FaultScore

1997 Chevrolet Suburban tire problems

28 of the 556 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban are about the tires — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 132,000 miles.

B

28

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Tires 14 50.0%
Tread/Belt 13 46.4%
Sidewall 1 3.6%

Tires across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1990 12 3.2%
1993 21 5.6%
1994 17 4.5%
1995 40 10.7%
1996 40 10.7%
1997 28 7.5%
1998 14 3.7%
1999 102 27.2%
2000 42 11.2%
2001 30 8.0%
2002 18 4.8%
2003 11 2.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 132,000 miles Cincinatti, OH Crash

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR B.F. GOODRICH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STILL HAS THE TIRE AND THE TREAD. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

NHTSA complaint #10200141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN TO BRIDGESTONE. THEY WOULD NEED THE TIRE TO BE SENT TO THEM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE SEPARATION. CONSUMER REFUSED TO SEND THE TIRE TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10127650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

TIRES

TIRE EXPLODED AT 40 MPH ON A CLEAR PAVED ROAD. *LA THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10050473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AT 40 MPH VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX 245/1675R.

NHTSA complaint #10044976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson Falls, NY

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX RADIAL A/T TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10032077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson Falls, NY

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 67 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. FIRESTONE, SIZE# LT 245/75R16, DOT# UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10032140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

TIRES

TREAD SEPARATED WITH NO WARNING ON HIGHWAY. TIRE PRESSURE AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED 80 PSI. DT

NHTSA complaint #768554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Humble, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREAD INTACT SEPARATED FROM SIDE WALLS & WHEEL, TIRES INSPECTED LAST MONTH DURING A ROTATION AND BRAKE JOB. *AK (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16) (DOT NUMBER: URBM053271 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA complaint #752508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederick, MD

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREAD ON THREE OF FOUR TIRES IS STARTING TO SEPERATE AND TIRES ARE CUPPING. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA complaint #748122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saugus, CA

TIRES

I PURCHASED THIS SUBURBAN USED FROM VALENCIA NISSAN WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE NEW AT THAT TIME. ON THE INDICATED DATE, I WAS TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH, THE TRUCK STARTED TO RATTLE THEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. I SAFELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER. I HAD MY WIFE, 4YR OLD & 2YR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IN THE SAME FASHION THAT THE RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES DID. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS SET OF TIRES WAS ALSO UNDER RECALL. I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD CALL ME REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: V611B1A TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

NHTSA complaint #746015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, UN

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 8 FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES LT24575R16 BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION, BULGES AND BELTS COMING THROUGH TIRE, ONE OF THE TIRES ONLY GIVE 5 MILES BEFORE IT POPPED, BRAKE LINE LEAKAGE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (4/00).

NHTSA complaint #558868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomfield, NJ

TIRES

TIRES(NO MAKE OR SIZE) ARE WEARING AND ARE CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, DEALER ROTATED AND ALIGNED TIRES, FRONT WHEEL COVER WAS LOOSE, DEALER FASTENED THE WHEEL WELL FLAP. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomfield, NJ

TIRES

TIRES(NO MAKE OR SIZE) ARE WEARING AND ARE CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, DEALER ROTATED AND ALIGNED TIRES, FRONT WHEEL COVER WAS LOOSE, DEALER FASTENED THE WHEEL WELL FLAP. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD SEPARATED BELTS CAUSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LT 245/75R16 M+S) TIRES. NLM

NHTSA complaint #557230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elizabeth City, NC

TIRES:SIDEWALL

SEPARATION & CRACKING, EVEN ON SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA complaint #734368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

TIRES

TIRE ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE VEHICLE - U.S. GOVERNMENT OWNED TAG NO. I258844; TIRE IS IN EVIDENCE LOCKER; TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEED OF 65 MPH - SPEED SET BY CRUISE CONTROL; TREAD WRAPPED AROUND WHEEL AXEL, BUT DID NOT GO FLAT; LEFT REAR TIRE ALSO REPLACED AFTER INSPECTION AT TIRE SHOP; ALL TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHECKED AND WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)

NHTSA complaint #733217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT. Myers, FL

TIRES

WHILE ON VACATION HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT ON I75 JUST SOUTH OF ATLANTA. HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES FROM THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ATLANTA. THEY SAID THIS TIRE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST BUT IT CAME APART JUST LIKE THE OTHERS. IT WAS A VERY, VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE THE TIRES THAT BLEW OUT WERE PURCHASED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER ON US41 IN FORT MYERS, FL. WHICH IS MY HOME.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R/16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R/16 )

NHTSA complaint #733285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houma, LA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

LEFT FRONT TIRE BELT SEPARATED AT 65MPH, VEHICLE STOPED, TIRE REPLACED AND UPON EXAMENING REMAINING TIRES, RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF BELT SEPERATING. CONSULTED FIRESTONE DEALER IN HOUMA, AND WAS TOLD THE SEPERATION WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARDS. REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES ON 21/MAY/2000 WITH ANOTHER BRAND. THERE ARE 2 REMAINING TIRES ON VEHICLE WHICH WILL BE REPLACED THIS MONTH.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11B1A TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)

NHTSA complaint #733379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phenix, AZ

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FELT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND STOPPED TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. DISCOVERED THAT A SECTION OF TREAD (4X4) HAD COME OFF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND CONTINUED TO NEXT TOWN. WAS UNABLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT, AND CONTINUED TRIP WITHOUT SPARE. ON RETURN TRIP ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 AND PULLING A TRAILER, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. BECAUSE OF NO SPARE, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE AND TRAILER TOWED HOME. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX R42 ON A 1997, CHEVEROLET, SUBURBAN; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 245/75R16, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. TIRE HAS ABOUT 60% OF TREAD LEFT. HAS TIRES AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS AND PHOTOS UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA complaint #872786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfield, CA

TIRES

THE TREAD SEPERATED FORM THE TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

NHTSA complaint #731612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clinton, MD

TIRES

STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES JERKS OUT OF MY HANDS AS IF I'VE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. ALSO FEEL THE TRUCK BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING AS IF THERE IS A BUBBLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER ABOUT 7 TIMES WITH NOT RESOLUTION. HAD THE TRUCK CHECKED AT GOODYEAR DEALER 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. GOODYEAR SAID THE THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. SAID THEY WERE CUPPED OR CHOPPED. I PAID $700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TIRES AFTER DEALER REFUSED TO DO SO, BUT STILL EXPERIENCE BOUNCING SENSATION AT 60-70 MPH. NOTICED BOTH PROBLEMS THE DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )

NHTSA complaint #731055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Orchard, WA

TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH IN A "ROLLING BACKUP" THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON OUR SUBURBAN LITERALLY EXPLODED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY, AND FOUND A VERY LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE ROAD, AND NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND OF PUNCTURE TO THE TIRE. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE BLEW OUTWARD, AND LEFT A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 4" WIDE BY 7 INCHES LONG. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD, AND HAD APPROXMATELY 1200 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE 3 DAYS EARLIER, AND AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER ABOUT REPLACING THE TIRE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE WITH AN EXACT MATCH, SINCE THAT PARTICULAR LINE OF TIRES (STEELTEX AT) WAS A TIRE MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR GM TRUCKS AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. I CONTACTED THE GM DEALER (GILCHRIST CHEVROLET IN TACOMA WA) AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE. WITH THE RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE DEFECTS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY SUBURBAN. THE "STEELTEX AT" SERIES HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE NEWS REPORTS, BUT I KNOW OF ONE OTHER PERSON WHO HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON HIS GM TRUCK.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265R16 )

NHTSA complaint #729850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxford, MS

TIRES

SHAKING, VIBRATIONS, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VN11BAB TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA complaint #729978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chandler, AZ Crash 3 injured

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE BELTS CAUSING ENTIRE TREAD TO PEEL FROM CASING RESULTING IN SERIOUS ROLL OVER ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: 0500 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA complaint #728022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Livermore, CA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PE00020, STEEL TEX AT WHICH WERE ORGINIALS ON THE 1997 CHEVROLET SUBARBAN, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16, DRIVER ON AUG 20, 1998 AT 9,000 MILES AND PASSENGER TIRE ON JUN, 1999 AT 19,980 MILES; THERE WAS A LONG CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE WHICH SEEMED THAT TIRE WAS SEPARATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK FIRESTONE AT 245/75/R16

NHTSA complaint #868346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulsa, OK

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WAS DRIVING 65MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED OVER & CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD LOST TREAD. EXCHANGE TIRE WITH SPARE TIRE. TOOK TIRE TO FIRESTONE & RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT. DOES NOT HAVE THE TIRE OR DOT NUMBER. 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. FIRESTONE SIZE LT245/75R15 WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT. *AK FIRESTONE 245/75/R16

NHTSA complaint #867706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maryland Heights, MO

TIRES

I HAD THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS REPLACED, (DEALER STATED IT WAS NEEDED), AND EVER SINCE, I HAVE NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO COME FROM DRIVESHAFT. I HAD THEM ( DEALER ) CHECK, AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE TIRES, OR PERHAPS A BEARING. THIS NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO GETTING U-JOINTS, HOWEVER I ALSO HAD CUPPING ON A RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND THEY REPLACED A MODEL, OR SOMETHING. I SAW ON THE NTSA BULLETIN NO. 9610 OF JAN 4, 2000 , THAT 1997 SUBURBANS HAD A COMPONENT PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #717490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Fran, LA

TIRES

MICHELIN TIRES LEAK EVERYTIME THE WEATHER GETS COLD.

NHTSA complaint #781079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Chevrolet Suburban problems

← Full 1997 Chevrolet Suburban report