Gmc C1500 SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
135,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 38.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Visibility: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10182103 · 2007-02-09 (February 9, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 GMC K-1500 SUBURBAN HAD SEVERAL ABS FAILURES. THE ABS ENGAGED AT A LOW SPEED WHEN COMING TO A STOP, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE CANNOT IN THE EXPECTED DISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS IN THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL 05068 DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10182103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296503 · 2009-12-20 (December 20, 2009)
BRAKE PEDAL "WENT TO THE FLOOR " WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. DASHBOARD FAILED TO SHOW A "RED" BRAKE LIGHT UNTIL ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER WHEN I CHECKED BRAKES AGAIN. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "BUILT IN SAFETY REDUNDANCY" TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING ? LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167816 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST FUEL PRESSURE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE CONTACT INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT AS THE INSULATION WAS BURNED OFF THE WIRING BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE SALES DEALER RECOMMENDED A NON-MANUFACTURER NAME BRAND FOR THE SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177674 · 2007-01-03 (January 3, 2007)
I CLICKED MY 4-WAY FLASHER BUTTON WHILE DROPPING MY SON OFF AT THE TRAIN STATION AND WHEN I CAME BACK IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PRESS THE BUTTON BACK DOWN. AFTER THAT, THE OPERATION OF MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS WAS INTERMITTENT AND EVENTUALLY MY REAR BRAKES LIGHTS STARTED WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND MY GM DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST MORE THAN $500 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS TYPE ON THIS SAME SUBURBAN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 153,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568527 · 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)
CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, THIS HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR OVER A 12 YEAR PERIOD, DEALER KEEP SAYING IT WAS SWITCH OR FUEL PUMP, THEY KEPT CHARGING ME EVERYTIME... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423200 · 2011-09-04 (September 4, 2011)
I HAVE PURCHASED 2 GMC SUBURBANS OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS. I'M A DIVORCED MOM OF 7 CHILDREN. I WAS DRIVING MY SUBURBAN ALONG WITH MY CHILDREN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN BOSTON. *TR I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AND FROM THE RIGHT HAND LANE AS I DESPERATELY TRIED TO STEER THE CAR INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. I TURNED MY HAZARDS ON, BUT DURING THIS TIME IN BOSTON, EVERYONE DRIVES OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. I CONTACTED GMC, IN WHICH I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE, WHO INFORME…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10423200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386644 · 2011-03-07 (March 7, 2011)
GMC SUBURBAN 1999 STEERING SPEED SENSOR FAILS CAUSING THE STEERING TO SUDDENLY JERK WHILE TURNING UNDER SPEED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS HIT "SLIPPERY ICE". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 172,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386644 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0