Complaints
268
Crashes
22
Fires
4
Injuries
28
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 GMC Suburban Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#144 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:61,257 mi
Crash-related:10
#221 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:96,000 mi
Fires:1
#321 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:80,000 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 GMC Suburban.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 44 | 10 | — | 61,257 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 21 | — | 1 | 96,000 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 21 | 1 | — | 80,000 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 13 | — | 2 | 132,200 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 12 | — | — | 50,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 8 | — | — | 90,723 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 7 | — | — | 89,960 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | 1 | — | 150,619 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 5 | — | 120,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 5 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
44
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,257
Automatic Transmission
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
96,000
Steering Defects
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Fuel Pump
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
132,200
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,000
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,723
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,960
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
150,619
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 GMC Suburban. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other GMC Suburban Years
1997 GMC Suburban — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 GMC Suburban reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1997 GMC Suburban has 268 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 44 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 GMC Suburban?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (44 complaints, avg 61,257 mi); Automatic Transmission (21 complaints, avg 96,000 mi); Steering Defects (21 complaints, avg 80,000 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 GMC Suburban?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,446 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 GMC Suburban?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 GMC Suburban include 22 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 28 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 GMC Suburban have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 GMC 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 GMC 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 GMC Suburban reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 GMC 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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