1997 Chevrolet Suburban LT 4WD from North America - Comments

Exceptionally little, never failed to start, never needed to be towed, no major components replaced.

Replaced: (2) alternators (warranty), tranny had a minor repair at 89,000 miles (warranty).

Replaced front brake pads at: 36,000, 81,000 (turned rotors) & rear shoes, at 120,000 new rotors ($52 each) + pads.

Replaced plugs, oxygen sensor, distributor cap & plug wires at 120,000 miles.

New Michelin LTX tires at 120,000 (3rd set since new).

Love my Burb. 3rd one I have owned. Previous Mercedes 300E, Lexus LS400 were great cars with maintenance costs through the ceiling. Suburban maintenance is non existant compared to my 2 previous cars.

Comfort, room & reliability are the Burbs strongest points. OK, I sound like an ad, but this is truly an honest American pleasure to own, drive & feel safe in.

Regular fuel helps keep running costs within bounds. Power is OK & the 2001 has a lot more engine.

I have a '97 Suburban; I bought it used in Oct 2001. It had 90,000 miles on it; driven mostly on the Interstate back and forth from Ky to FL, never towed anything. (I know as I had a tow bar installed, to pull a popup camper.) So far it hasn't been towed and probably won't, (see below.) So far I have put $3,000 into it and it is still malfunctioning. Wiper module failed ($240), Rear end lost most of lube: (service $168), manifold gasket replacement ($288), now the oxygen sensor is (according to code) is bad & dealer wants $120 just to look.

Tranny chewed itself up at 96,000 miles (without ever having towed ANYTHING). Had it rebuilt; lasted 8,000 miles/5 months. Rebuilt again (warranty) ; two weeks later planetary is whining like a banshee - rebuilt a third time. One month later; sounds like a crippled jet. They don't know what to do! They offered to give me credit on all parts that I had paid for on original repair ($775) toward a 'brand new' GM factory built tranny. I would only have to pay $1400 (in addition to the $1800 I already gave them.)

This vehicle is supposed to be able to pull at least 5,000 lbs worth of trailer and it can't even pull itself carrying me and my teenage daughter and maybe 20 lbs of groceries.

I baby this truck (at 14 mpg, I can't afford to get on it!) I could see the tranny going all to pieces if I were pulling logs out of deep ditches over rocky ground, but this piece of junk never gets over 2800-3000 rpm on level (paved) ground.

I had an '89 Burb that went 300,000 miles before a double semi saw fit to run me into guardrail on PA turnpike and keep going. A mechanic friend in Michigan told me that GM started 'skimping' on tranny parts beginning with the '96 truck series. I believe it.

I would strongly recommend that prospective buyers of this class vehicle look at the big Dodge's now that they are offering 7 years/100,000 miles on their powertrain. It's no surprise that GM will not offer the same warranty on their vehicles.

Bought a 97 Suburban 4x4 this past Summer with about 100,000 miles on it. It is the middle of December now and the repair bills total over $5,000. A hairline fracture in the transmission cost $2,800. Two oxygen censors had to be replaced, at about $500 total. Now the encoder for the 4x4 high gear is out and will cost almost $700. Other repairs have totaled around $1,000. The vehicle is great for the road and feels safe, but it is putting me in the poor house.

From my experience with Chevy vehicle, all these problems with transmissions is caused with poor maintenance. I have over 130,000 on my Chevy and I have had no problems. Out of countless Chevy owners I know, the problem all stems around not having your transmission fluid changed regularly.

We are supposed to change the tranny fluid???

I have been driving a 1993 1500K for over 10 years and love the vehicle however I have had to do some major repairs. Seems that there was a problem with the torque converter so got a new trans at 83,000 miles. I don't think that there is another vehicle out there that is more comfortable for long road trips and that makes it worth doing whatever is necessary to keep the truck on the road. GM upgraded cloth interiors wear like iron and can't complain about either my 1984 year old Jimmy or my Suburban.