RecallRepo

1997 GMC Suburban Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 GMC Suburban has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,263,047 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 268 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 03V159000 2003-04-28 1,755,876 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

VISIBILITY 03V093000 2003-03-07 507,171 affected
Defect

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

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.

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…

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
44
10crashes11injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
21
1fires
STEERING
21
1crashes
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
13
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
12
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
8
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
8
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
7
TIRES
6
1crashes
Total complaints268

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Car lurches when turning right and left, intermittently feeling like you are loosing control of vehicle.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2015-11-18

“Pulled out of my driveway got up to speed of roadway that is 50 mph felt a vibration in the front end, slowed down it went away, so I started to speed up again to see if it came back, then boom my front passenger tire literally blew up, the tread separated and the tire almost blew completely off…”

TIRES · reported 2015-08-23

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2014-05-21

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2014-05-21

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2014-05-21

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2010-11-15

“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 gmc suburban. The contact stated that the windshield wipers work intermittently. The manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 03v159000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer), although the failures were identical. The failure mileage…”

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER · reported 2008-12-08

“Spring of 2008 we replaced the fuel pump. Then in november 2008 the fuel pump failed again. The mechanic said they were both brand new fuel pumps but he was unsure of why they both failed to work properly when we took it back in march 2009. 3 new fuel pumps all within one year sounds like a…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2008-05-01

Defect investigations

Investigation DP00001 Opened 2000-01-31 · open

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

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

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…

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

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…

Investigation EA95026 Opened 1995-09-20 · closed 2001-09-20

POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE

POOR PERFORMANCE OF ABS BRAKES

Investigation PE98060 Opened 1998-11-13 · closed 1999-05-12

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.

Investigation PE99073 Opened 1999-12-03 · closed 2000-05-02

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 GMC Suburban as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.