1987 Chevrolet Suburban Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 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
- Brakes527.8%
- Fuel system316.7%
- Tires & wheels316.7%
- Engine211.1%
- Electrical211.1%
- Driver assistance15.6%
- Interior & seats15.6%
- Transmission15.6%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VACUUM TO APPLY BRAKES. THEREFORE WAS FORCED INTO THE INTERSECTION, PUT IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER CHIP. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. MORE OR LESS PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING EMERGENCY STOPPING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL TANK MOUNTED OUTSIDE FRAME.
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO GAS LEAK IN FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE IN MOTION, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. THE OFFICER REPORTING LISTED THIS AS EQUIPMENT FAILURE BECAUSE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE'S RIM WAS STILL ATTACHED. IT HAD SHEARED OFF THE HUB. THE STUDS HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE AND RIM TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. *JG
I BOUGHT 2 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HTS IN JULY 2000 FOR OUR SUV. I FOUND A TWO INCH TEAR IN ONE AFTER 2,500 MILES, ABOUT 800 OF WHICH WAS SUSTAINED HIGHWAY DRIVING DURING A HOT JULY. THERE WAS NO BRUISING AROUND THE TEAR AND IT LOOKED CLEAN INSIDE, BUT FIRESTONE COMPANY TIRE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT IT SAID I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING AND REFUSED TO REFUND MY MONEY. I PURCHASED TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES FROM A MORE HONORABLE COMPANY ON SEPT. 1. I WOULD LIKE FIRESTONE TO REFUND MY MONEY AND I WILL HAPPILY GIVE THEM THEIR DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE TIRES BACK.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R7515 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
1987 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SAW SMOKE, PULLED OVER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *MC (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB A VEHICLE QUESTIONAIRE WAS MAILED TO CUSTOMER TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE COMPLAINT. *TR
BRAKES FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
HORN HAD STOPPED WORKING ABOUT SEVEN TIMES WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK
WHILE TRYING TO START THE AUTO, IT MADE A VERY HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AUTO CAUGHT A FIRE AND BURNED, NO INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTED FROM USE OF CRUISE CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SEAT FRAME COLLAPSED, CAUSING SEATBACK TO FALL BACKWARDS. REPAIRED TWICE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHIILE DRIVING DOWN ON FREEWAY CONSUMER LOST POWER OF REAR WHEELS- AND COULD NOT RE ENGAGE- CAUSING A NEAR AUTO ACCIDENT FROM THE REAR.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .