1997 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC STEERING ABILITY, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB

AT SPEEDS OF OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS LEFT AND RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. I THEN HAVE TO CORRECT AND/OR OVERSTEER TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD. THIS FIRST BEGAN IN 1999, AT APPROX 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB

GRACO CHILD SAFETY SEAT FAILED ( MODEL/8446LVIN). *MR *SCC *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 60/70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECAME LOOSE, AND THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO THE NEXT LANE. STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AFTER IT JERKED. THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENED WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT EVO SENSOR WAS GOING OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB.....*AK

THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

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.

CONSUMER STATES "THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FLOWING THROUGH FREELY, BECAUSE OF DESIGN. *NLM

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

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.*JB *TS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

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

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

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 FAILED. WHY WILL CHEVROLET NOT RECALL THESE PROBLEMS? HAVE HEARD OTHERS SAY THAT THE RADIATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE COOLING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ESSENTIALLY CAUSING EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFORE THERE IS LOSS OF LIFE OR A BAD ACCIDENT. TS

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

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE SUBURBAN AND TAHOE LINE SAY THAT THEIR POWER ASSIST HAS FAILED ALSO AND HAD TO ENDURE COSTLY/OVER PRICED REPAIRS. DT

DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING BOLT SHEERED OFF INTO REAR AXLE GEARS. DT

TREAD SEPARATED WITH NO WARNING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE PRESSURE AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED 80 PSI. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENLY COME ON WITH OUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMULAR MAKES & MODLES, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN#. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON, PAUSE, OR STOP WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIME TURNING OFF/ON WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM OTHER TIME WOULD REQUIRE MANUALLY MOVING THE WIPE ARMS. AT THE LAST RESORT STOP OPEN HOOD AND TAP ON WIPER MOTOR HOUSING NEXT TO WIRRING HARNESS WOULD CAUSE THE WIPERS TO RESUME WORKING. BUT YOU COULD NOT EVER BE SURE WHEN THEY WOULD STOP AGAIN, 60 SEC., 2 MIN., OR WORK FOR THE REST OF THE RAIN STORM.*AK

FAULTY ABS SYSTEM WITH SENSOR CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY AT SLOW SPEEDS RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM

I HAD BRAKE TROUBLE ON THIS CAR FROM DAY ONE. MANY BRAKE PADS, TWO MASTER CYLINDERS, MANY SHOES AND DRUMS. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT WEIGHT IS TOO GREAT FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP. PLEASE CALL. MY ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE. DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE IN KINGS MTN, NOW DIAMOND CHEVROLET ADMITS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN SHELBY, NC CARTER CHEVROLET EIGHT TIMES IN ONE YEAR FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY WITH OUR 32 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER ATTACHED THE VEHICLE HITCH BROKE. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 45000 MILES OF TOWING THE TRAILER ON THIS HITCH. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELDS WERE NOT DEEP ENOUGH ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HITCH WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP.

WHILE DRIVING SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE "ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. FIRST TIME AT 52,000 MILES IN JULY '01, SECOND TIME AT 55,076 MILES IN SEPT. '01, THIRD TIME AT 63,196 MILES IN JUNE '02 AND FOURTH TIME AT 63,766 MILES IN JULY '02. FIRST TIME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE, BUT TRANSMISSION PERFORMED FINE ON TEST DRIVE. SECOND TIME UNKNOWN CODE. THIRD TIME, NO CODE GIVEN. FOURTH TIME TRANSMISSION CODE OF 1870, INTERNAL SLIPPAGE. WE NOTICED THAT COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AFTER 1/2 HOUR OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ABRUPTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. NEITHER WE NOR THE FORMER OWNER TOWED ANYTHING WITH IT. WE HAD TO GET A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WHICH IS GOOD FOR 50,000 OR 3 YEARS.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN TURNED ON IN RAIN STORM. HAS TO STOP ON HWY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY WORKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. NEXT TIME STARTED VEHICLE WIPER AND WASHERS WOULD NOT WORK. CHECKED AGAIN A FEW MILES LATER AND BOTH WORKED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME DURING A THREE DAY TRIP.*AK

INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT, CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SLAM INTO GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A VALVE COVER. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.*JG

MY STEERING JUMPS TO THE LEFT UNEXPECTILY AS IF SOMEONE GRABS THE WHEEL AND TURNS IT FAST . NLM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND. READ THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM AND FOUND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL INCIDENCES WITH OTHER PEOPLE. NEXT FAILURE WAS FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS.

ENGINE QUIT JUST LIKE SHUTTING OFF OF IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. WHILE REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY NOTED THAT THE ATTACHING PLUG FOR THE FUEL PUMP HAD ARCED DESTROYING THE PLUG, AND THE WIRE SUPPLYING THE POWER TO THE PUMP HAD ALL THE INSULATION BURNED OFF AND THE WIRE WAS PARTIALLY MELTED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE ARCING AND MELTING OF WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK COULD CAUSE AND EXPLOSION IF THE FUEL/AIR MISTURE REACHED STOICHIOMETRIC CONDITIONS.

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP OR JUST TO REDUCE THE SPEED ON VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER DROPPED FUEL TANK OUT FROM UNDER VEHICLE AND STARTED CHANGING FUEL PUMP NOTICED THAT CONTACT WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP WERE CHARRED AND MELTED. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

SUDDEN COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER BOOST WITH LOSS OF EASILY OBTAINABLE BRAKING BY FEMALE DRIVER. NO ACCIDENT THANK GOD. *AK

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE THE HANDLING IS LIKE "DRIVING ON ICE." DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED STEERING SENSOR TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM STARTS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE AS IF DRIVING ON COBBLESTONE ROAD THEN BRAKING SYSTEM SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM FRONT OF CAR THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN TEMPS ARE VERY HIGH IN THE 100 DEGREE RANGE AS WE GO TO THE DESERT OFTEN. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. THE VIBRATIONS START AS WE ARE DRIVING AND YOU CAN FEEL THE FRONT END START TO VIBRATETHE GETS WORSE, IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN THIS IS SHAKING THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES VOILENTLYAND IS HARD TO STOP ALMOST MAKES THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. THIS CAN GO ON FOR AS LONG AS 45 MINS TO AN HOUR AS WE DRIVE DOWNTHE ROAD OR FREEWAY. THEN IT JUSST STOPS SHAKIN AND DOES NOT AHPPEN AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS , BUT IF WE ARE STILL IN THE HEAT IT WIL HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN WE GET HOME AND GOTO THE DEALER THEY CANNOT FEEL THE PROBLEM SO THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE AFFRAID TO RIDE IN THE CAR WHEN WE GO ON TRIPS NOW. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE FIXED. I LOVE THIS CAR AND IT SUITS MY NEEDS BUT THIS HAS TO BE FIXED.*AK

TREAD INTACT SEPARATED FROM SIDE WALLS & WHEEL, TIRES INSPECTED LAST MONTH DURING A ROTATION AND BRAKE JOB. *AK (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16) (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY RAN SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE INSULATION ON ONE OF THE LEADS AND THE CONNECTOR GOING TO IT, THAT LEAD IN TURN HAD STARTED TO WELD ITSELF TO THE OTHER WIRES, CREATING A POTENTIAL DIRECT SHORT BETWEEN THESE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD AND MAKE A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD GEARS AFTER ABOUT THE FIRST 100 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN IN TWICE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN IT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY BAD, IT WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT END HAS BEEN ALIGNED TWICE WITHIN 15,000 MILES AND STILL PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED PERIODICALLY OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME - IT WAS REPORTED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME THEY FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE ON THE FRONT HUB WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

STEERING WHEEL OVER COMPENSATES WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER HAS REPLACED SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I STARTED EXPERENCING PROBLEM AT APPOX. 12000 MILES WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURLLY,SOME AFTER AT APPOX. 20000 MILE I HAD UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR, ( I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT) IT WAS THE RIGHT TORSION BAR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 27668 MILE I HAD TO PAY 1/2 THE COST APPOX $225.00 AFTER FIGHTING ALL THE WAY TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES,THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING STARTED ACTTING UP AT APPOX. 40000 MILES SUDDENLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SLIP UNACCPECTEDLY.THIS PART WAS REPLACE N/C , I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 ALTERNATORS THE FIRST AT APPOX. 38000 MILE STANDING ME IN BUFFALO ,TX 120 MILES FROM HOME ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, THE SECOND AND THIRD HAPPEDED IN THE CITY HOWEVER I NOW CARRY A SPARE ALTENATOR AND TOOLS BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHEN IT WILL GO OUT NEXT, I HAVE REPLACED THE POSITIVE SIDE BATTERY CABLES TWICE BECAUSE OF DESIGN THE LOOSEN AND THE ACR AND SHORT OUT, THE AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 53939 DUE TO COOLENT GETTING INTO THE UNIT I HAD TO PAY 25% OF THIS REPAIR APPOX. $525.00 THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 69015 ONLY 15K+MILES LATER WITH THE WARRENTY CARD IN HAND I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS WAS IT ,AT 107,267 MILES THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WITH ONLY 38K+ MILE ON A UNIT THAT CARRYS A 3YR/50K WARRENTY GM REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE THE UNIT MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 06/15/2001 WHILE I HAVE BEEN ONCE AGAIN FIGHTING WITH GM TO NO AVAIL ,( I WAS OFFER A CUSTOMER LOYALTY CERT. FOR $500. 00 TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION

SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED OVERSTEERING IN TURNS, VEERS INTO TURNS, INTERMITTENT. *AK

THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS NOT AS WIDE SPREAD AS G.M. WOULD LIKE ME TO BELIEVE. I KNOW OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE IDENTICLE VEHICLE AS ME WITH NO PROBLEMS. G.M. BLAMES THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE GAS ADDITIVES. I AM THE ONE WHO IS STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE FOR DEPENDABILITY. I HAVE A CAR THAT CAN AND WILL BREAK DOWN ANY WHERE AND AT ANY TIME AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE HEADS OF THE CORPERATE OFFICES AT G.M. WITH MY CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS BUT THEY HAVE YET TO REPOND TO ME SERIOUSLY. THEY HAVE CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT ME. CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE CAN NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM!! I END UP MORE FRUSTRATED AFTER SPEAKING TO THEM. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE ONLY DOING THEIR JOB AND CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. I NEED A REAL SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT MY CAR HAD WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I WANT THE DEPENDABILITY THAT I HAD EXPECTED, WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR. FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WITH IN THIS FRUSTRATING MATTER. SINCERELY YOURS, [XXX]. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

TREAD ON THREE OF FOUR TIRES IS STARTING TO SEPERATE AND TIRES ARE CUPPING. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH STEERING WENT OUT/VEHICLE VEERED TO RIGHT, AND NO ACCIDENT. STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ON 27 JUNE 2001 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN STEERING WENT OUT, VEHICLE VEERED TO RIGHT AGAIN. NO ACCIDENT, DEALER REPLACED STEERING SENSOR. DEALER STATED HE HAS REPLACED LOTS OF SENSORS.*AK *SLC

THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH GM AND CHEVROLET TRUCK TRANSMISSIONS. HARD SHIFTING IS EXPERIENCED FOLLOWED BY " ENGINE LIGHT ON PANEL. A CODE 0F 1870 IS REPORTED WHEN IT IS SERVICED. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY PEOPLE PAYING $3000 FOR REBUILT TRTANSMISSIONS AND THE PROBLEM STIL IS NOT CORRECTED. GM HAS BEEN CONTACTED BUT WILL NOT RESPOND. *AK