NHTSA Complaint #704231 — 1997 GMC SUBURBAN

WE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT AND TOOK IT ON A TRIP FROM ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON TO LOLO, MONTANA. DURING THIS TRIP WE EXPERIENCED THE CLOCK INTERMITTENTLY STOPPING, THE RADIO SHUTTING OFF AND THE TRAILER BRAKES NOT WORKING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. AT THAT POINT THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FROM THAT POINT ON WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IN EXCESS OF 10 TO 12 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS. ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS WE HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 150 MILES, LEFT IT IN AIRPORT OR MOTEL PARKING AND TAKEN AN AIRPLANE TRIP ANYWHERE FROM 3 DAYS TO 7 DAYS IN LENGTH. UPON RETURNING THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD MAKING IT NECESSARY TO FIND SOMEONE TO GIVE US A JUMP. ON EACH OCCASIONS WE HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THEY THEY WORKED ON THE BRAKE CONTROLLER SAYING IT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER OCCASIONS THEY WORKED ON THE STEERING COLUMN SAYING THEY HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER TIME THEY FELT THE DELAYED RADIO SHUT OFF WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NONE OF THESE FIXES HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT STILL GOES DEAD WHEN WE DRIVE IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, SHUT IT OFF AND LEAVE IT FOR 3 TO 7 DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. IT IS INCONVENIENT NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE TIME INVOLVED IN RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. THE DEALER INFORMED US THIS LAST GO ROUND THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT SPEND ANY OF THEIR TIME TO LOOK FOR A PHANTOM SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE REPORTED TO THEM THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DEPENDABLE FOR ROAD TRIPS THAT REQUIRE ANY NUMBER OF DAYS WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST SIT.