1997 GMC Suburban Transmission and drivetrain Problems

“Automatic transmission-driving down the interstate on vacation when a cloud of smoke was noticed out the rear of the Suburban. Pulled over to the side of the road to find transmission fluid sprayed all out of the over flow tube. I was told that too much pressure was built up and the suburbans are known for that. Filled it back up with transmission fluid and the transmission continued to slip. Had to give up the vacation and get a tow back home. Fluid had sprayed all over my vehicle and vehicles behind me. It was extremely hot. Luckily I got it shut down before a fire caught. …”

“Example of problem, when the truck has run 50 miles or so on the freeway, stop at off ramp. The truck shifts hard from 1st to 2 nd when I pull away. This continues until I shut the truck off, wait a few minutes and start again. Then it is fine for a while and will repeat the same, sometimes weeks apart, more often in the summer months. My driving pattern is one of short trips, so I guess this is why my problem is sparodic. …”

“While turning corner in subdivision transmission would not shift into 2 gear. Jumped into 3rd gear and the truck jumped forward. Proceeded to drive on highway to get home and once slowed the truck continued to roar until jumping into 3rd gear. Once the truck was stopped, I had no reverse. I was told the reverse housing broke,which causes the gears to slip and this happens without any warning...no previous transmission slipping and is a common thing in this model Suburban . …”

“The front brakes of the Suburban has been replaced for the second time with raybestos (lifetime wear) brake shoes. My transmission started shifting very hard, as if someone had rearended the truck at a slow speed. I took it to aamco transmission's for repears. Aamco rebuilt the transmission, but did'nt fix the problem. After $2200.00 and the fifth attemt to fix the problem I took it to a Gmc dealer and they actually fixed the problem the first time for $308.”

“Normal highway speed I noticed a lot of smoke coming from rear of vehicle I stopped and heard a hissing noise under vehicle and saw oil spraying on the exhaust pipes near transmission it then caught fire put fire out I checked fluid level in transmission it was low help showed up with oil filled it back up continued home at slow speed approximately 50 miles later o.d. Started to slip then drive started to slip so I drove 30 MPH in 2nd was told that transmission was going out because of fluid loss out of vent tube”