Ten problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 1997 GMC Suburban. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Transmission "races" between 2nd and 3rd, then clunks hard to shift.
Harsh 1st to 2nd upshift; based on my research, gm has been aware of problem but has been unresponsive.
The front brakes of the Suburban has been replaced for the second time with raybestos (lifetime wear) brake shoes. My transmission started shifting very hard, as if someone had rearended the truck at a slow speed. I took it to aamco transmission's for repears. Aamco rebuilt the transmission, but did'nt fix the problem. After $2200. 00 and the fifth attemt to fix the problem I took it to a GMC dealer and they actually fixed the problem the first time for $308.
Vehicle is experiencing transmission problems continually requires repairing.
Transmission overheated (unknown reason per dealer) vented all fluid. Transmission had to be replaced.
No summary.
While driving at 55 mph vehicle is shifting very hard from first to second gear. Transmission has been replaced twice. Dealer can't determine the problem.
Example of problem, when the truck has run 50 miles or so on the freeway, stop at off ramp. The truck shifts hard from 1st to 2 nd when I pull away. This continues until I shut the truck off, wait a few minutes and start again. Then it is fine for a while and will repeat the same, sometimes weeks apart, more often in the summer months. My driving pattern is one of short trips, so I guess this is why my problem is sparodic. I have read many complaints one web sites about this problem with other gm cars and trucks,the code #1870 seems to figure in most cases, most people have had no luck with gm, and are stuck with bills of 2-3000 dollars. I hope you can check this out, seems to cover gm cars and trucks from the 80s-01. Thank's graham brown. Dt.
This happens only when the vehicle is completely warmed up. No safety defect.
No summary listed for above vehicle.