1992 GMC Suburban

Routine

Owners filed 80 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
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip58
1908
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components6
200
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer5
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor3
000
Trailer Hitches1
000
Structure1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
011
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys1
000

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).

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages01I006000
Filed Jul 2, 2001255,770 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1992-1994 CHEVROLET AND GMC SUBURBANS EQUIPPED WITH VACUUM POWER-BRAKE ASSIST AND EBC4 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) MODULES. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT POOR BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.

Risk. THIS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO BRAKE PEDAL FEEL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PEDAL PAD. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE-BOOSTER OUTPUT ROD AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages92V056000
Filed Apr 14, 1992177 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE PIVOT BOLT HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ITS SUPPORT BRACKET MAY BE IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED AND MAY NOT HAVE ENGAGED THE LOCKING MATERIAL ON THE BOLT. THE BOLT CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE NUT.

Risk. IF THE PIVOT BOLT DISENGAGES FROM THE NUT WHILE THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL AND COULD RESULT INA VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS SHOULD INSPECT THE HAND STARTED BRAKE PEDAL BOLTS AND TORQUE THEM TO SPECIFICATION.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic TransmissionFire1 injured
Filed Mar 10, 2009194,236 milesNV

TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH MY 1992 GMC K2500 SUBURBAN IT BURNED TRANNY UP IF I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGULFED 1 PERSON RECEIVED A NON SUTURED LACERATION ON FOR HEAD FELL WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE TO GET AWAY FROM FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE ON TRANNY PROBLEM THE ONLY THING THAT GOT DAMAGED WAS MY SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT DID TO THE UNDERNEATH I HAVE TO CHECK. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 31, 2003146,000 milesSD

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND USUALLY FAILS WHEN IT IS WET OR HUMID. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE HAD IT. ALSO WAS A CONSISTANT PROBLEM ON THE 89 SHEVY 1 TON PICKUP I HAD BEFORE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 16, 2001RI

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALWAY DOWN TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE MAKES NOISES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Structure
Filed Mar 12, 2001CA

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT 'HITCH PLATFORM' WHICH IS USED TO PULL AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER, 8900 LBS, IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Mar 9, 2001LA

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE MAKING A STOP, AND ALL BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 2, 2001TX

I HAVE HAD BRAKE FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE HOLD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD AS IF IT WERE ON ICE. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISIONS THROUGH LUCK AND ALSO BY BEING VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND LEAVING EXTRA SPACE BETWEEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. VARIOUS DEALERS MISDIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME, FRONT BRAKE JOB, SECOND TIME, REAR BRAKE ADJUSTMENT. THIRD TIME, THEY SAID THE PUMP WAS BAD. MIRACULOUSLY THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE DEALERSHIP. $900 LATER I HAVE A NEW ABS PUMP. NOW THE TRUCK PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT DID NOT DO THIS BEFORE. DEALER SUSPECTED THAT THE ABS PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. UPON REPLACEMENT, THE TRUCK STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THEY NOW SUSPECT THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE IS BREAKING DOWN INTERNALLY AND CAUSING UNEVEN PRESSURE TO THE FRONT CALIPERS CAUSING THE PULLING SENSATION. THEY ARE NOT SURE, SO THIS WILL BE MORE $ OUT OF MY POCKET FOR A TRIAL AND ERROR THAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. I HAVE OVER $1300 IN BRAKE REPAIRS AND THIS VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY. I AM RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE AND MONEY. YOUR HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. THANKS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Nov 28, 2000NE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN ON, THE CONSUMER TAPS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THIS WILL GET IT WORKING FOR A WHILE. *SLC

Trailer Hitches
Filed Oct 18, 2000GA

THE WBCCI, A CONSUMER ASSOCIATION STATED THAT THE OEM TRAILER TOWING HITCH PLATFORMS HAD FAILED AND CONSUMER HAS AN REQUESTED INVESTIGATION. (OEM TRAILER TOWING HITCH PLATFORMS ON 1992-1999) *YH

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 7, 2000VA

DUE TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE WIPERS CUT OF DURING RAIN STORMS OR LIGHT DRIZZLE. YH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash2 injured
Filed Dec 4, 1999AZ

IN DECEMBER OF 1993, I WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. WHILE I DID NOT CREATE THE ACCIDENT, I DID CONTRIBUTE BY CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ONE OF THE CARS. THE CAUSE - MY BRAKES SIMPLY WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN A NORMAL AMOUNT OF TIME. THE ABS SYSTEM MADE ALL KINDS OF INTERESTING NOISES. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP SIMILAR TO OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING MY PREVIOUS SUBURBAN THAT I HAD OWNED AND DRIVEN. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, I TOOK THE SUBURBAN TO A GMC DEALER WHO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER (AT MY COST) AND IDD A TEST DRIVEL THE MECHANIC SAID THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. THEY WERE NOT! AND STILL DO NOT WORK AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES WITH OR WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. RECENTLY I WAS MAKINA A RIGHT TURN WHEN A YOUNNSTER SHOT THRU THE INTERSECTION ON A BICYCLE. I JUMPED ON THE BRAKES AND AGAIN HEARD THAT SICKENING GROAN BUT NO BRAKE ACTION. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DID GRAB AND THE YOUNG MAN SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS RECENT INCIDENT CAUSED ME TO RE-READ A SYNDICATED NEWS REPORT FROM LAST JULY. THE NHTSA WAS WORKING WITH GM TO RECALL AND REPAIR ABS SYSTEMS IN VARIOUS SUV'S. THE ARTICLE ALSO SAID A SECOND INVESTIGATION WAS UNDER WAY INVOLVING MY '92 SUBURBAN. I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT INVESTIGATION. AT PRESENT I STILL DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I KNOW IT WILL NOT STOP IN NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE STARTED TO INVESTIGATE REMOVING THE ABS SYSTEM AND INSTALLING SOMETHING SAFER. ANY ADVICE YOU MIGHT PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 1, 1999UT

WHILE DRIVING, WAS COMING TO A ROLLING STOP, ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED & THEY WOULD LOCK UP ON THE 2-WD. BEEN TO DEALER & THE ABS BRAKES REPAIRED ON 3/16/98. THE LOCKING OF ABS BRAKES HAS RETURNED. MANUFACTURER SHOWS NO RECALL OF BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 23, 1999IL

UPON APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES VEHICLE PULLED RIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO FLOOR IN AN EMERGENCY STOP OR WHILE JUST WATING AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. PRESSURE WOULD CAUSE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK ABS SYSTEM. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 14, 1999CO

WIPERS DO NOT COME ON WHEN CAR IS HOT, ONLY WHEN CAR HAS JUST BEEN STARTED, AND NOT ALL THE TIME THEN. THEY WILL STOP AT RANDOM AND VERY SELDOM WORK AT ALL. NEIGHBOR ALSO WITH 1992 SUBURBAN HAS SAME PROBLEM.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 26, 1999MA

TOWING BRAKES WERE ERRACTIC. ABS LIGHT KEPT FLASHING AFTER ENTERING GAS STATION. WASN'T TOWING. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, RED LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIME ON ABS SYSTEM & EACH TIME WAS INFORMED OWNER'S PROBLEM DUE TO THE TOWING THAT WAS DONE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jul 27, 1999WA

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SHOT AHEAD AND THEN BEGAN TO STOP. ALL INCIDENCES OF FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN THE REAR WHEELS MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL WITH PAVEMENT, I., GOING OVER A MANHOLE COVER THAT WAS RECESSED/PAVEMENT DEPRESSIONS AT EXPANSION JOINTS OR HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF WATER. IN THE ROADWAY. WHEN VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS UNDER HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE, THE ABS BRAKES WOU;LD EMIT A LOUD GROANING NOISE, AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AHEAD. THEN AFTER ONE OR TWO CAR LENGTHS WOULD GRAB HOLD AND TRY TO STOP. IN ALL OF THESE CASES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 23, 1999MO

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAIL WHEN IN A POTENTIAL SLIDING SITUATION (GOING ONTO A SLICK SURFACE, LIKE ICE OR WET PAVEMENT). THE ABS ACTUALLY ATTEMPTS TO WORK, AND THEN SHUTS OFF, LEAVING ONLY THE REGULAR BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. EACH TIME WE HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE SOMETHING RESET, OTHERWISE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH , SAYING THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM, REMAIN ON. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER (SEVERAL TIMES) THAT IT DOESN'T HURT TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS, BUT THE ABS ARE NOT WORKING AS LONG AS THOSE LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING - AT THE TIME THE ABS ARE NEEDED, THEY FAIL, EVERY TIME. I'M TIRED OF THEM NOT WORKING, AND PAYING TO HAVE THEM RESET.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 22, 1999CA

EA95026, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARDER THAN NORMAL THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THERE WAS SOME VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. DRIVER HAD TO DRIVE SUBURBAN OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A CRASH. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WET PAVEMENT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM, AND RESET THE COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER WAS RESET TWICE FOR THIS REASON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 3, 1999MO

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 5, 1999IA

WHILE ENGINE COLD WIPERS WORK. WHEN HOT, WIPERS SIMPLY STOP AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL ENGINE COLD. LAST TIME WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN HEAVY RAIN ON INTERSTATE. ACCIDENT AVOIDED BY GETTING OFF ROAD QUICKLY. AM TOLD RECALL EXISTS BUT CANNOT FIND SAME. THANK YOU

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 18, 1999OH

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, THEY GRIND LOUDLY. *AK

20 of 80 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20041000Routine
20035100Routine
20027100Routine
20015200Routine
200015200Routine
1999285260Above average
1998100331Fatalities reported
1997200340Above average
1996172424Fatalities reported
1995227723Fatalities reported
1994411640High concern
1993212240Above average
1992 — this page80420Routine
199130200Routine
199022200Routine

Compare every Suburban year →

Reading this record

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.