1997 GMC Suburban complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR ABOVE STEERING OPERATED POORLY. IT FELT LIKE CONSUMER WAS NOT CONTROLING VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. IT FELT LIKE A VOID. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR MODULE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

BATTERY RUPTURED, CAUSING ACID TO LEAK DOWN ON THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

LOST CONTROL TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE I-20 EASTBOUND IN CONYERS, GA. AXLE SEPARATED, AND REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. SUBURBAN FLIPPED 3X, SKIDDED ON PASSENGER SIDE & CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED, INCLUDING MULTIPLE HITS ON FRONT BUMPER. 1 PASSENGER AIRLIFTED TO MEDICAL CTR; 3 OTHERS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. ALL ALIVE & HEALING (THANK GOD), BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY & AXLE COULD SEPARATE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MJS

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS DO NOT WORK WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM OF THE SUBURBAN. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL SECURELY HOLD THE SEAT. I CONTACTED NHTSA TWICE AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE 3 TIMES AND MANY OTHER PLACES. FINALLY A GM ENGINEER IN THE SAFETY DEPT. CALLED ME TOOK MY COMPLAINT. HE TRIED TO PUT A SEAT IN A SUBURBAN AND SAID YES THEY DO NOT WORK RIGHT. THEY WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM IN HOUSE. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING MORE FROM THEM. THE VECHILE PULLED TO THE RIGHT FROM DAY ONE HAD IT ALIGNED PROBLEM CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE BUSTED OFF. THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND SHUT PROPER. HAD PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKES WORE OUT AT 26000 MILES AND EVERY 10 TO 15 SINCE. THE BRAKES AFTER 10,000 MILES WORE THROUGH THE ROTORS. THE PEDAL WILL OFTEN GO TO THE FLOOR OR THE VECHILE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT WORSE THAN IT ALREADY DOES. THE EGR VALVE ALSO FAILED AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT HOME. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON ANY OTHER GM PRODUCT. I TALKED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY SO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY DIDN'T CARE. THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO IT. I AM FILLING OUT ANOTHER FORM WITH THE CONTINUATION OF SAFETY PROBLEMS.

THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED IN TWO AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING INTO A CURVE @ 60 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. BUT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT I WOULDN'T OF BEEN ABLE TO STEER IT. MY HUSBAND WALKED IN THE HOUSE WHITE AS A GHOST. THE DEALER WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT IN 10 MILES ON A CURVING ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO. THE BRAKES WORE OUT AND WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME (FRONT) @ 36000 MILES. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, HAD BEEN 10,000 MILES SINCE LAST BRAKE JOB. THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED READJUSTMENT AGAIN AT 43200 MILES THE PEDAL KEPT GOING TO THE FLOOR AND WAS SOFT. 11/98 BEGAN HAVING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR FAN BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WILL RUN THE BATTERY DEAD CONSTANTLY. 1/99 BOTH FRONT AND REAR U-JOINTS WERE BAD, HAD REPLACED THE CAR WAS WANDERING EVEN WORSE THAN IT USED TO THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING AGAIN. 2/16/99 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE VECHILE AT 53174 MILES. I DROVE THE CAR 3 MILES INTO TOWN THE RPMS STARTED GOING UP TO 4000RPMS WASN'T SHIFTING I STOPPED AND PARKED I TRIED TO BACK UP IT STARTED WHINNING AND CLUNKING AND WOULDN'T MOVE. THREE MILES EARLIER I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE WITH NO HINT OF TROUBLE 3 MILES LATER I AM STRANDED WITH TWO BABYS. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED GM THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. I CONTINUED CONTACTING GM THROUGH OTHER AVENUES I CALLED ROY ROBERTS ONE OF THE VP EXPLAINED I HAD SOME SAFETY C

WE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND TOOK IT ON A TRIP FROM ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON TO LOLO, MONTANA. DURING THIS TRIP WE EXPERIENCED THE CLOCK INTERMITTENTLY STOPPING, THE RADIO SHUTTING OFF AND THE TRAILER BRAKES NOT WORKING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. AT THAT POINT THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FROM THAT POINT ON WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IN EXCESS OF 10 TO 12 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS. ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS WE HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 150 MILES, LEFT IT IN AIRPORT OR MOTEL PARKING AND TAKEN AN AIRPLANE TRIP ANYWHERE FROM 3 DAYS TO 7 DAYS IN LENGTH. UPON RETURNING THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD MAKING IT NECESSARY TO FIND SOMEONE TO GIVE US A JUMP. ON EACH OCCASIONS WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THEY THEY WORKED ON THE BRAKE CONTROLLER SAYING IT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER OCCASIONS THEY WORKED ON THE STEERING COLUMN SAYING THEY HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER TIME THEY FELT THE DELAYED RADIO SHUT OFF WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NONE OF THESE FIXES HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT STILL GOES DEAD WHEN WE DRIVE IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, SHUT IT OFF AND LEAVE IT FOR 3 TO 7 DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. IT IS INCONVENIENT NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE TIME INVOLVED IN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF THE VEHI

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH, VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, LOSING ALL POWER STEERING/BRAKES. ALSO, MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. BEEN TO DEALER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TWICE THE VEHICLE HAS RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY BRAKING BY THE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND NOT STOPPING UNTIL CRASHING INTO SOMETHING. BOTH OCCURANCES WERE AT SLOW SPEED (25MPH OR LESS) AND IN BOTH CASES THE ANTI LOCK PULSATIONS IN THE PEDAL WER

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. DURING RAIN IT'S HARD TO APPLY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. COMPLIES WITH INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA95026. *AK

BRAKES EXPERIENCED FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS. *YC

FUEL PUMP FAILED. YH.

FUEL PUMP FAILED. YH

THE REAR AXLE SEALS LEAK ONTO THE BRAKE LINING TO POINT WERE THE BRAKES WEAR BADLY AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS USELESS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES VEHICLE SKIDS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AND INCREASING SPEED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ALSO, REPLACED THE PROGRAM ECM, AND SOME METALS PARTS THAT FELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE SUBURBAN JUST SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THIS HAPPENS ON FLAT ROADS AS WELL AS HILLY ROADS, THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER IGNITION AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING. *AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH UPHILL WHEN THE SHAFT OF THE STEERING PUMP SNAPPED. CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC 97 TAHOE'S AND SUBURBAN. DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE POWER STEERING UNITS WITH THE EXACT UNITS . *AK

DUE TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX FREEZING UP, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL, WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN, DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK *TT

ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT.

WAS TRAVELING HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 55-60MPH WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO LEFT. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED & CORRECTED. MECHANIC ALIGNED THE WHEELS. NOW WHEELS PULL TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. GMC SAID COULD NOT HELP UNLESS VEHICLE HAS BROKEN DOWN. *AK

REAR SELF ADJUSTER INOPERABLE FROM FACTORY, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR AND COMPONENT FAILURE.

LEFT REAR BRAKE SELF-ADJUSTER INOPERABLE FROM THE FACTORY. INADEQUATE REAR BRAKING CAUSED PREMATURE BRAKE SYSTEM WEAR AND FAILURE INCLUDING FRONT DISC PADS, WARPED FRONT DISC ROTOR, WORN REAR BRAKE DRUMS AND SHOES, AND ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY SERVICE OR SAFETY RELATED DEFECT.

LEFT REAR BRAKE SELF-ADJUSTER INOPERABLE FROM THE FACTORY. INADEQUATE REAR BRAKING CAUSED PREMATURE BRAKE SYSTEM WEAR AND FAILURE INCLUDING ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.

STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OFF OF ROADWAY.

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. OWNER HAS HAD THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE ROTORS , AND THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKES FAIL CONTINUALLY CAUSING LOSS TO STOPPING DISTANCE CONTROL, PULSATION AND PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.

ERRATIC STEERING WHEEL BEHAVIOR.

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; ON DRY ROAD CONDTIONS WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE PULLS THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR VEHICLE BEING TOWED BEHIND, THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE WILL LOCK UP. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE AUG 0F 97. DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES , WENT TO DEALER, REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER THIS REPAIR, DEFECT WAS STILL OCCURRING WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REARENED A ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX 40-45 MPH. ,BRAKES COMPLETLEY FAILE. ,NO ABS WARNING LIGHT. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES. DEALER ALSO REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

RIGHT FRONT GOODYEAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT SIDEWALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL MANNER, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTINUED HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED ON 11/17/97, ALONG WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK *SLC

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS KICKS IN FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AND THE TRUCK WONT STOP. *AK

STEERING BOX CONTINUALLY FAILED.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING SOMETHING CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO TWITCH FOR LESS THAN A SECOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS DUE THE VES (VARIABLE EFFECT STEERING). THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED END OF AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY RUNNING HOT CAUSING IT TO MELT WIRE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY.

SHOCKS REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE BOUNCING WHEN CROSSING DIPS IN ROADWAY.

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT AND ALSO AT INTERVALS TO THE LEFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE BRAKE CALIPERS, BUT FOUND NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER SITTING IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR 10-12 HOURS. *AK

THE ENGINE HAS MADE A TAPPING/KNOCKING NOISE ALMOST SINCE NEW. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED ABS BRAKES, STARTED PULLING RIGHT WHEN HEATED; PULLS LEFT WHEN COLD; PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKES WEARING FASTER THAN DRIVER'S:TOOK TO DEALER; CANNOT FIND PROBLEM; DID CHANGE PADS/CALIPERS & HAD PASSENGER WHEELS ROTATED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, RUNNING RPMS HIGH, WENT TO ACCELERATE & HEARD LOUD BOOM; APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT STOP SIGN & HEARD ANOTHER LOUD BOOM. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT TESTED & BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT; HAD NO BRAKING POWER. *AK

OWNER SAYS THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING ON CLEAR ROAD AND GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. *AK

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE SIDE. *AK

ANTILOCK BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE (SINCE PURCHASE.)