1997 Chevrolet Suburban transmission problems

Filed Aug 23, 2004 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · NJ

Tranmission failed after buying used at 75000 miles. I called gm and check for recall info. They advised me that the original owner brought it back after buying new and had the trans redone. Every 15000 miles the transmission broke again. Then it broke a third time. Fortunatley I had the extended warrenty and didnt have to pay the 2nd and third times. Thought it was the transmission place but after readind other complaints I see its the vehicle. When is gm going to fix this problem when someone dies> when you lose the gear there is a dramatic decline in speed and its hard to steer. Feels like the antilock system kicks in. I should know it has happened 3 times to me. Now im stuck with this junk.

Filed Jul 8, 2004 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · OK

I bought a used 1997 chevrolet suburban. It was in excellent-looking shape and low miles. I have had it now for 3 years. I have repeatedly had to have it worked on. I have replaced the alternator, battery, battery cables, and starter; and have had the transmission rebuilt twice. I also had to have the heater core replaced and the radiator worked on. I do not drive that much, and I have my vehicle serviced regularly. It's always needing work. I've had it for sale for a while, but can't sell it for even a small sum.

Filed Mar 27, 2004 · Locks, Steering · AZ

I own a1997 chevy suburban lt. We asked a local chevy dealer to fix the doors to close properly, which they claimed to do. I noticed that the door did not line up and they said they adjusted the strike plate. Evidently that means they used a sledge hammer. My wife was driving down the road and one of the locked doors opened up as she was driving down the road. Luckily my 4 year old son was in his carseat. It has happened twice. She could not reclose the door and so she tied it shut. I found that the door latch was still shut. I held the handle up and manually lifted the latch after which the door would close. Another saftey issue; while driving down the road the steering wheel jerks suddenly to the right. I live in a mountainous and occasional snow area. I worry that with the steering wheel jerking, and sometimes it has sent me towards the lane next to me, this could be a serious problem. I have also had the power steering pump replaced once after the shaft completly seperated from the pump while I was driving down a steep mountain with 7 boyscouts from a camping trip in the snow. Let me tell you if that had been my wife in the car she probably would have been down the side of the cliff. In 2 1/2 yrs. I have replaced the four wheel drive actuator, door handles, transmission, rear end seals and axle, front end, A/C everything,windshield wiper switch of some sort,brakes every 20,000 or so, they tell me the head gasket is bad,there is a whining sound I think is the fan clutch,and now it looks like its either the u joints or the limited slip clutches, hub or both. I do not feel that my wife and children are safe in this car. All lamb chevrolet of prescott valley az has said is they warranty their vehicles to 36,000 miles. They offered to sell me one of their nice new tahoes. Which he claims they have improved. Oh yea the sales price is 42,000. On a 36,000 vehicle because I am upside down on the car they sold me 2 years ago.

Filed Feb 27, 2004 · Brakes, Transmission · 12,000 miles · CA

Front brakes wore out prematurely at 12,000 miles. Since 1997 had been replaced seven times. Dealer and manufacturer were contacted, but problem had not been resolved. Also, automatic transmission failure.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · NC

"check engine soon" light comes on after short highway drive (about 30 minutes). Then transmissions shifts hard from 1st to second gear, associated with a hard clunk when finally it shifts. Dealer has replaced a "spring" with a heavier duty one, but fix is temporary. Code 1870 shows up as diagnosis at dealer. L60e transmissions are the culprit.

Filed Jan 7, 2004 · Transmission · 77,400 miles · OH · fire

The torque converter clutch relay in the transmission overheated, causing excessive pressure, which caused the transmission fluid to push the dip stick up out of the dipstick tube. Then the transmission fluid escaped. Traveling down the undercarriage of the vehicle, the transmission fluid hit the exhaust manifold and ignited into a flame that burned along the undercarriage of the vehicle (including the steel plate under the gas tank) and extended two feet beyond the rear of the vehicle. We were forced to evacuate ourselves and our four children from the vehicle along side the highway. Four other vehicles were forced off the road as white smoke hindered their field of vision. The mil indicator (I.e., check engine light) had a code of p1870 (transmission slipping). This code has been associated with hundreds of torque converter clutch relay failures in gm/chevy full-size pick-ups, suburbans, and tahoes (discovered by searching for "p1870" on the internet and queries at the federal safety agency website). Technicians have determined that the tcc relay is undersized and tends to overheat causing major transmission damage (in my case, a full transmission re-build was required - $2000 plus towing and rental car). Technicians say that there is an aftermarket tcc relay made by sonnax that, when installed, prevents this problem from occurring. This is a serious safety issue (just look at the black charring on the bottom of my gas tank shield) that caused great peril to my wife, four children, and myself. Gm needs to be held accountable to correct this potentially fatal failure.

Filed Dec 22, 2003 · Transmission · NE

Vehicle experiences grinding/rumbling while in highend torque situations (I.e. Going up slight grades not steep enough to cause downshift). Stops when I bump accelerator. Replaced u-joints, but did not fix. Was told by gm tech it was probably torque convertor failing.

Filed Jul 25, 2003 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · DE

Transmission shifts hard - need to be replaced for the third time. P1870 error code. This is a common problem according to this site andmany other internet sites. Gm technicians are all familiar and the only fix is to replace the transmission. Gm should be accountable for this - it appears to be a product defect.

Filed Jun 8, 2003 · Transmission · 132,370 miles · TX

Transmission binded in first gear and slipped in middle gears. It was determined there was coolant and/or water in the transmission and the color was a dark green/yellow color. When transmission pulled off there was much metal, bearings, and a 2 to 3 inch bolt from the valve body. Also found cracks in sunshell. Input drum and pump vain and clutch(es) needed replacing. In summary, it needed an overhaul.

Filed Apr 14, 2003 · Transmission · 4,200 miles · 00

The transmission failed to shift gears.