1997 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

I PURCHASED THIS SUBURBAN USED FROM VALENCIA NISSAN WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE NEW AT THAT TIME. ON THE INDICATED DATE, I WAS TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH, THE TRUCK STARTED TO RATTLE THEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. I SAFELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER. I HAD MY WIFE, 4YR OLD & 2YR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IN THE SAME FASHION THAT THE RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES DID. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS SET OF TIRES WAS ALSO UNDER RECALL. I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD CALL ME REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: V611B1A TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

I THINK CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY FOR THIS FACTORY DEFECT WHICH COST ME $160. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

I HAVE A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM 1999 STATING NHTSA INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM IN 1997 TO 1999 GMC VEHICLES. YOUR DATA BASE SHOWS NO COMPLAINTS, BUT THE ARTICLE STATED 76 COMPLAINTS IN 1999 AND 4 CRASHES. THERE MUST BE MORE BY NOW, AND THE REPLACEMENT ELECTRONICALLY VARIABLE ORIFICE THAT WAS REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED AGAIN.*AK

JURKS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND INTERMITTENTLY, INFORMED BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

POWER STEERING HYDROBOOST UNIT SURGES, MAKES STEERING WHEEL JERK IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.*AK

TRUCK STALLS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY DEFECT ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS WITHOUT SUCCESS. ACCIDENTS AVOIDED THUS FAR, BUT NEXT TIME, I MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. PLEASE POST THESE COMMENTS, TO WARN OTHER CONSUMERS. GMC IS DENYING RESPONSIBILITY, HAS FLATLY REFUSED TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE, AND CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS THING...ME AND MY PASSENGERS(VERY OFTEN A TROOP OF GIRL SCOUTS) ARE IN DANGER, AND SO IS ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HOPE THAT NO ONE DIES AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK

OUR SUBURBAN IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND JUST WENT OVER THE 50,000 MILE MARK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT COMING LOOSE. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ONCE BUT CAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THE CAR WAS EVER IN A CRASH THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD.*AK

HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; SLIPPAGE IN TRANS. PRODUCING HEAT/SMELL; MUCH METAL/DEBRIS IN BOTTOM OF TRANS. FROM FAILING COMPONENTS; MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN PRODUCTION/ASSEMBLY.*AK

SENDING UNIT IN FUEL TANK SHORTED OUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES IGNITION SWITCH ALSO FAILED. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE TRAVELED OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO STEERING SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FUEL PUMP DOES NOT LAST AS LONG AS MOST OTHER FUEL PUMPS LAST. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY CHANGED FUEL PUMP TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK THE PREMATURE AND FREQUENT FAILURES OF THE FUEL PUMP IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *YH

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY FROM GEAR TO GEAR AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (USUALLY 10 MILES OR MORE). DEALER HAS CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING APPEARS FINE (NO ERROR CODES) BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM. LOOKS LIKE THE ECM IS BAD BUT BECAUSE THE CODES ARE NOT PRESENT, NO ONE IS WILLING TO DIAGNOSE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MORE ASSIST TO STEERING AT 30 MPH WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC SOLENOID RELAY AS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF POWER ASSIST TO STEERING ASSEMBLY. *YH

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

VEHICLE WOULD OVERSTEER WHILE MAKING A TURN . DEALER STATED EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

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

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

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 SC

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

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

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN GOING AROUND A BEND VEHICLE LOST STEERING. DEALER STATED EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT BRAKE LINE COLLAPSED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO JERK TO LEFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

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

LOSS OF STEERING POWER AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING FOR UP TO 4-5 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

INTRMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING WHEEL SLIGHTLY VEHICLE OVERSTEERS. DEALER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

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.

BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SEPARATED BELTS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LT 245/75R16 M+S) TIRES. NLM

THE CONNECTION AND WIRES THAT RUN THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNED AND MELTED, DUE TO THIS FAILURE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SLC

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

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

SEPARATION & CRACKING, EVEN ON SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

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.

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

WHILE ON VACATION HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT ON I75 JUST SOUTH OF ATLANTA. HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES FROM THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ATLANTA. THEY SAID THIS TIRE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST BUT IT CAME APART JUST LIKE THE OTHERS. IT WAS A VERY, VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE THE TIRES THAT BLEW OUT WERE PURCHASED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON US41 IN FORT MYERS, FL. WHICH IS MY HOME.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R/16 )

STEERING SUDDENLY JERKED TOWARD THE DIRECTION OF PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EMERGENCY BEFORE IT TURNS INTO CAUSING FATALITIES LIKE THE TIRE SITUATION.*AK

LEFT FRONT TIRE BELT SEPARATED AT 65MPH, VEHICLE STOPED, TIRE REPLACED AND UPON EXAMENING REMAINING TIRES, RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF BELT SEPERATING. CONSULTED FIRESTONE DEALER IN HOUMA, AND WAS TOLD THE SEPERATION WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARDS. REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES ON 21/MAY/2000 WITH ANOTHER BRAND. THERE ARE 2 REMAINING TIRES ON VEHICLE WHICH WILL BE REPLACED THIS MONTH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11B1A TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

STEERING TENSION CHANGES DRASTICALLY CAUSING OVERSTEERING, STEERING ALSO LOCKS UP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.*AK

TIRE ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE VEHICLE - U.S. GOVERNMENT OWNED TAG NO. I258844; TIRE IS IN EVIDENCE LOCKER; TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEED OF 65 MPH - SPEED SET BY CRUISE CONTROL; TREAD WRAPPED AROUND WHEEL AXEL, BUT DID NOT GO FLAT; LEFT REAR TIRE ALSO REPLACED AFTER INSPECTION AT TIRE SHOP; ALL TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHECKED AND WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)

ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, EVEN ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE STEERING RESISTANCE JUST DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR THOSE FEW SECONDS AND I DRIFTED A LITTLE INTO THE OTHER LANE. MY HUSBAND AND I EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT DAY AND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WE WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR AND BROUGHT THE PROBLEM UP TO THE CHEVY DEALER ON RETURN. THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT BUT AGREED TO LOWER THE PURCHASE PRICE BY THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST. WE HAD IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY AT THE SAME CHEVY PLACE (I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION). THEY REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR AND CHARGED US $260. THE REPAIR APPEARS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL FROM LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED, SENSOR WAS GONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TREAD SEPERATED FORM THE TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES JERKS OUT OF MY HANDS AS IF I'VE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. ALSO FEEL THE TRUCK BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING AS IF THERE IS A BUBBLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ABOUT 7 TIMES WITH NOT RESOLUTION. HAD THE TRUCK CHECKED AT GOODYEAR DEALER 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. GOODYEAR SAID THE THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. SAID THEY WERE CUPPED OR CHOPPED. I PAID $700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TIRES AFTER DEALER REFUSED TO DO SO, BUT STILL EXPERIENCE BOUNCING SENSATION AT 60-70 MPH. NOTICED BOTH PROBLEMS THE DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )

NO SUMMARY

BATTERY ACID LEAK FROM POS. TERMINAL RESULTING IN CORRODED WIRES AND BRAKE LINE.

BATTERY ACID LEAK 1997 SUBURBAN

SHAKING, VIBRATIONS, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VN11BAB TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A "ROLLING BACKUP" THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON OUR SUBURBAN LITERALLY EXPLODED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY, AND FOUND A VERY LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE ROAD, AND NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND OF PUNCTURE TO THE TIRE. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE BLEW OUTWARD, AND LEFT A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 4" WIDE BY 7 INCHES LONG. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD, AND HAD APPROXMATELY 1200 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE 3 DAYS EARLIER, AND AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER ABOUT REPLACING THE TIRE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE WITH AN EXACT MATCH, SINCE THAT PARTICULAR LINE OF TIRES (STEELTEX AT) WAS A TIRE MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR GM TRUCKS AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED THE GM DEALER (GILCHRIST CHEVROLET IN TACOMA WA) AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE. WITH THE RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECTS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY SUBURBAN. THE "STEELTEX AT" SERIES HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE NEWS REPORTS, BUT I KNOW OF ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON HIS GM TRUCK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265R16 )

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THERE IS SOME OVERSTEERING DUE TO A BAD POWER STEERING: HYDROBOOST UNIT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLED . DEALER CHECKED AND NOTICED FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK