10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,238 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 GMC Suburban steering problems

steering problem

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1997 GMC Suburban Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

May 212014

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. the "service engine soon", "brake", "air bag", "ABS". the ignition switch has failed on it and now sits in my driveway.

- Belgrade, MN, USA

problem #20

Nov 152010

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 185,000 miles
Steering speed sensor fails causing the steering to suddenly jerk while turning under speed. It feels like the front wheels hit "slippery ice". I have replaced this item 3 times on my own and the sensor keeps failing. The one in my car currently is experiencing the problem again and will need replacing.

- Rogers, MN, USA

problem #19

Aug 312000

Suburban 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
In August of 2002 my 1997 GMC Suburban started to to slighty loose control of the power steering while turning to the left. Over the years the lack of control of the power steering while turning to the left has increased as well as driving straight down the road. It is a very scary feeling but over the time I myself have learned how to handle it. I have notified GMC of the problem but they said my model is not under a current recall for this problem. I have found where some GMC models have been recalled for this problem. GMC is aware of the problem yet they ignore the problem. I have a terminally ill husband so I cannot afford to go out and buy a new or used vehicle. I love my GMC Suburban so I always wanted to purchase a new one or even maybe a GMC Yukon. Yet with the distrust I have with GMC about fixing problems they know about I would have second thoughts about such a purchase. I have a fifteen year old son whom is learning to drive and it is a very scary situation when he is behind the wheel of a vehicle that might loose complete power steering control.

- Buena Vista, GA, USA

problem #18

Jun 252003

Suburban

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states they have the same problem as a investigation#PE98060 concerning steering.

- Emmett, ID, USA

problem #17

Aug 021997

Suburban

  • 5,000 miles
While driving, the steering became very hard to steer.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #16

Jan 071998

Suburban 4WD

  • miles
Consumer stated that the steering shaft bushing was replaced and the lower steering column bushing/bearing was replaced.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #15

Oct 012000

Suburban

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At higher speeds, steering would become erratic and loose causing vehicle to swerve without warning. Occurred once while turning a corner and vehicle went up over curb. Took it to dealer who replaced, at my expense, faulty steering wheel sensor which was switching from low pressure to high pressure and back at higher speeds creating erratic steering. Noted in your complaint database well over 80 complaints just on GMC vehicles alone. One would wonder if this difficulty could cause a vehicle to rollover or crash if the erratic swerve occurred while on a sharper curve and/or in differing weather conditions.

- Clarence Center, NY, USA

problem #14

Sep 192001

(reported on)

Suburban

  • miles
We have had the brakes serviced four times in the 2 years we owned it, 50,000 miles. The steering is erratic at high speeds.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #13

May 022001

(reported on)

Suburban

  • miles
While driving would turn a bit & steering would take off to the right or left, almost free wheeling. Been to dealership & informed steering sensor was the problem. Had low voltage coming from sensor which was defective & needed to be replaced.

- Geneseo, IL, USA

problem #12

Feb 042001

Suburban

  • miles
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.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 011999

Suburban

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving steering become loose, especially when turning. There was no control. Contacted dealer, and they replaced a speed sensory.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #10

May 162000

(reported on)

Suburban 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Steering sensor is bad, causing the steering wheel to become loose and jerks very hard when making a turn. Dealer contacted, evo sensor replaced at owner's cost.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #9

Sep 281999

(reported on)

Suburban 4WD

  • miles
Steering 'slips' when turning to the right and moving at a moderate rate of speed. Problem occurred in first year of ownership. Dealer tried to fix problem 3 times before finally succeeding. Problem has now occurred again, two years later. Have not yet contacted dealer.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #8

Mar 151999

Suburban

  • miles
PE 060, erratic steering boost while driving. Consumer reported that she had to replace steering sensor and would like for NHTSA to provide additional information.

- Canton, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 011998

Suburban

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
PE98060, while driving vehicle will steer to right or left unexpectedly which may cause a crash. Been to dealer 4 times, and dealer replaced the steering sensor 3 times. Problem still exists.

- Cocoa Beach, FL, USA

problem #6

Jul 201999

(reported on)

Suburban

  • miles
Steering sensor computer chip malfunctioned, causing steering to become very sloppy and loose as if steering was on ice.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

problem #5

Jul 081999

(reported on)

Suburban

  • miles
While driving at 20 mph or above steering operated poorly. It felt like consumer was not controling vehicle while making a left or right turn. It felt like a void. Dealer has been contacted.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #4

Jul 071999

(reported on)

Suburban

  • miles
While driving the steering wheel severely pulls to the left. Dealer replaced the sensor module which corrected the problem.

- Rixeyville, VA, USA

problem #3

Sep 121997

Suburban

  • miles
When driving at 50 mph and making a right or left turn and increasing speed, consumer lost control of the steering, and the dealer replaced the sensor. Also, replaced the program ECM, and some metals parts that fell of the vehicle. The dealer can't determine what's wrong with the vehicle.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #2

Mar 281998

Suburban

  • miles
Steering problems caused driver to run off of roadway.

- Unknown, UN, USA

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