Complaints
556
Crashes
27
Fires
15
Injuries
20
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Chevrolet Suburban Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#164 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:91,038 mi
Crash-related:8
#246 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:76,178 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#344 complaints
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
Avg mileage:81,410 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 64 | 8 | — | 91,038 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 46 | 1 | 1 | 76,178 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 44 | 2 | — | 81,410 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 36 | — | — | 70,696 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 27 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 20 | — | — | 83,150 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 14 | — | — | 114,624 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 14 | — | — | 87,800 mi | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 13 | 2 | — | 132,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 10 | 1 | — | 58,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 | — | 2 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | 40,616 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 5 | — | 129,052 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 6 | — | — | 180,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 6 | 1 | — | 12,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | — | 158,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | 1 | 129,200 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 5 | — | 1 | 77,400 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 4 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
64
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,038
Steering Defects
46
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
76,178
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
44
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
81,410
Automatic Transmission
36
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,696
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,150
Tire Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,624
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,800
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
132,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,616
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,052
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
180,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
12,000
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
158,000
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
129,200
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
77,400
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Chevrolet Suburban Years
1997 Chevrolet Suburban — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1997 Chevrolet Suburban has 556 NHTSA complaints, 27 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 64 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (64 complaints, avg 91,038 mi); Steering Defects (46 complaints, avg 76,178 mi); Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System (44 complaints, avg 81,410 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,576 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban include 27 crash-related reports, 15 fire reports, 20 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Suburban reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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