1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles, 15 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 14 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 17 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The part named most often is brakes, with 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by visibility (5) and electrical system (2). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 130,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes5 31%
- Electrical system2 13%
- Exterior lighting2 13%
- Steering2 13%
- Engine cooling1 6.3%
- Fuel system1 6.3%
- Seats1 6.3%
Example complaints
Brakes: “Brake failure due to rusted brake lines on 2 separate occasions. Around march 2008 I was traveling on the southern state parkway in long island, ny when I depressed the brake pedal and it went to the floor and a large cloud of smoke came out of the engine compartment which was caused by brake fluid hitting the hot exhaust manifold. The brake line had rusted through and caused a hole in the line which caused the brakes to fail. Only that particular line was replaced due to the high cost of replacing all lines from front to back. …”
NHTSA complaint #10469450, filed 2012-08, 132,000 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Side rearview mirrors.....electronic controller only moves the either mirror downward. Will not move either mirror left, right, or up. Have replaced this controller twice before for the exact same problem. One with the dealer and one on my own. Both times brand new parts. There is another recall for this item but apparently does not include my VIN. !!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10270193, filed 2009-05, 100,000 milesElectrical system: “When it began to rain, I turned on the wiper switch to have nothing happen but a soft buzzing noise. This has been ongoing and intermittent, since it began shortly after I purchased the vehicle in may of 2003. I now find there was a recall for this, but I was never notified and now will have to pay for the repair out of pocket. Gm recall no. 03023. Gm refuses to help as the recall has been closed , and their records indicate the repair was made. I owned the vehicle during that entire time. It was not repaired!”
NHTSA complaint #10335282, filed 2010-06, 139,000 milesExterior lighting: “Because of problems with the turn signal mechanism the wipers stop on there own at any given time and now the brake lights do not work at all, per the dealers inspection. No repairs have been done yet as I believe this should be a recall of a very serious matter!”
NHTSA complaint #10220378, filed 2008-03, 90,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
13% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 98,500 and 165,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban 1500 2WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Suburban 1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 12 | $5,600 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Chevrolet Suburban 1500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 8,250 | 3 | 5 | 17 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 32 | 17,000 | 1 | 5 | 17 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 17 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2011 | 80 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 17 | 67 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 53 | 67,500 | 0 | — | 17 | 51 · Typical | Stable |
| 2009 | 55 | 77,500 | 0 | — | 16 | 35 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 101 | 69,000 | 0 | — | 16 | 49 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 190 | 72,500 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 31 | 68,000 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 94 | 60,000 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 182 | 83,999 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 175 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 120 | 98,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 92 | 108,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 67 | 118,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 74 | 100,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 14 | 136,000 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 16 | 130,000 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 9 | 149,500 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 8 | 159,500 | 0 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 9 | 155,005 | 0 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Suburban 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by visibility with 5.
Has the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 get?
The EPA rates the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 (Suburban 1500 2WD, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 reported?
Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 130,000 miles and the middle half falls between 98,500 and 165,000 miles; 13% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.