTOM SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE REPORTED TO THEM THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DEPENDABLE FOR ROAD TRIPS THAT REQUIRE ANY NUMBER OF DAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST SIT.

NHTSA ID

704231

Incident

Dec 27, 1996

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AND INCREASING SPEED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ALSO, REPLACED THE PROGRAM ECM, AND SOME METALS PARTS THAT FELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

830125

Incident

Sep 12, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE SUBURBAN JUST SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THIS HAPPENS ON FLAT ROADS AS WELL AS HILLY ROADS, THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER IGNITION AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

828624

Incident

Sep 4, 1998