1997 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE LEFT, AND VEHICLEJERKS SEVERELY. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT SLOWDOWN TO MODERATE SPEEDS, STEERING WHEEL SEVERLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING STEERING RESISTANCE HOLDS, RESULTING IN DANGEROUS OVERSTEER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

POWER STEERING KEEPS FLUCTUATING BETWEEN FEELING TIGHT AND SLOPPY. AT CERTAIN POINTS THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE PULLED FROM MY GRASP, AND OVERSTEERING OCCURS. STEERING ALSO SOMETIMES MAKES A MOANING NOISE. ALSO, BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. LAST TIME I HAD BRAKES REPLACED AT DEALER, I HAD TO RETURN 5 TIMES TO HAVE THEM CORRECTED. I WAS TOLD SHIMS BROKE OFF THE FRONT PADS AND WERE BINDING. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I COULD SEE THE ROTORS GLOWING BLUE AND THE BRAKES SMELLED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING, THEY WERE ALSO MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN THEY WERE WARM. *AK

FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE AND DRAMMATIC LOSS OF NORMAL POWER STEERING CONTROL WHEN ENGAGING IN TURNS. THE LOSS OF RESISTENCE RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE OVERSTEER WHICH, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IS VERY DANGEROUS, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO DROP A WHEEL FROM PAVEMENT. MY WRITING IS PROMPTED BY: 1) EXPERIENCE WITH MY SUBURBAN; 2) A CALL TO ME TODAY FROM A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY VEHICLE WHO INFORMED ME HE HAD ANOTHER BAD ONE, IDENTICAL TO MINE; 3) I DROVE ANOTHER SUBURBAN OF THE SAME VINTAGE & MILEAGE WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THOUGH ANECDOTAL, THE MULTIPLE OCCURANCES IN VEHILCES WITH WHICH I AM ACQUAINTED RAISE A COMPELLING QUESTION ABOUT A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

WHEN MAKING A TURN THE WHEEL LOOSENS UP AND THEN WILL KICK BACK IN . *AK

WHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING CORNERS STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE, AND DRIVER LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS CHANGED THE ECM CHIP AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT 35 TO 40 MPH. *AK

EA9901 ERATIC POWER STEERING; WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT OR MORE OFTEN ON CURVES THERE IS SLIP IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

STEERING GOES SOFT UNEXPECTEDLY IN TURN, RESULTING IN TENDENCY TO OVERSTEER, POSSIBLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

BATTERY LEAKING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *YC

SECOND TIME THAT FUEL INJECTION FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND CAUSE CANNOT BE FOUND. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

IE98079, WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE "TOO LOOSE" WHICH MAY RESULT A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

STEERING FRONT SENSOR HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

I PURCHASED MY 1997 3/4TON 4X4 SUBURBAN IN OCT 97. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS HAVING IT,IN DECEMBER, 1997 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES SQUEAKING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS. THEN 2MONTHS LATER,IN FEBRUARY, 98 SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I BECAME CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVERY 2-3 MONTH SINCE, AND WE ARE NOW IN APRIL, 99 AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. LUCKY TO GET 1-2 THOUSAND MILES ON THE PADS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES FOR THIS. DEALER WAS CONCERNED AS TO WHY THEY WERE WEARING SO QUICK. NOW 4-5 SETS IN THIS SHORT OF TIME. THE LAST TWO TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THEM I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEM STILL SQUEAKING, AND I WANTED TO HAVE FIXED. NOW ADDED TO THIS PROBLEM IS THE FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, AND WHEN IT IS RAINING OUT THE VEHICLE HOPS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP. IT IS VERY SCARY. THIS IS NOW A MAJOR CONCERN, AND I AM AFRAID IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. IM MARCH ,99 I BROUGHT BACK TO SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE SQUEAK, PULL OF THE FRONT END. WHEN I LEFT THAT DAY VEHICLE HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD CONTACT GMC REP.HAVE HIM COME OUT MAYBE HE COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS ON MAR3,1999. I WAITED TILL APR 8,1999, DORIAN TAFT GMC REP. CAME OUT. I REQUESTED IN WRITING THAT I BE PRESENT WHEN HE WAS OUT SO WE COULD DISCUSS MY CONCERNS. I WAS NEVER CALLED, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER WORK SPOKE TO THE S

PREMATURE DISC BRAKE FAILURE AND VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT .

THE SEAT BELTS IN THE THIRD ROW OF THE SUBURBAN DO NOT SELF ADJUST. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE AFTER MARKET SEAT BELTS, INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PUMP, TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT, RESULTING IN STALLING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE TWICE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRES & BEING OVERLOADED. ALSO, FUSE BOX CAUGHT FIRE TWICE & HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP OVER 4 TIMES DUE TO THE REAR AXLE LEAKING. MECHANIC HAD THEM REPLACED. *AK

THE BRAKE PADS HAD WORN DOWN EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING GRINDING NOISES, LIKE METAL TO METAL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER'S TO CHECK & HAVE THEM REPAIRED/REPLACED. *AK

HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 6 COMPLAINTS DIERCTLY CONNECTED WITH FRONT STEERING, CONTROLABILITY, POOR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS AND 2 INSTANCES OF TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE HAS 2 TIMWES SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH INSTANCES OCCURED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ANDNO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT A CHEVROLET DEALER'S YARD AND CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION HAS STATED THAT NO PROBLEM EXISTS AND THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I HAVE REFUSED. NOW I HAVE DETERMINED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH TEXAS MOTOT VEHICLE DIVISION AND PURSUE THE ;LEMON LAW" BECAUSE CHEVROLET HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE OR TAKE ANY ACTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT ONTO ANOTHER LANE. SOMETIMES WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER LANE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 17 TIMES AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS CLOSED THE FILES ON THE SUBURBAN. *AK *ML

FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKE AND STEERING.

BRAKE ( MASTER CYLINDER ) FAILED. *YC

REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT.

SEAT BELT FAILED.

CD PLAYER / RADIO FAILED. *YC

BATTERY FAILED. YH

BRAKES FAILED,DIFFERENT DEALERS ATTEMPTED DIFFERENT REPAIRS BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN CORRECTED, ONE ACCIDENT RESULTED DUE TO FAULTY BRAKES. YH

AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR FAILED TWICE, FIRST FAILURE AT TIME OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. *YC

HOOD LATCH IN CAB FAILED. YH

VEHICLE HAS A STEERING DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER. YH

FAILURE/ LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING OR CHANGE OF STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT.

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DIESEL FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND THE TRUCK TURNED OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE REARENDED A CONVERSION VAN. UPON IMPACT WITH THE VAN, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE CONVERSION VAN WAS STATIONARY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY

TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED / WARRANTED AFTER LITERALLY EXPLODING. THERE IS NO OTHER BRAND TO CHOOSE FROM FOR THIS SIZE AND STYLE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE GM'S WARRANTEE RATIO OF THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT AND, IF APPLICABLE, DEMAND THEY UPGRADE TO A "HEAVY DUTY" TRUCK CALIBER COMPONENT. *MJS

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THE INJURIES THAT CONSUMER'S WIFE SUSTAINED WERE NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN IN DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AND WILL KEEP TURNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING.THE DEALER STATES THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK

AS CONSUMER TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL SHE SOMETIMES REACHES A SPOT LIKE A( BLACK HOLE) WHERE SHE LOSES CONTROL MOMENTARILY. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME. *AK

ELECTRICAL CONNNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES TO MELT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE .

PULLS LEFT WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD OR WHEN BRAKING. MULTIPLE SERVICE ATTEMPTS. STILL NOT FIXED. DEALER CANNOT FIX, GM WON'T REPLACE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

CATEGORY: AXLE & DIFFERENTIAL; DESCRIPTION: FLUID LEAK AT FRONT LEFT DIFFERENTIAL GEAR BOX, VARIOUS FIXES HAVE BEEN TRIED INCLUDING VENT CONE NUT, GMS NUT, VENT TUBE, RESEAL GEAR BOX, TIGHTEN HOSE CLAMP, REPLACED SPLIT O'RING; NOTES: LOOKS LIKE THE DEALER WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THERE ARE 6 VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. ANOTHER FIX WILL BE TRIED ON 12/02/98 ON ANDERSON CHEVROLET SUPERSTORE BRANCH AT LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95032

ROOF RACK DESIGN DOES NOT OPERATE APPROPRIATELY, CONSUMER UNABLE TO SLIDE THE RETAINING BARS WITHIN THE ROOF RACK IN A NORMAL FASHION.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER VEHICLE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN WET CONDITIONS, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD OCCUR. ALSO, WHENEVER BRAKES WERE USED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UNTIL VEHICLE REACHED 5-10 MPH, THEN THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK-UP. AFTER THE LOCK UP, THE SYSTEM WOULD POP LOOSE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK *ML

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN WET CONDITION THE BRAKES WOULD DELAY IN STOPPING. ALSO, WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE USED IN AN EMERGENCEY SITUATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GO UNTIL VEHICLE CAME TO 5-10 MPH THEN IT WOULD GRAB, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK-UP. AFTER THE LOCK-UP, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD POP LOOSE WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, THE WIRING IN THE FUEL TANK MELTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK