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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Chevrolet Suburban has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 414 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Chevrolet Suburban owner complaints

Owners have filed 414 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban, describing incidents dated March 1, 1996 to October 5, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 104 complaints
  • Service Brakes 95 complaints
  • Power Train 47 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 46 complaints
  • Electrical System 40 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 37 complaints

Of the 414 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 414 complaints, owners report 16 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11363081 · Filed

    THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THE BRAKES WORE QUICKLY BUT WE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW QUICKLY UNTIL WE HAD ISSUES AND GOT THE REPAIR INFORMATION. NEW BRAKES ABOUT EVERY 4 MONTHS ARE NEEDED. ONCE THEY START WEARING THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE GONE WITHIN A DAY. THIS TIME I NEARLY RAN INTO SOMEONE THEY DETERIORATED…

  • ODI #11282816 · Filed

    I STOPPED TO GET GAS ANC CUT MY TRUCK OFF. I GOT BACK IN IT AND CUT IT ON AN DROVE ABOUT 30 YARDS I NOTICED A SMELL LIKE BURNING WIRES. SO I CUT IT OFF GOT OUT CHECKED THE OUTSIDE THE SMELL IS ONLY ON THE INSIDE. THEN I POPPED THE HOOD AN SMELLED THE SAME SMELL. I PUSHED IT AND PARKED IT. MY CLICKER…

  • ODI #10846449 · Filed

    MY 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN C-2500 IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AND MAKING ENGINE VERY "HOT". THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.I TOUCH THE ENGINE HOOD AND FEEL THAT IT'S VERY, VERY HOT. I JUST WENT HOME TO PREVENT ANY FIRE OR ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC SAID IT'S NOT ORDINARY FOR…

Read all 414 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban in 5 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS/FUEL LEAK

NHTSA #06E043000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2006 · HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Potentially affected: 88,303 vehicles

Owners notified October 18, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET FRAM FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA #03V159000 · Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer · NHTSA notice

Reported April 28, 2003 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 1,755,876 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 03023 · Owners notified June 19, 2003 · Vehicles built April 1, 1996 – August 31, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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 REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 03023.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

GM/REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH

NHTSA #03V093000 · Visibility — Rearview Mirrors/Devices — Exterior · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2003 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 507,171 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 03006 · Owners notified April 24, 2003 · Vehicles built May 1, 1996 – August 31, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Safety consequence

IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 03006. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Chevrolet Suburban model years

Check your 1997 Chevrolet Suburban VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Suburban at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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