Owners filed 52 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
9
0
0
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
1
0
1
Tires
5
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
3
0
0
0
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
2
1
0
1
Unknown or Other
2
0
0
0
Seats
2
0
0
0
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
2
0
0
0
Tires › Valve
1
0
0
0
Tires › Tread/Belt
1
1
0
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.
Defect. 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 APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
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).
Seats96V226000
Filed Nov 4, 199632,596 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Risk. IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor93V119000
Filed Aug 2, 1993341,364 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Risk. SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy. REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission93V016000
Filed Feb 1, 19931,702,880 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Risk. THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy. INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Tires
Filed Aug 19, 2020159,929 milesKY
I HAVE A SET OF HANKOOK OPTIMO 727 TIRES ON MY FAMILY SUBURBAN, AND ONE OF THEM BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT ONLY HAD 14,596 MILES ON IT. THE SIZE IS P235-75-15. ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN FEBRUARY 2016, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN MY GARAGE. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SUN OZONE DEPLETION, AND AGAIN, IT NEVER SAT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT HAD ALOT OF TREAD DEPTH LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERLOADED, AS I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN IT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 65, JUST SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE, KY, I FELT SOME VIBRATION FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN BOOM!, THE TIRE LET GO. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN HANKOOK TIRES, AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 4, 2010106,744 milesWA
FRAME WHERE STEERING BOX IS ATTACHED FAILED. FLEXING FROM NORMAL USE CAUSED THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO CRACK AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEPARATE THE STEERING BOX FROM THE FRAME IF LEFT UNREPAIRED. REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES ON 4X4 VERSIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING FOR SOME YEARS DUE TO THE HIGHER STRESS CAUSED BY THE FRONT AXLE AND THE USE OF OVERSIZED TIRES. IN THIS CASE THE SUBURBAN IS A 1/2 TON 2WD UNIT AND HAS ALWAYS RUN ON FACTORY SIZED TIRES. CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED JANUARY 2005 WITH 106744 MI DURING A REPAIR JOB FOR A LOOSE FRAME RIVET. CURRENTLY, DECEMBER 2010 AND 206000 MI., CRACKS HAVE FORMED ON ALL MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND REQUIRES A FRAME REPAIR KIT. REPAIR INCLUDES GRINDING AND WELDING OF CRACKS; AND WELDING ADDITIONAL REENFORCING PLATES TO STRENGTHEN THE AREA.
Tires
Filed May 2, 2010137,186 milesWA
TREAD SEPARATION AROUND 9/10 OF TIRE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. RUBBER SEPARATING FROM SAME. *TR
Tires
Filed Jul 14, 200811,976 milesNY
PEP BOYS FUTURA SCRAMBLER A/P TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. *TR
Tires › Valve
Filed Jul 9, 200851,000 milesTX
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VALVE STEM FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THE TIRE FLATTENED AND WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE VALVE STEM FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VARIOUS RECALLS PERTAINING TO VALVE STEM FAILURES AND CRACKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed May 7, 2003WY
THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD SEPARATED. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. THE SAME PART FOR THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR THE RECALL BRAKE PART AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS CLOSED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED DUE TO NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER RECALL 93V119000. *CM *SCC
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 24, 2003WA
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Oct 8, 2002CA
BRIDGESTONE LT 23585R16 DOTEP9JHND205 WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND DEFLATED, WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jun 24, 2002MI
WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, 2 LUG BOLTS SNAPPED OFF THE HUB AND ONE OTHER BOLT WAS LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO JACKKNIFE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD. THE TRAILER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IN A DITCH. THE REMAINING LUG BOTLS WERE MISSING THREADS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.(OHIO TRAFFIC REPOERT#10-90-210) *TT
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Mar 21, 2001UT
ON THE 18TH OF MAR 2001, AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND ENDED UP LYING FLAT ON MY BACK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE NO KIDS WERE SITTING BEHIND ME. A SINGLE GRADE 8 BOLT BROKE. A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 100K ON IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PERFORMANCE CHEVY IN SACRAMENTO CA) TOLD ME THERE WAS A CAMPAIN TO REPLACE THE BOLTS FROM GRADE 5 TO GRADE 8. APPARENTLY THE GRADE 5 LASTED LONGER THAN THE GRADE 8. THE DEALER HERE IN OGDEN SAYS THE VEHICLE IS TO OLD AND THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR MAKING THIS A SAFER SEAT. IF THIS HAD ACCURED WHILE DRIVING THERE ISNO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. I AM NOT A COMPLAINER BUT THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS WRONG. AND WHEN I GO TO SELL THIS VEHICLE HOW CAN I SAY IT IS A SAFE CAR. HOPE YOU CAN HELP,AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS, I CANT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.. PHILLIP WILLIAMS. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Filed Nov 9, 2000WI
ENGINE OIL COOLING LINES FROM ENGINE OIL FILTER TO ENGINE OIL COOLER WEAR AGAINST FRAME UNDER ENGINE, AND MAY CAUSE BAD ENGINE OIL LEAK . I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM TWO TIMES ONCE ON MY OWN TRUCK AND ON A FRIENDS TRUCK OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL YEAR AND GENERAL EQUIPMENT. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 26, 2000FL
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 45 AND ABOVE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Tires
Filed Sep 19, 2000LA
TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ONE TIRE SHOWED A SMALL "BALLOON" ON THE SIDEWALL. I REPLACED IT. THE NEXT DAY, A DIFFERENT GOODYEAR TIRE HAD MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE INTERSTATE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.50R15 )
Tires
Filed Aug 26, 2000WI
DEAR NHTSA, I HAD MANY TIRE FAILURES WITH MY FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES. I PURCHASED THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD 57,358 MILES ON 03/19/94. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES PER YEAR. ALL THE PREVIOUS TIRE FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS I HAD WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FOR PRORATED TIRE REPAIRS. THEY KEPT TRYING TO BLAME MY BLOWOUTS ON MY ALUMINUM WHEEL RIMS ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY PREVIOUS UNIROYAL TIRES. IN 1998 AFTER YET ANOTHER TIRE PROBLEM I SWITCHED TO MICHELINS, AND I HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE IN 8/99. AT THE TIME OF THESE PROBLEMS, I WAS CONCERNED AS TO THE AMOUNT OF BLOWOUTS I HAD, AND UNTIL THE RECALL CAME OUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OF SOME RELEVANCE TO YOU. I HAVE ALL MY ORIGINAL PAPERWORK FROM FIRESTONE. MANY OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES I HAD CARRIED IN TO THE STORE SO I DON'T HAVE EXACT MILAGE OF THE TIRES. I DO POSSIBLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE TIRES ON MY PROPERTY BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME EFFORT TO RETRIEVE AND FIND IT. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOT LONGER THAN FIRESTONE HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN. I AM ALSO GOING TO CONTACT FIRESTONE' S WEBSITE AND GIVE THEM THIS INFORMATION AS WELL. SINCERELY LISA R. KING( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 30, 1999CA
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO BE USED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT TO BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 30, 1999CA
ALSO, IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, IN SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, IS UNABLE TO BE USED BECAUSE IT LOCKS UP. PASSENGER USING THAT SEAT WOULD BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT WHILE TRAVELING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF INVOVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 22, 1999NM
1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PEELING PAINT - TOP OF SUBURBAN - BAD!
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1 injured
Filed Sep 15, 1999MN
WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM FIXED BY OWNER--BOLTS IN THE SEAT WERE REPLACED. UNDER RECALL # 96V226000 GM/ BUCKET SEATS. *ML
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 1999LA
TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR INTO ANOTHER GEAR WHILE DRIVING. CAN TAKE OUT OF PARK & INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE WOULD GO FORWARD INSTEAD. BRAKES WOULD MAKE RATTLING SOUNDS WHEN APPLIED. WOULD HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.
Structure › Body
Filed Aug 27, 1999NY
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1. CRACKS DEVELOPING ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE ROOF, CAN BE A POTENTIAL DANGER IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT; 2. BRAKES CAUSE ERRATIC OPERATION WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER AROSS THE ROAD, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT; AND 3. SEATBACK WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE BACKWARDS EVERY TIME VEHICLE ROLLS OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMPS. ALSO COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE BEING OUT OF CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.