Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (1997)

431 consumer complaints on file.

#739713January 21, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR KNOWN FAILURES OF THE HEAD GASKET IN THE SUBURBANS. I AHVE HAD MANY VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 100K MILES AND NEVER A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THIS SUV IS USED FOR LIGHT DUTY TO AND FROM WORK, 60 MILES R/T.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739166January 10, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
1. BATTERY LEAKED ACID WHILE IDLE AND ULTIMATELY FAILED. LEAK CORRODED POSITIVE POWER CABLE AND UNDERCOATING. 2. ERRATIC STEERING WHILE DRIVING - STEERING POSITION SENSOR REPLACED FIRST TIME. 3. STARTER FAILED 3 TIMES - COMPLETE LOCK-UP 4. U-JOINT FAILED TWICE - SEALED/NON-GREASABLE POOR ACCESS TO ADD GREASE FITTING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877907January 10, 2001
STEERING
VEHICLE WOULD OVERSTEER WHILE MAKING A TURN . DEALER STATED EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739044January 9, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING IS UNRELIABLE, SURGE/INCREASE IN STEERING POWER IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. FIRST TIME THE DEALER SAID ALIGNMENT WAS PROBLEM, NOT SO. SECOND TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, THIS FIXED PROBLEM FOR 4 MONTHS. THIRD TIME THE DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, POWER STEERING PUMP AND FLUSHED LINES, THIS FIXED PROBLEM FOR 5 MONTHS. FOURTH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE EVO SENSOR ON STEERING COLUMN, THIS FIX LASTED 15 MONTHS. FIFTH TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EVO SENSOR MUST BE BAD AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER EXTENDED WARRENTY. AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION, I FIND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO THE 1997 SUBURBAN WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THERE HAVE BEEN IN EXCESS OF 75 REPORTS OF THIS OR SIMILAR STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PRIOR TO THERE BEING ANY FATALITIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738587January 1, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WAS RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE SUBURBAN, IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, BUT THEY EVENTUALLY ALIGNED THE TIRES ( WHICH THEY SAID IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE TO DO THAT FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE). OVER THE MONTHS AFTER THE ALIGNMENT, I DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS. I CAN NOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHEN MY CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE A VERY LOOSE FEELING IN THE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THINKING IT WAS JUST ME, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT FOR AWHILE. I HAD TIRES PUT ON MY CAR AND THE STEERING FELT DIFFERENT (GOOD), I THOUGHT MAYBE IT HAD SOMETHING TO WITH TIRES AND IT WAS FIXED. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, THE SUDDEN LOOSE STEERING. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA 40 MILES FROM OUR DEALER AND BY THE TIME I REALIZED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL, AND I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE MY VEHICLE UP FOR A FEW DAYS, MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (MILEAGE) SO I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT I USE, THEY DROVE IT AROUND ON THEIR ERRANDS FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AND IT FINALLY DID IT FOR THEM. THEY WERE THINKING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE GEAR BOX, BUT THEY CALLED GM TO CONSULT ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD THEM ABOUT STEERING SENSOR PROBLEMS. ON 9/20/00, I GAVE THEM THE OK TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AS OF THIS DATE. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED FOR OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, IT IS A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN THE STEERING CHANGES TO A LOOSE FEELING AND THINKING IF I WERE TO REACT TO AN INCIDENT, I WOULD PROBABLY OVERCORRECT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM STEERING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#737934December 18, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ENGAGES AT SLOW SPEED IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND OCCASIONALLY FOLLOWING BRAKING WHEN CORNERING. DECREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE ALSO NOTICED AS IT FEELS AS IF SLIPPING OCCURS IN BRAKES. GRINDING NOISE ALSO ATTENDANT TO THIS SITUATION. DEALER SERVICE REPLACED SENSOR AND HUB ASSEMBLY. BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AT 70,000 MILES, WHICH I CONSIDER TOO EARLY ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#737950December 18, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
WE HAD CAR LOOKED AT, SMALL LEAK IN POWER STEERING FIXED,DIDN'T HELP..FOUND NO MAJOR WEAR ON ANY STEERING PARTS.... INTERESTING, SISTER HAS SAME CAR, WITH SAME PROBLEM, HERS DOES THIS 'CATCH' FEELING, TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT! I ALSO FEEL THE 'CATCH' IF DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN SPOT ON ROAD GOING STRAIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#876273December 11, 2000
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN GOING AROUND A BEND VEHICLE LOST STEERING. DEALER STATED EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#876225December 8, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING FRONT BRAKE LINE COLLAPSED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO JERK TO LEFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#875755November 30, 2000
SEATS
LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER'S SEAT TILTS BACK AND FORTH WHICH MAY CAUSE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAYS A RUNNER ON THE BOTTOM OF SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#736643November 20, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
LOSS OF STEERING POWER AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING FOR UP TO 4-5 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#736275November 14, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. BUT WHAT WAS TROUBLING WAS THE STATEMENT FROM THE MECHANIC THAT WE WERE LUCKY IT DID NOT EXPLODE. I KEPT THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED AND THE EVIDENCE IS CLEARLY THERE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE EXPLODED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE SUBURBAN MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY TO CATCH IT IN TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#874926November 14, 2000
STEERING
INTRMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING WHEEL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. DEALER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#557230November 13, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SEPARATED BELTS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LT 245/75R16 M+S) TIRES. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#557197November 9, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE CONNECTION AND WIRES THAT RUN THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNED AND MELTED, DUE TO THIS FAILURE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735424October 30, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
COMPLAINT CONCERNS CAR BATTERIES. IN THE PAST THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD BATTERY FAILURES WITH TWO BATTERIES LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, A DELCO ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996 CHEVROLET CAR & THE 2ND A EVERSTART WALMART REPLACEMENT BATTERY. BATTERY FAILURES IN TRAFFIC STALLED VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#873841October 25, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
EA00013; BATTERY LEAKS ACID: VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE OF A LEAKING BATTERY. FIRST TIME WAS IN MARCH OF 1999, AT 29,000 MILES. BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734368October 15, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
SEPARATION & CRACKING, EVEN ON SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872786October 11, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FELT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND STOPPED TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. DISCOVERED THAT A SECTION OF TREAD (4X4) HAD COME OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND CONTINUED TO NEXT TOWN. WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT, AND CONTINUED TRIP WITHOUT SPARE. ON RETURN TRIP ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 AND PULLING A TRAILER, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. BECAUSE OF NO SPARE, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE AND TRAILER TOWED HOME. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX R42 ON A 1997, CHEVEROLET, SUBURBAN; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 245/75R16, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. TIRE HAS ABOUT 60% OF TREAD LEFT. HAS TIRES AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS AND PHOTOS UPON REQUEST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872532October 8, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
ONGOING / ERRATIC PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED STEERING SENSOR. YEAR LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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