Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Fuel pump wiring inside the fuel tank short circuited, and could have caused my Suburban to blow up, since I had just filled it with over 30 gallons of gas that morning. My fuel pump had to be replaced, along with a new wiring assembly and float mechanism. My mechanic said the short circuit was more than likely due to over amperage of the fuel pump. That in turn, caused the wires inside the fuel tank to melt together and short out the ECM fuse, twice. I believe Chevrolet is very lucky that no one was hurt. I hope others are as lucky as I was! P.s. Power steering and brakes are also very poor!! Bad design...1997 was a lemon Suburban, and should have been recalled and designed all over again!
No accidents. Steering has begun instances of loss of control. Information provided during discussions with local repair shops indicates the recirculating ball steering box May have a tendency to slip. This is consistent with the intermittant failure mode experienced during driving. The vehicle is a 1997 Suburban c1500. It is not used to tow and has never been in an accident. We have owned it since new, all of the 104,000 miles have been driven by us, no children have driven this vehicle. The truck has been well cared for. We have experienced this 5 times, with the most recent being yesterday. No repairs have been made.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban. When the vehicle is fully loaded, the contact notices that the vehicle becomes difficult to steer. He has taken the vehicle to a mechanic 15 times and they have made numerous repairs, including various components of the steering unit, steering sensors, actuator, and also additions to the springs of the suspension system. All of the repairs have not adequately repaired the failures. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 8,464 and current mileage was 86,000. Updated 10/08/08. Updated 10/10/08.
Heater and ac controls went out twice. Factory replaced them @ $125, then 9 months later it went out again. Factory said it was under 12 months, but I had driven over 12,000 miles so it was not under warranty any longer. Windsheild wiper module goes bad. Wipers will suddenly stop or wont turn on. On 3rd module now. Brakes, constant grinding and weak stops. Have replaced rotors 4 times. Same results. Steering loses tension when steering to the left. Problem is still ongoing but has made me almost lose control several times.
While making a left turn vehicle lost power steering. The vehicle began to wander and jerked to the left. There was recall 03V527000 for the steering gear bearing, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN. This occurred due to the sensor controlling power assist (evo sensor/exhaust valve opening).
At speeds of over 10 miles per hour, the steering wheel jerks left and right intermittently. I then have to correct and/or oversteer to keep the truck on the road. This first began in 1999, at approx 30,000 miles on the vehicle.
Brakes had to be replaced every three to four months. Also, power steering was defective, and made the steering wheel difficult to turn. Consumer was aware if the brakes malfunctioning in conjugation with the steering problem.
I have owned a 86,93,95,and 97 Suburban. So Suburban steering is very familiar to me. The 1997 Suburban steering is unsafe. When the vehicle was first purchased the variable assist failed pulling an rv trailer. Whenever a vehicle passed our Suburban the steering had so much oversteer that if turned in any direction it would dart left and right either going off the highway or in the other lane. Several attempts were made to repair the steering,then lemon law was invoked. Two more attempts were made,the final one resulted in all of the service manager's steering components being removed from his 98 truck and placed on the Suburban. The steering was better but poor compared to the 95 and 93 Suburban. Today the vehicle is still scary to drive on rutted wet roads at speed. Just recently a chip failed in the steering when turning left, causing over correction into other lanes. …
NHTSA investigations
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…
Steering complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 105 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, 25% of the model year's 414 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Suburban steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Suburban steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.