Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (1997)

431 consumer complaints on file.

#10228141May 19, 2008
SEATS
NO REAL EVENTS, NO COLLISION, ETC. JUST NORMAL USE, GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTING MECHANISM, STRUT(S) CONTROLLING FRONT ELEVATION BROKE AND SEAT FRONT WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER. SEAT STILL MOVES FROM REAR AND FORWARD AND BACK. SEAT IS NOT STABLE AND PIVOTS BACK ON REAR MOUNTING /ADJUSTING POINTS. WE NO LONGER SEAT ANYONE BEHIND THE DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE IT COULD CRUSH THE REAR PASSENGER IF SUBJECTED TO ENOUGH IMPACT. IT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY A BODY SHOP THAT WE JUST RE-WELD, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO GUARANTEE IT WILL HOLD WITH IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220378March 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM THE WIPERS STOP ON THERE OWN AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL, PER THE DEALERS INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE YET AS I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OF A VERY SERIOUS MATTER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218440February 18, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216196January 27, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE ON RAINY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214481January 11, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DELAY FEATURE ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED SPORADICALLY. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) AND GM RECALL NUMBER 03023 IN FEBRUARY OF 2002. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CONTACT WANTED TO NOTIFY NHTSA, BEFORE NOTIFYING THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 219,990.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208506November 9, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200141August 20, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR B.F. GOODRICH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STILL HAS THE TIRE AND THE TREAD. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194043June 23, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ARBITRARY ACTIVATION OF THE ABS BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS OR WHEN PARKING. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT STOP AND CONTINUE MOVING FOR A FEW INCHES TO A FEW FEET. VARY HAZARDOUS WHEN PARKING IN TIGHT AREAS OR AROUND CHILDREN IN A PARKING LOT. HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM ON CHEVY 1999 SILVERADO K1500 PICKUP THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL. WOULD SUGGEST THE SAME ON THIS VEHICLE TO AVOID SAME HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193617June 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FRONT BRAKES WEARING OUT EVERY 6,000 MI, REAR BRAKES SHOW VIRTUALLY NO WEAR AFTER 138,000 MI. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FEEL SPONGY AND VEHICLE WON'T STOP PROPERLY. WHY DOES SOME ONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE YOU PEOPLE LISTEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172825November 7, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ANTI LOCK BRAKES PULSATE AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT. ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165589August 15, 2006
STEERING
EXTREME OVER STEERING AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. NEARLY CAUSED A FREEWAY ACCIDENT WITH CAR FULL OF KIDS. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 93 SUBURBAN WITH NO COMPLAINTS. HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS ONE 4 MONTHS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE STEERING IS SO ERRATIC. ALSO TRAVEL FREQUENTLY WITH HORSE TRAILER AND WORRY THAT THE OVER STEERING WILL CAUSE THE TRAILER TO SWERVE, CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157450May 12, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE LOST STEERING AND BRAKING ON 1996 6.5 TURBO DIESEL SUBURBAN THREE TIMES NOW I DRIVE NORMALLY. I AM 42 AND HAVE A FAMILY OF SEVEN. WHEN BRAKING THE POWER BOOSTER HAS ZERO PRESSURE AND IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP AND AT THE VERY SAME TIME ALL POWER STEERING IS LOST. I THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, SO I REPLACED IT, NO CHANGE. STILL NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I REPLACED HYDROBOOST UNIT BRAKING AND STEERING RETURNED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HYDROBOOST THREE TIMES IN 8 MONTHS. I COMPLETELY REMOVED THE SOLENOID MAGNET FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO TEST IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSES THE HYDRO BOOST UNIT TO FAIL, I DID THIS BETWEEN HYDRO UNIT 1 AN 2, I REINSTALLED MAGNET BETWEEN UNIT 2 AND 3 THE FIRST TIME I LOST BRAKING AND STEERING THERE WAS NO WARNING, I WENT TO STOP AND HAD HARD, NON POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. THE SECOND, THIRD TIME I KNEW TO REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING THE STEERING GETS HARD OR THE BRAKES GET HARD, THEN I REPLACE THE HYDROBOOST UNIT, BRAKE AND STEERING RETURN TO NORMAL I COMPLETELY FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING FLUID EACH TIME INTO A CLEAN BUCKET, NO BIG PARTICLES OR HOSE MATERIAL. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS, IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN A WINDING TWO LANE STEEP DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN ROAD, WITH A HEAVY SUBURBAN AND YOU LOOSE STEERING AND BRAKES I TURNED IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS AS CORES TO GET MY MONEY BACK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156869May 5, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1997 CHEVEROLET C1500 SUBURBAN INTERMITTENT WIPER MOTOR FAILURE TO WORK PROPERLY. CAUSES LACK OF VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS OR DURING WINDSHIELD CLEANING OPERATIONS. WIPERS WILL CEASE TO WORK CONTINUOUS AND PROBLEM IS SPORADIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153866March 27, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH A 7.4 ENGINE. FOR THE MOST PART ITS BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES ARE ANOTHER STORY. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 SETS OF FRONT BRAKES, AND NONE IN THE REAR. BEING CONCERNED, THE 3RD MECHANIC TO REALLY SPEND TIME FIGURING OUT THE PROBLEM, FOUND OUT THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE HAS MALFUNCTIONED. $800 FOR REPLACEMENT. DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, GM HAD RECALLED THIS PART ON SEVERAL OF THERE 2000 SUV MODELS. CONTACTED THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS AN "OLD VEHICLE" AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO I GUESS GM'S SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 10 YEARS. THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM VEHICLE I WILL EVER OWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152289March 9, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1997 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN-TANK FUEL SENDING UNIT FIRE: BOUGHT VEHICLE USED WITH 88000 MILES. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE / BURN UP OF THE UNIT INCLUDED INTERMITTENT FUEL PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, HAD PUMP REPLACED BY PATRICK GMC, PROBLEM PERSISTED, HAD DEALER WOLF CHEVROLET CHECK FUEL PRESSURE THROUGHOUT SYSTEM (OK). ALSO NOTICED AN INTERMITTENT BURNING SMELL. I THEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER A REPLACEMENT SENDING UNIT AND ANOTHER FUEL PUMP, AS SOON AS I TOOK THE SENDER OUT OF THE TANK IT WAS OBVIOUSLY CHARRED AND THE MODULAR CONNECTOR BURNT TO A CRISP, WIRES COMPLETELY EXPOSED WITH THE INSULATION GONE PARTIALLY DISINTEGRATED THE ABS PLUG. THIS THING GOT REALLY HOT REPEATEDLY. THE LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT WAS LUCKILY NEVER REACHED WITHIN THE TANK OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SPONTANEOUS EXPLOSION, ESPECIALLY IF THE TANK LOST ITS SEAL AND ALLOWED OUTSIDE AIR INSIDE, (SUCH AS WHEN THE TANK IS EMPTY AND IS PULLING VACUUM), FOR INSTANCE UNSCREWING THE GAS CAP IN IDEAL CONDITIONS NEXT TO A GAS PUMP WITH A 44 GALLON TANK VOID SUCKING IN AS MUCH OXYGEN IN AS THE FILLER TUBE WILL ALLOW, AND HITTING THAT GLOWING RED HOT SENDING UNIT. OLD PART IS IN MY POSSESSION AND IS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SENDER. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROX. WHEN I PERFORMED THE REPAIR AND DISCOVERED THE BURNED UP SENDER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151159February 24, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ABS PROBLEMS. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT SLOWER SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATED CAUSING GREATER STOPPING DISTANCES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151900February 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1997 SUBURBAN BRAKING MALFUNCTIONS. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT TWO SENSORS WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONES WERE CORRODED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THE 1998-2002 VEHICLES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148929January 29, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
IN JULY/AUGUST 2005 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING ACTIVATION OF THE ABS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS OF 5-10 MPH IN 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT BRAKE UNITS, CALIPERS, ETC., WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID THIS. ALSO ,FOUND OUT THAT THE ABS UNITS WERE NOT READING THE SPEED CORRECTLY AND THIS WAS CAUSING THE ABS BUMPING AT LOW SPEEDS. ADVISED THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AT COST OF $1200! IN JANUARY 2006 I READ ABOUT THE SUBURBAN RECALL FOR MALFUNCTIONING ABS AND UNUSUAL CORROSION OF BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RECALL STARTED FOR 1999 MODELS. I BELIEVE MY 1997 VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE ABS UNITS BE CLEANED AND THAT THEY WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP (WHO DID THE BRAKE REPAIRS) RECOMMENDED AGAINST CLEANING"AND SAID IN THEIR EXPERIENCE THIS DOESN'T WORK. SUBURBAN HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN OVER USED. I PUT ABOUT 6,000 MILES A YEAR ON IT, MOSTLY FOR PULLING A HORSE TRAILER AND FOR THIS I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFE BRAKING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS 1997 SUBURBAN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 199S. I'VE SPENT ABOUT $500 ON THE BRAKE REPAIRS SO FAR AND THE ABS WILL COST ME ANOTHER $1200. FOR A VEHICLE THAT GETS SO LITTLE USE BY ME, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. I WOULD LIKE THE 1997 TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM UPSET BY THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THESE APPARENT MANUFACTURING FLAWS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145921December 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V159000 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143901November 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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