NHTSA Complaint #744880 — 1997 GMC SUBURBAN

ON A 400 MILE TRIP OVER EASTER WEEKEND, WE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD IN THE FIRST THROUGH THIRD GEARS. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS WE BEGAN DRIVING THE SUBURBAN AFTER A REST STOP. WE BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WE TRIED TO PASS VEHICLES OF ACCELERATE UP HILLS AND IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE OVERDRIVE WAS NOT ENGAGING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ONLY REPAIR SHOP IN A SMALL TOWN ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST. THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, (REPLACE FILTER, AND FLUID). I PAID $135 TO DO THAT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. THE WEEK OF APRIL 16TH, THROUGH THE ADVISE OF A GMC CUSTOMER REP, I TOOK THE SUB TO THE DEALER IN HOPES THAT A COMPUTER UPGRADE WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE UPGRADE WAS ALREADY DONE AND THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO WAS TO TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION TO FIND THE CAUSE. I DECLINED AND REQUESTED (THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND GMC) TO MEET WITH A GMC ZONE MANAGER. THEY HAVE YET TO REPLY. I FOUND LITTERALLY HUNDREDS OF THE EXACT PROBLEMS AT WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM/G/_GM. GENERAL MOTORS IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. *AK