Most common 1997 GMC Suburban problems
Share of the 200 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Suburban complaints by model year
Best Suburban years: 2001, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 1999, 1995, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
1997 GMC 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 GMC Suburban:
Battery leaks acid
Odi has received 21 complaints where owners allege that the standard GM factory supplied ac delco battery case failed, resulting in the leakage of sulfuric acid.of the 21 complaint vehicles, six suburban, three tahoes, and one yukon owner(s) complained about a loss of brake fluid from deterioration of the right frontbrake line as a result of sulfuric acid contamination.the remaining 11 complaints pertain primarily…
Erratic steering boost while driving
Alleged that the variable effort steering unit intermittently provides full boost tot he power steering gear at moderate to high speeds.
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.
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 GMC Suburban owners say
Brakes all 58 →
Dt: the contact owns a 1997 GMC Suburban. The contact was calling in reference to NHTSA campaign recall 05V379000 concerning ABS brakes. The contact stated that she was receiving a false reading with ABS brakes, and her state and model year was not included in the recall. The contact has been having this problem since early summer of this year around May or June. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, and they needed to replace the front hub. The contact disconnected the ABS system from both of the front tires and was no longer having this problem, but it will need to be repaired before winter. The ABS would activate while braking at slow speed which resulted in extended stopping distance.
ABS brakes do not and have not worked properly since this vehicle was first purchased (still original owner). Speed sensitive steering does not and has not worked properly as well. Thousands of dollars $$$ have been spent at the original dealership and at qualified automobile service repair centers continually replacing parts and sometimes the same parts of the years, this continues to this day even though the Suburban is in excellent condition and well taken care of. This includes master cylinder, brake pads, cylinders, etc. This braking defect seems to be experienced by many owners of the 1997 GMC Suburban c1500. Why hasn't something been done by GM engineers to locate and fix this problem?
Steering all 39 →
The ignition switch started to fail while driving. First the heater fan would quit and the ABS light would instantly turn on, and the cruise control would fail to operate. When the ABS light would be on the ABS would fail to operate. Then suddenly all operations would go back to normal. It would be unpredictable when the heater fan and the ABS would fail and come back. Then yesterday, the Suburban started and died 3 seconds after starting. I restarted the Suburban and all seemed good. I put the Suburban in drive and rolled at about 5 MPH and the truck died. I stopped and put the Suburban in to park and restarted. Placed it into drive and made it home. When I got home, I turned off the Suburban and tried to restart it. It would crank but not fire the engine. The radio and heater and all other electronics would operate as normal, but the dash lights would not turn on I.e. …
Steering would pull to right. Took vehicle to dealership and mechanic repaired it, but currently vehicle was pulling to left. Steering sensor was replaced. Had an accident due to steering problem. Steering went right, and vehicle hit curb. Then, spun around, backwards. Air bags did not deploy. Vehicle went across 4 lanes. Axle broke , and vehicle tumbled down a hill.
Transmission & drivetrain all 24 →
1997 GMC Suburban- multiple engine & transmission failures. At 60,000 miles, vehicle began to shift hard. Returned to shop for diagnosis and repairs several times for work. Finally, while driving the vehicle in city traffic, the transmission failed compeletly. Required valve cover and transmission rebuild @ cost of $2,000. On December 27 '03, had to replace the radiator. On jan 17 '04, discovered that there was no antifreeze in new radiator. Returned to mechanic who replaced the radiator. Said the intake manifold needed to be replaced. Cost: ~$600. Took to another mechanic for second opinion. Same diagnosis. Both state that GM is aware of both problems, however, they will not cover the costs of repairs or replacement. Additionally- replaced alternator two times; replaced water pump two times; replaced the master cylinder in fall 2003.
Automatic transmission-driving down the interstate on vacation when a cloud of smoke was noticed out the rear of the Suburban. Pulled over to the side of the road to find transmission fluid sprayed all out of the over flow tube. I was told that too much pressure was built up and the suburbans are known for that. Filled it back up with transmission fluid and the transmission continued to slip. Had to give up the vacation and get a tow back home. Fluid had sprayed all over my vehicle and vehicles behind me. It was extremely hot. Luckily I got it shut down before a fire caught. Had to replace the transmission at a heavy cost.
1997 GMC 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 GMC Suburban a good car?
Based on 200 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Suburban rates avoid: 3.2× 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 GMC Suburban?
The brakes — 58 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the steering (39) and transmission & drivetrain (24).
How many recalls does the 1997 GMC Suburban have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 GMC 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 GMC Suburban?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1995, 1997 and 1996. See the full GMC Suburban years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 GMC Suburban problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 17% 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.