At a glance

Reported mileage151,279 mi

LocationCa, USA

ColorGreen

Last listed price$2,400

Open recalls3

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

GMC

Model

Suburban

Year

1997

Trim

1500

Body style

Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

5.7L 8-cyl

Cylinders

8

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Assembly plant

SILAO, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO

Manufacturer

GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN 3GKFK16R5VG515681

⚠️ 3 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN 3GKFK16R5VG515681

Safety recalls 3

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS A…

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

NHTSA Campaign #06E043000 · 19/05/2006

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, G

NHTSA Campaign #03V159000 · 28/04/2003

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTAC

NHTSA Campaign #03V093000 · 07/03/2003

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 215 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 GMC Suburban, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

💥 1 involved a crash

Hydraulic 5 reports

🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Service Brakes 5 reports

🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Fuel System 4 reports

🔍 Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline 4 reports

🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Steering 2 reports

🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Visibility 2 reports

🔍 Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 215

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1997 GMC Suburban.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR LURCHES WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT, INTERMITTENTLY FEELING LIKE YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10794765

TIRES

PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY GOT UP TO SPEED OF ROADWAY THAT IS 50 MPH FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, SLOWED DOWN IT WENT AWAY, SO I STARTED TO SPEED UP AGAIN TO SEE IF IT CAME BACK, THEN BOOM MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE LITERALLY BLEW UP, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE ALMOST BLEW COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED …

Crash · NHTSA ODI #10758845

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE HEATER FAN WOULD QUIT AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD INSTANTLY TURN ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD BE ON THE ABS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. THEN SUDDENLY ALL OPERATIONS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WOULD BE UNPREDICTABLE WHEN THE HEATER FAN AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL AND…

NHTSA ODI #10593726

STEERING

STEERING SPEED SENSOR FAILS CAUSING THE STEERING TO SUDDENLY JERK WHILE TURNING UNDER SPEED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS HIT "SLIPPERY ICE". I HAVE REPLACED THIS ITEM 3 TIMES ON MY OWN AND THE SENSOR KEEPS FAILING. THE ONE IN MY CAR CURRENTLY IS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND WILL NEED REPLACING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370618

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SPRING OF 2008 WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THEN IN NOVEMBER 2008 THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE BOTH BRAND NEW FUEL PUMPS BUT HE WAS UNSURE OF WHY THEY BOTH FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK IN MARCH 2009. 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS ALL WITHIN ONE YEAR SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM TO US. THE MECHANIC ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. EACH TI…

NHTSA ODI #10265471

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10251576

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

PARKED TRUCK NEAR DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING TROUBLE STARTING IT, TRIED TO RESTART, IT DIDN'T. DEALER TOOK IT IN AND CALLED TO SAY THAT FUEL PUMP IS SHOT AND THEY HAD ONE IN STOCK TO REPLACE IT. THEN FOUR HOURS LATER THEY SAID THE WIRES TO IT WERE MELTED AND THE SENDING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP FOR THIS TRUCK IN 264…

NHTSA ODI #10226086

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WIRES WERE ROTTED OUT, WHICH BURNED OUT THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE…

NHTSA ODI #10219285

+ 207 more complaints on record.