Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED, THE MECHANIC THAT REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION REPORTED TO THE CONSUMER THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIR AND THE EXPENSE OF THE RENTAL CAR HER FAMILY REQUIRED DURING THE TIME OF REPAIR. NLM
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ADMITTED BY GMC. THEY ARE AWARE THAT ON 1997-1999 MODELS OF THE SUBURBAN ( AND POSSIBLY OTHER GMC MODELS?) THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION WILL SUFFER A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SUN GEAR REACTION SHELL, CAUSING THE LOSS OF REVERSE, 2ND AND 4TH GEARS.*AK
1998, GMC, SUBURBAN, REPLACEMENT BATTERY LEAKS ONTO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BRAKE HOSE, CORRODING THE FITTING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE SECOND BATTERY THAT HAS FAILED.*SLC
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING REIMBURSMENT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS CREATED BY CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS. *YH CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER VEHICLES LIKE THESE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH LOSING REVERSE, 2ND AND 4TH GEARS, THIS BEING CAUSED BY A CHANGE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR THE SUN GEAR REACTION SHELL, DURING PRODUCTION THE RADIUS OF THE AREA ATTACHING THE SPLINES ON THE SHELL TO THE SHELL HOUSING WAS REDUCED, LEADING TO A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SHELL. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH SMELLED SMOKE. THEN, SAW FIRE COMING FROM DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL. STOPPED AND PUT OUT FIRE, CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED FIRE STARTED AT MIRROR ADJUSTER ON DOOR PANEL. NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENT WAS USED PRIOR TO FIRE*AK.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY WILL VEER RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN TURNING WHEEL SLIGHTLY AT ROAD SPEED. SEEMS TO BE A SURGE IN POWER STEERING UNIT. GMC SAYS THEY HAVE ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS SAFETY DEFECT TO ALL DEALER SERVICE MANAGERS. CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO A DEALER AND REPAIRS PAID BY CUSTOMER IF OUT OF WARRANTY. SEE MY LETTER DATED JULY 7, 2001 TO COURY BUICK, MESA, AZ, 85206. *AK
LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET HAD A SHORT FOR SECOND TIME. WHOLE SOCKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS, AND IT SHORTED OUT AGAIN. PART COST $60 EACH TIME. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL, HOWEVER THEY HAD BEEN REPLACING A LOT OF THESE PARTS. *SLC
THE SES LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY , THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND WOULD LAST FROM 10 DAYS TO SEVERAL WEEKS, TO DATE THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, POSSIBLY RELATED TO ENGINE OR INDICATOR LIGHT FAILURE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
REAR TAIL LIGHT PRINTED CIRCUIT HAS SHORTED OUT TWICE, LEAVING MELTED COMPONETS AND TOTAL REPLACEMENT OPTION.*AK
POWER STEERING FREQUENTLY GOES OUT BECAUSE FLUID CONSTANTLY LEAKS. DEALER HAS EXAMINED IT AND FOUND A DEFECTIVE SEAL IN GEAR BOX. PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. *AK
FRONT POST OF BATTERY LEAKS, POSTIVE SIDE, CORRODES ELECTRICAL CABLES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *AK
A 4-WHEEL DRIVE, ABS BRAKING ENGAGES UNEXPECTEDLY AND WON'T RETURN TO NORMAL, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK ABS EMGAGES INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. ABS ALSO DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT. *YH
COULDN'T START VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE OEM DELCO BATTERY WITH NEW BATTERY AND FOUND ACID HAD LEAKED FROM POSITIVE SIDE TERMINAL, TOTALLY CORRODING BATTERY BOLT, TERMINAL AND CABLES. ACID HAD LEAKED ONTO HIGH PRESSURE A/C LINE, ELECTRICAL WIRING AND BRAKE LINES, CORRODING THEM. SIGNIFICANT CORROSION ON BODY METAL. REPAIR ESTIMATES RUN IN EXCESS OF $500. NEGOTIATING WITH GMC FOR REPAIRS UNDER A PRODUCTS LIABILITY CLAIM.*AK
DURING SUMMER OF 1999, I NOTICED BATTERY ACID RESIDUE BELOW BATTERY ON LINES AND WIRES. CLEANED OFF WITH OIL. BRAKES WERE MUSHY. IN OCTOBER, 2000 BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE BUT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO STOP. NOTICED ADDITIONAL BATTERY ACID BUILD UP ON LINES AND WIRING. BRAKES FAILED NOV. 22, 2000. ADDED BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON NOV. 28, 2000. POSITIVE BATTERY POST SEPARATED FROM BATTERY. SPENT TWO HOURS REMOVING BROKEN-OFF BATTERY FROM BATTERY BOLT,CABLES AND INSTALLING BATTERY. POURED BAKING SODA WATER ON AFFECTED AREA OF LINES AND WIRES. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH TREAD CAME OFF LEFT FRONT TIRE. HAD NO WARNING OR VIBRATION OF VEHICLE. WEATHER WAS 95%. RIM DUG INTO CONCRETE. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FINALLY,PULLED OVER & STOPPED. CHECKED & CHANGED TIRE WITH THE SPARE. TIRE HAD DISINTERGRATED. TIRE SIZE IS 245/75R16. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS ON ALL FOUR TIRES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. TIRES WERE NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK
CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHICH CULMINATES WITH A COMPLETE SET OF REAR DRUMS TO BE REPLACED AT 3 TO 4000 MILE INTERVALS. DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TROUBLE-SHOOTING THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVES THAT THE AXLE FLANGE THAT RECEIVES THE DRUM IS TO SMALL, ALLOWING THE DRUM TO FLOAT WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS CAUSES SEVERE VIBRATIONS FROM THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS SIMILIAR TO A PULSING SENSATION ONLY MORE SEVERE. UPON INSTRUCTIONS FROM GM, THE DEALER ORDERED NEW AXLES AND DRUMS BUT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REPLACEMENT DRUMS FIT ON THE NEW AXLE FLANGE THE SAME, HAVING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH OF SPACE BETWEEN THE DRUM AND THE FLANGE. ON 09/13/00 A GM ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER, AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR DRUMS NEED TO BE REPLACED, A NEW AND IMPROVED BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED ALONG WITH A FRONT TO REAR PROPORTIONING VALVE IS TO BE INSTALLED. AT THIS TIME I AM JUST WAITING FOR THESE COMPONANTS TO BE INSTALLED AND AM AT THE MERCY OF GM. I APPRECIATE THE DEALERS FORTITUDE IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT PURSUED ANY LEMON LAW ACTIONS UNTIL THIS POINT. A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME IS HOW THIS PULSING OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM INTERACTS WITH THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING DURING OPERATION ON WET ROADS. WITH BRISK AND FIRM APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES, THE REAR WHEELS WILL MOMENTARILY LOCK UP CAUSING AN UNSETTLING OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE BECAUSE OF THIS BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. MY WIFE AND I AR
PE-00-020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, GMC SUBURBAN, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16. TIRES HAVE 40 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING ON A TWO WAY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE OUTER RUBBER SEPARATED FROM TIRE, TIRE STAYED INFLATED, RUBBER WRAPPED AROUND HEATER HOSE, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, RESULTING IN VEHICLE OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. *AK
THE TIRES THAT FAILED THE FIRST TIME HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH THE SAME FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRES. THESE NEW TIRES ARE A YEAR OLD AND ALREADY ARE FALLING APART AND ALL CRACKED. I WANT FIRESTONE TO RECALL THESE TIRES BEFORE I GET INTO ANOTHER ACCIDENT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
A FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE LOCKING MECHANISM LOCKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. *AK
BOTH FRONT DISC PADS WERE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED AND THE RIGHT FRONT PAD HAD ONLY A MINIMAL THICKNESS LEFT. BOTH FRONT DISCS HAD SOME SCORING AND BOTH WERE TURNED TO SMOOTH THEM OUT. VEHICLE IS A 1/2 TON GMC SUBURBAN AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW. DEALER REPLACED THE DISCS AND TURNED ROTOR AT NO COST STATING THAT IT WASN'T A WARRENTY PROBLEM BUT THAT HE WANTED TO MAINTAIN GOOD WILL BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALERSHIP.
PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A GMC, SUBURBAN 1998, VN1183A447, SP842KA14L, VN1183A447, VN1183A447 SIZE- L226575R16. CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WHOLE TIRE. WHILE ON VACATION TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT L226/75/R16 *MW
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE ADAPTOR WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FELL DOWN, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND SMOKE TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT BECAME VERY HOT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
VEHICLE 1998 GMC SUBURBAN: WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH ONE REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL/ COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY. TIRE SIZE R4SLT245/75R16, DOT NUMBER V611B1A377. *AK
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE AND ON HIGH PRESSURE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM AROUND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL DOWN TO THE BRAKE LINE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY EAT A HOLE THOUGH BRAKE LINE, AND CAUSE THE BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, BUT ONLY CLEANED THE OTHER PARTS AFFECTED BY THE LEAKING BATTERY ACID, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SIGNS OF CORROSION ON THESE PARTS. *AK *ML
THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES WILL ONLY LAST 15000 MILES. THAT IS A GOOD INDICATION THAT THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRUCK. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU. *AK
DUE TO BATTERY DESIGN FLAW ACID LEAKS THROUGH A SCREW HOLE AND CAUSES CORROSION. THIS MAY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION OR STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY
THE DEFECTIVE KELSEY HAYES ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO AT A STOP AND WNEN PROCEEDED, ABS BRAKES GRABBED. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND FOUND SHE HAD NONE. NO ACCIDENT/NO INJURIES. *AK
WHEN MAKING ANY KIND OF TURN BETWEEN 90 DEGREES OR SMALLER THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE. OWNER WAS DRIVING IN 2- WHEEL DRIVE AT THE TIME. THE SUBURBAN IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. STEERING REPAIRED, BUT VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS BECAUSE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER BELIEVES TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 21,000 MILES. *ML
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL SEEMS VERY SOFT, AND VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OWNER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, AT 19,000 MILES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER DETAILS. *AK
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I OR MY HUSBAND HAVE HIT THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR, IT CONTINUES TO SLIDE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TECHNICIAN AT SILVEIRA PONTIAC AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT IN 1998. HE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE NATURE OF ABS BRAKES, I HAD A VAN BEFORE MY SUBURBAN THJAT HAD ABS BRAKES AND I /WE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IN FEB. 1999 WE HAD THE BRAKES REDONE AT MARIN-PONTIAC-BUICK-GMC AND WE WERE HOPING THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED: HOWEVER IT WAS NOT AND IT RESULTED IN MY HAVING A SECOND ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 2457512R16 )
WINSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK.CONTACED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
REAR DOORS DO NOT HAVE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. A CHILD WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. ALSO THERE IS NO LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. *AK *ML
REAR AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SEALS ALSO, REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, DUE TO MISSING COMPONENT WHICH WAS REPLACED BY DEARLER. *YC
INNER CV BOOTS FAILED.
A/C BLOWER FAILED. *YC
FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. YH
REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE MAIN BRAKE SEAL FAILED ONCE. *YC
THE LEAKING TIRE VALVE STEAM CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT RESULTING IN LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. YH
STEERING GEAR BOX BROKEN INTERNALLY. WEAK POWER STEERING PUMP. LEAK IN BRAKING SYSTEM AT AXLE SEAL. BRAKE PADS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LEFT, REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND AFTER RETRACTING. SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD - HARNESS LENGTH TOO SHORT CAUSED INABILITY TO START VEHICLE.
NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MAJOR BRAKING PROBLEMS AS THE OLDER MODEL THAT WAS SOLD BACK TO GMC BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GRIND . ALSO, DRIVER EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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