1997 GMC Suburban Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

21Steering complaints

10.5%Of all 200 complaints

#2Most-reported category

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

How steering ranks on this vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP44 · 22%

STEERING21 · 10.5%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION21 · 10.5%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP13 · 6.5%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE12 · 6%

Share of the 200 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 GMC Suburban overview page.

What owners report

“WHEN DRIVING STEERING BECOME LOOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THERE WAS NO CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED A SPEED SENSORY.”NHTSA complaint 864322 — filed 06/27/2000

“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…”NHTSA complaint 861954 — filed 05/16/2000

“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…”NHTSA complaint 712367 — filed 09/28/1999

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

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 GMC Suburban have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1997 GMC Suburban: 21 of 200 complaints on file (10.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

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

200 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 15 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING 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.