1997 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
261 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
100,858 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 261 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 66 | 25.3% |
| Braking behavior | 52 | 19.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 10.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 9.2% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 30 |
| Steering | 28 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 26 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 21 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 15 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 14 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 14 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 30; Steering: 28; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 26; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 21; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 15; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 14; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 185 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 93 |
| 2001 | 33 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 39 |
| 2004 | 36 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 93; 2001: 33; 2002: 20; 2003: 39; 2004: 36; 2005: 19; 2006: 7; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 31 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000484 · 2003-01-03 (January 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 FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004159 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CLOSED THE BUCKLE WILL LOOSEN. ALSO CENTER AND REAR SEAT BELTS LOOSEN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004769 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICE FUEL DRIVER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006079 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009686 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009823 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE INJECTIONS WERE DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010999 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THESE TRUCKS WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS, PASSENGERS & OTHER MOTORISTS AROUND THESE VEHICLES.IF NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT GM SHOULD DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011448 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011448 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V093000 · Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V159000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗