1997 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH THE STEERING BECOMES UNSTABLE/LOOSE ESPECIALLY IN TURNS WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKS SUDDENLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE TURN. THE VEHICLE ALSO WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSES OVERSTEERING WHEN CHANGING LANES. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN TOWING CAUSING THE TRAILER TO SWERVE BACK AND FOURTH. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM PLANNING ON TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED/REPAIRED BUT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE OWNED THREE GM TRUCKS (1989,1993 AND 1996) AND NONE HAS FELT AS UNSTABLE OR AS DANGEROUS AS THIS SUBURBAN. IF THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM?

POTENTIAL FOR FUEL TANK TO EXPLODE. FUEL PUMP CONNECTED OVERHEATED, AND THE GREY WIRE MELTED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY CONNECTOR TO FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS TOO SMALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM.*AK

PE00020, STEEL TEX AT WHICH WERE ORGINIALS ON THE 1997 CHEVROLET SUBARBAN, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16, DRIVER ON AUG 20, 1998 AT 9,000 MILES AND PASSENGER TIRE ON JUN, 1999 AT 19,980 MILES; THERE WAS A LONG CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE WHICH SEEMED THAT TIRE WAS SEPARATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE AT 245/75/R16 *MW

BATTERY ACID LEAK FROM POSTIVE POST; DAMAGE TO AC LINE, BRAKE LINES & FRAME

VEHICLE STOPPED/LOST ALL POWER DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ONCE STOPPED AND IN "PARK" COULD RESTART. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WITH NO WARNING. UPON DEALER INVESTIGATION, BATTERY ACID LEAK WHICH DESTROYED CABLES WAS REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP 1 1/2 MONTHS PRIOR FOR SAME PROBLEM, ALTERNATOR DEFECT STATED AT THAT TIME. BATTERY 2 1/2 YRS OLD/ PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BELTS CAUSING ENTIRE TREAD TO PEEL FROM CASING RESULTING IN SERIOUS ROLL OVER ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: 0500 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY, CAUSING STEERING TO FLOAT FEELING LIKE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING FOR A SECOND. CONSUMER WROTE CHEVROLET A LETTER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT EVERY OTHER TIME DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT WILL BECAME LOOSE AND TECHNICIAN WILL TIGHTED IT. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WHILE BEING ON.*AK

WAS DRIVING 65MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED OVER & CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD LOST TREAD. EXCHANGE TIRE WITH SPARE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE & RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT. DOES NOT HAVE THE TIRE OR DOT NUMBER. 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. FIRESTONE SIZE LT245/75R15 WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. *AK FIRESTONE 245/75/R16 *MW

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES OVERHEATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT BRAKES OVERHEATED. MECHANIC SAID THAT IN STOP AND GO SITUATIONS BRAKES WILL OVERHEAT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS VERY SCARY, AND WAS CONCERNED THAT COULD NOT STOP A VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL PUMP CLOGGED UP AND BURNED TWICE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

ABS SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING DUE TO DEFECT IN SNAP RING OF TRANSMISSION. THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL AT SLOW SPEED CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO THINK THE REAR TIRES WERE SLIDING, THEREFORE THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD WORK. THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THE SNAP RING IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS MISPOSITIONED CAUSING THE OUTPUT SHAFT TO HAVE TO MUCH END PLAY, THEREFORE CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR TO LOSE SIGNAL, AND THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN EVERYTIME YOU STOPPED. THE COMPUTER NEVER LOGGED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM HAD EVER BEEN WORKING, OR HAD EVER WORKED. AFTER REASSEMBLE THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE WORKING FINE. THIS PROBLEM APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR IN THE REAR BRAKE SHOES, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ABS WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME. AFTER THIS WORE OUT THE SHOES, THE BRAKES STARTED FAILING. *AK

ODI # ON LAST REPORT: 720833. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

POSITIVE POST OF THE BATTERY TERMINAL WAS SCREWED IN TOO FAR, AND IT DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK INSIDE OF THE TERMINAL, TO FELL OFF.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

APPARENT UNREPAIRABLE DANGEROUS STEERING SITUATION, BATTERY PROBLEM, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO MERCHANTABLE FOR PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS OFFERED FOR SALE. *AK

WHILE DEPESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENTED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

OUR SUBURBAN NOW HAS ITS 3RD BATTERY IN 3 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY'S POST BROKE OFF LEAKING ACID, DESTROYING STARTER WIRING, CAUSING ASSOCIATED FRAME DAMAGE. THE DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS WITH SUBURBAN VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ACID DAMAGE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS IN THE FALL OF 1999. WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AT FULL COST TO US SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. TODAY JULY 10, 2000, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE TRAY HOLDING THE BATTERY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE POSITIVE CABLE TERMINALS ARE CORRODED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR SOON AFTER MAKING A STOP VEHICLE SHIFT GEARS HARD FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. DLR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR ALTERNATOR WENT OUT TWICE. VEHICLE FAILED TO START BACK UP. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED BATTERY TO BURN OUT AND VEHICLE DIED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. BOUGHT BATTERY FROM DEALERSHIP & IT WAS INSTALLED.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED...ALMOST REARENDED. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD LOSE STEERING POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EA00 013/BATTERY LEAKS ACID: BATTERY LEAKAGE FROM POSITIVE POST RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK THE BATTERY FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED BY A NEW ONE. *YH

I SAW ON TELEVISION THAT THE NTSA WAS LOOKING INTO A PROBLEM WITH LEAKY BATTERIES ON THE CHEVROLET SUBURBANS. MY BATTERY DID LEAK CAUSING A POWER FAILURE. IT ALSO LEAKED DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EATING AWAY WIRES AND TAKING ALL THE PAINT OFF THE INNER FENDER WELL AND PARTS OF THE FRAME. I TRIED TO COMPLAIN WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THE DEALER JUST IGNORED ME TELLING ME IT IS THE BATTERY MANUFACURERS PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THEM AND COMPLAIN. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *AK

YESTERDAY I READ IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING GM SUV'S AND BATTERY LEAKS. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS HAVING HAD THIS PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY THE LEAK WAS DETECTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AND NO ONE WAS HURT. ALTHOUGH, THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW STARTER CABLE, AUXILIARY CABLE, PARTS AND GENERAL CLEANUP. THE SUBURBAN WAS JUST OVER 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED. THANK YOU KAREN YOCUM. *AK

EA-99-011; WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR A RIGHT HAND TURN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. PROBLEM WAS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. ALSO, NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, CASE NUMBER C00509683. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THEY COME ON/OFF. *AK

CHEVROLET DID NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, WHEN I DID NOT ACCEPT , THEY WITHDREW THE OFFER. AT THE TIME MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP THERE WERE 3 OTHERS IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ALL HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE PUT IN THESE VEHICLES, AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEM. MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED BY CHEVROLET, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I FEEL THAT THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CHEVROLET HAVE TO FIX THEM. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM; DEALER'S AWARE- NO FIXING PROBLEM- WHILE DRIVING EXHIBITS A LOOSE BEHAVIOR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. *AK

ENGINE WOULDN'T START. TOWED TO DEALER. STARTED AND DEALER COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. STATED IT WAS PROBABLY FUEL PUMP SINCE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. FINALLY FAILED AFTER SURGING AND DYING DURING DRIVE. FOUND "BURNED" (SAID DARKENED INSULATION) WIRING HARNESS WHICH DAMAGED OTHER COMPONENTS FROM FUEL PUMP TO ENGINE

ALL SEAT BELTS ARE UNBALE TO STAY TIGHTENED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT MELTED AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING CAR TO STALL ON THE ROAD.TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED/ TRANS RECONDITIONED, POWER STEERING BOX LEAKING/ REPLACED. BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED,AC COMPRESSOR REPLACED. NUMEROUS COOLANT LEAKS FIXED. WINDSHIELD REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT. BATTERY REPLACED DUE TO ACID LEAK. WHATS NEXT? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVING 65 MPH AND TOWING A BOAT ON INTERSTATE WHEN TRANSMISSION "WENT OUT" (UNDER 50,000 MILES) ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION. EMPLOYEE OF DEALERSHIP ADVISES GM HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS OVERHEATING BUT NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETINS. PURCHASED NEW TRANSMISSION WITH SUPPOSEDLY "CORRECTED" PROBLEM. NEED HELP TO SEE IF GM WILL HELP COVER ANY COSTS WITH PROBLEM THEY WERE AWARE OF. *AK

PLEASE NOTE THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN STEERING THAT ALLOWS STEERING PRESSURES TO CHANGE WHILE TURNING WHEEL, IT IS AN ODD FEEL THAT IS NOTICED AT LOW SPEEDS

THE DELCO FREEDOM 676 BATTERY POST BREAKS OFF, DELCO AND DEALER ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT NEITHER WOULD ADMIT THIS UNTILE I INFORMED THEM A CAR BATTERY STORE DEALER HAD MADE ME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. ONE MONTH LATER I RAN INTO A LADY WITH THE SAME BATTERY AND PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS GETTING THE STANDARD ANSWER UNTIL I SHOWED UP. IT WAS AT THAT TIME I LEARNED FROM HER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM HAD A PROBLEM THE DEALER WAS AWARE. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY RECALL INFORMATION IN EITHER CASE. *AK

VEHICLE STEERING WOULD BE VERY UNSTABLE AND GIVE WAY IN TURNS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND WOULD BE TIGHT IN A LEFT TURN AND NORMAL IN RIGHT TURNS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD STEERING GEAR BOX. I LOOKED UNDER THE PLASTIC SHROUD FOR THE STEERING INPUT SHAFT AND THE LOCKING NUT WAS LOOSE. THIS STEERING PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS AS WELL, I DON'T HTINK THIS GEAR BOX IS THE ONLY CAUSE AND DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 1000.00 DOLLARS FOR A REPAIR THAT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *AK

THE FAILURE MANIFESTED ITSELF BY MEANS OF OVERSTEERING TO THE POINT OF LOSING TRACTION AND SKIDDING ON RH OR LH FRONT WHEEL DEPENDING IN WHICH DIRECTION I WAS TURNING. IT USUALLY HAPPENED AT APPROX. 30 MPH. IT IS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS "TAKING OVER" THE STEERING. THIS OCCURRED MANY TIMES UNTIL I HAD THE "STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR" REPLACED. ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY ARE LOOKING IN TO THE PROBLEM, BUT AT THIS TIME DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I FEEL OTHERVISE SINCE I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAPPENED. *AK

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT COMPLETELY BURNED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER) NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN ENGINE OFF. THEN SWITCH PARKING PAWL TO NEUTRAL, AND RESTART ENGINE. *AK

NO SUBBARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING AT 5 MPH IN FIRST GEAR ONLY. THE SUBURBAN WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER, A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING IN ALL GEARS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON 1ST THEN A VARIOUS OTHER PROBLES BEGAN OCCURING AS WE TRIED TO GET OUR VEHICLE HOME. WHEN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP WE WERE TOLD THAT THE #2 FUEL INJECTOR HAD STARTED LEAKING AND FILLED THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH GAS. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MONTHES LATER WHEN THE #5 INJECTOR STARTED LEAKING. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER TOLD US THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START ON FIRE. *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHILCE NOT TO START AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN, AND THEN PARKED, A SHORT DISTANCE FRON CONSUMERS HOME. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR BUT FOUND NO REMEDIES. NLM

STERERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JERK WHILE DRIVING. THIS FAMILY HAS THREE SUBURBANS ALL THE SAME YEAR/MODEL AND THEY WHERE ALL REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NLM

SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS PULLED, SEVERELY, TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. THE SALEMAN SAID AN ALIGNMENT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REALIGNED THREE OR FOUR TIMES, THE STEERING WHEEL SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE CASTOR ADJUSTED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THE VEHICLE STEERING CONTINUES TO PULL DANGEROUSLY TO THE RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON A ROAD (INTERSTATE OR LOCAL) WHICH HAS BEEN SLOPED IN THAT DIRECTION. THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY PULLS IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN OR ON THE INTERSTATE, IF THE STEERING WHEEL WERE TO SLIP OUT OF YOUR HAND OR YOU WERE TO LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A SECOND, THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE STEERING ALSO FEELS UNSTABLE AND VAGUE WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE ENGAGED BY ITSELF SPORADICALLY. ALSO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS, 3 SETS OF PADS WORE OUT FROM 8,000 MILES TO 48,000 MILES OF WEAR/ ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE HUB. ALSO, 2 BRAKE SENSORS AND 2 SETS OF BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MOST REPAIRS AND LABOR WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, OTHER REPAIRS WERE DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

STEERING SENSOR REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO STEERING JERKING AND DIRECTIONAL PROBLEMS, NOT ABLE TO RECTIFY, FINALLY CONSUMER HAD THE STEERING SENSOR TAKEN OUT TO REMEDY PROBLEM (DESIGN). *MJS