Most common 1997 Chevrolet Suburban problems
Share of the 414 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Suburban complaints by model year
Best Suburban years: 2014, 2009, 2020. Years to avoid: 2015, 2021, 2023, 2022, 2024. Compare all years →
1997 Chevrolet Suburban recalls (2)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
Certain sport utility vehicles, Mini vans, and pickup trucks May develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on April 24, 2003.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban:
Erratic power steering assist while driv
The office of defect investigation (odi) has investigated allegations of power steering assist fluctuations in the subject vehicles.for details and a basis for the investigation conclusions, please see the closing report in the ea99-011 public file.odi has not identified a safety-related defect trend in the subject vehicle population.futher expenditure of agency resources on this subject does not appear to be…
Poor brake performance
Poor performance of ABS brakes
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
Battery leaks acid
There is no summary currently available
OEM hitch receiver platform cracking
The petition alleges that cracks in the hitch receiver platform May lead to separation of the trailer and loss of steering control
What 1997 Chevrolet Suburban owners say
Steering all 105 →
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.
I have lost steering and braking on 1996 6.5 turbo diesel Suburban three times now I drive normally. I am 42 and have a family of seven. When braking the power booster has zero pressure and it is very hard to stop and at the very same time all power steering is lost. I thought the power steering pump failed, so I replaced it, no change. Still no power brakes or steering. I replaced hydroboost unit braking and steering returned. I have had to replace hydroboost three times in 8 months. I completely removed the solenoid magnet from the power steering pump to test if the power steering pump causes the hydro boost unit to fail, I did this between hydro unit 1 an 2, I reinstalled magnet between unit 2 and 3 the first time I lost braking and steering there was no warning, I went to stop and had hard, non power brakes and no power steering. …
Brakes all 96 →
Dt: the consumer states 1997 Chevrolet Suburban has brake problems. This resulted in a crash, and there were only minor injuries. The brakes just started having problems for a couple of weeks. Before the consumer could get a chance to have the brakes checked, had an accident. The brakes were checked and fixed after the accident, and the mechanic at the dealership told the consumer that this was very common with corrosion build up. The consumer had to pay $1300.00 to fix the braking system. Prior to the accident the brakes were losing power, and it was difficult to stop. This was an intermittent problem. The consumer contacted GM about the problem with an e-mail, with no response. The consumer lives in a salt-belt state. The mechanic stated that there was a corrosion build up on the ABS sensor. A police report and an insurance report were taken. The speed was around 20 MPH. …
First time applied brakes at intersection, extented stopping. Brakes checked OK, replaced brakes anyway. Six mo. Latter, second time, driving 25 MPH. Dry, clean paved road. Applied brakes, anti-lock comes on, brakes failed, caused accident. Traveled at least 2 an a half car length before inpact. Suburban checked, only thing found was brake oil read at 190 degrees, after driving 1 mile.
Transmission & drivetrain all 47 →
The torque converter clutch relay in the transmission overheated, causing excessive pressure, which caused the transmission fluid to push the dip stick up out of the dipstick tube. Then the transmission fluid escaped. Traveling down the undercarriage of the vehicle, the transmission fluid hit the exhaust manifold and ignited into a flame that burned along the undercarriage of the vehicle (including the steel plate under the gas tank) and extended two feet beyond the rear of the vehicle. We were forced to evacuate ourselves and our four children from the vehicle along side the highway. Four other vehicles were forced off the road as white smoke hindered their field of vision. The MIL indicator (I.e., check engine light ) had a code of p1870 (transmission slipping). …
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
1997 Chevrolet Suburban engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban a good car?
Based on 414 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Suburban rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Suburban at the same age. It is one of the Suburban years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
The steering — 105 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hydraulic power assist system. Next are the brakes (96) and transmission & drivetrain (47).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Suburban?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2009 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2021, 2023, 2022 and 2024. See the full Chevrolet Suburban years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Suburban problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.