RoadVitals

1986 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Oct 5, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Chevrolet Suburban, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Seat belts116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRAVELING 65MPH AND TIRE BLEWOUT. MADE A LOUD HUMMING NOISE, STARTED TO SLOW DOWN & PULL TO SIDE. STEEL BELT STICKING OUT OF RIGHT REAR. ALSO, TRAVELING 45MPH & VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING & ROCKING. SLOWED DOWN & PULLED TO SIDE, AND NOTICED TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR & THEN IT BLEWOUT. STEEL BELT WAS ALSO SHOWING. SPARE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE IN VEHICLE. STEEL BELT & PIECES OF RUBBER INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TIRE ON 1987, CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN, FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RTS, LT235/85R16 WITH 21,000 & 23,000 MILES RESPECTIVELY ON 8/5/96 & 7/10/97 & 8/10/99(SPARE TIRE).*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 875272 · filed Nov 20, 2000

BRIDGESTONE DUELER APT TREAD SEPARATED ON DRY ROAD, LIGHT LOAD, 60 MPH. TIRE HAD LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT. THIS TIRE WAS A REPLACEMENT FOR ANOTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT EXPLODED AND DID FENDER AND TAILPIPE DAMAGE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT235/85R1 )

NHTSA ID 728556 · filed Aug 21, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LOCATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, IN GENERAL, AND ITS LOCATION TO THE FUEL TANK IN A REAR END ACCIDENT WOULD MASH THE HARNESS BETWEEN THE BUMPER AND THE FUEL TANK. IF RUPTURE OCCURS THEN THE IGNITION SOURCE WOULD BE PRESENT, RESULTING INTO AN EXPLOSION. *AK

NHTSA ID 10094538 · filed Sep 28, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL OF FIRE/EXPLOSION CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT (IN OLDER MODEL G.M. VEHICLES) AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A "DIRECT SHORT" TO IT'S WIRING. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID 10093598 · filed Oct 5, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING BOOSTER SEATS AND THE INABILITY TO PROPERLY SECURE MY 50 LB FOUR YEAR OLD. SHE IS TOO BIG FOR A 5 POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT (40 LBS) AND THERE ARE NO SHOULDER BELTS IN MY 1986 SUBURBAN TO USE A HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT. I CAN NOT COMPLY WITH THE NEW CALIFORNIA LAW AND AS A LOW INCOME FAMILY WE CANNOT AFFORD A NEW SUBURBAN FOR OUR 5 CHILDREN! WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO????

NHTSA ID 756513 · filed Jan 7, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID 803672 · filed Oct 17, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .