1997 Chevrolet Suburban Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · data through 07/12/2026

44Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System complaints

10.6%Of all 414 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering:hydraulic power assist system ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP64 · 15.5%

STEERING46 · 11.1%

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM44 · 10.6%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION36 · 8.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY27 · 6.5%

Share of the 414 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban overview page.

What owners report

“TRANSMISSION: TORQUE CONVERTER BLEW UP.....FUEL PUMP FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, WIRING OVERHEATED AND INSULATION MELTED OFF INSIDE FUEL TANK .....STEERING: ERRATIC WHILE MAKING…”NHTSA complaint 710314 — filed 08/21/1999

“FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE AND DRAMMATIC LOSS OF NORMAL POWER STEERING CONTROL WHEN ENGAGING IN TURNS. THE LOSS OF RESISTENCE RESULTS IN…”NHTSA complaint 708138 — filed 07/01/1999

“EA9901 ERATIC POWER STEERING; WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT OR MORE OFTEN ON CURVES THERE IS SLIP IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM…”NHTSA complaint 841500 — filed 06/30/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban have steering:hydraulic power assist system problems?

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban: 44 of 414 complaints on file (10.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban have in total?

414 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering:hydraulic power assist system category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.