1989 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 1989 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
- Interior & seats2742.9%
- Tires & wheels711.1%
- Seat belts69.5%
- Engine46.3%
- Transmission46.3%
- Steering34.8%
- Other / unspecified34.8%
- Body & structure23.2%
- Brakes23.2%
- Fuel system23.2%
- Powertrain (other)11.6%
- Electrical11.6%
- Visibility11.6%
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER SEAT BACK RETAINING BOLT BROKE LEADING TO TOTAL REARWARD COLLAPSE OF DRIVER SEAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN SPEAKING WITH MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TODAY IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT HE HAS OR HAD A VEHICLE IN HIS POSSESSION FOR REPAIR OF VERY SAME DEFECT RECENTLY.
NHTSA RECALL 93-V-187-000: RECLINER MECHANISM AND SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN 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. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM . HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN JULY OF 2000 I WENT TO FIRESTONE TO REPORT A BUBBLE IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE EMPLOYEE SAID THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPERATING AND THAT I SHOULD BUY NEW TIRES. THEY HAD NONE IN STOCK SO I BOUGHT ELSEWHERE. I STILL HAD THE FIRSTONES ON THE REAR. ON EASTER 2001 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUFFERED TREAD SEPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND HAD THE TIRE CHANGED. I HAD 5 FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CAR WHO WERE VERY SCARED BY THIS. DAMAGE WAS $2300. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WRITE A MORE IN DEPTH REPORT OR BE INTERVIEWED. I NEVER SAW ANY INDICATION THAT THESE TIRES WERE RECALLED. IF I HAD LEFT THE ONES ON THE FRONT WE MAY ALL BE DEAD. PLEASE STOP FIRSTONE FROM HANDLING INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS RATHER THAN RECALLING ALL OF THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES - NOBODY ELSE SHOULD DIE IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM MONEY AND REPUTATION. I HAVE THE TIRE....AND PHOTOS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDXF AXD TIRESIZE: 33X12.50R1)
YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING 60MPH DOWN HWY 59 IN HOUSTON AND HEARD THIS AWFUL NOISE LIKE I RAN OVER SOMETHING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET QUICKLY OVER TO THE SHOULDER. SURE ENOUGH THE BACK LEFT TIRE, A FIRESTONE 235/75/15 FR480 (SAME SIZE AS THE RECALL, BUT DIFFERENT FIRESTONE) TIRE PEELED OFF THE BELTS. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO POP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT DID NOT. IT DID SOME DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE ALSO. I WENT TO A FIRESTONE SHOP AND HE WANTS TO JUST SELL ME NEW TIRES... NOT EVEN REPLACE THE BLOWOUT!!! HE DID GIVE ME AN 800 NUMBER FOR THE DAMAGE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 275/55R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 275/55R15 )
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 1989 SUBURBAN AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND SOME OF THE PIN STRIPING IS PEELING OFF AND I WAS READING SOME OF THE RECALLS AND I WAS WONDERING HOW COULD I FIND OUT IF I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAINTING AND ALSO TWO OF MY SEAT BELTS HAVE FROZE UP AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETAINER REEL OR WHAT EVER IT IS. *NLM
I HAVE HAD ONE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT LOCKING SYSTEM REPLACED IN THE PAST. I WENT THROUGH THE VEHICLE TODAY AND I HAVE THREE THAT DO NOT LOCK AT HARD BREAKING. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE WOULD FAIL WITHIN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
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
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES FROM 1997 TO THE PRESENT ONCE IN 1997, ONCE IN 1998, & TWICE IN 199. ALL PARTS ARE GMC. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
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
RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (93V-016) HOWEVER FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION (REMEDY FAILURE). MJS
TRANSMISSION FRONT SEAL BROKE, CAUSING THE HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID TO HIT EXHAUST, RESULTING IN A UNDERHOOD FIRE . *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE STEERING U-JOINT HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
FRAME SECTION LOCATED NEAR STEERING GEAR BOX, IS CRACKED/ STEERING GEAR BOX IS LEAKING FLUID AND PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP IS SHREDDING. STEERING GEAR BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED. T VEHICLE IS NOT CONTROLLABLE IF FLUID LEAKS OUT TOO FAST. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED AT FACTORY BECAME LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS FALLING OFF. MJS
RIGHT REAR WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 1989 SUBURBAN AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND SOME OF THE PIN STRIPING IS PEELING OFF AND I WAS READING SOME OF THE RECALLS AND I WAS WONDERING HOW COULD I FIND OUT IF I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAINTING AND ALSO TWO OF MY SEAT BELTS HAVE FROZE UP AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETAINER REEL OR WHAT EVER IT IS. *NLM
FRAME SECTION LOCATED NEAR STEERING GEAR BOX, IS CRACKED/ STEERING GEAR BOX IS LEAKING FLUID AND PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP IS SHREDDING. STEERING GEAR BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED. T VEHICLE IS NOT CONTROLLABLE IF FLUID LEAKS OUT TOO FAST. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN A PANIC STOP THE BRAKES MOVE IN SLOW MOTION.
IN COLD CLIMATES THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *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
FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE RUBS ON 4WD TRANSFER CASE SUPPORT, WEARING A HOLE THROUGH IT. PRESSURIZED FUEL THEN SPRAYS ON HOT EXHAUST PIPE. EXTREME FIRE HAZARD, ALTHOUGH MINE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. OTHER VEHICLES FOUND WITH SAME PROBLEM. ONLY APPLICABLE TO 4WD MODELS.
FUEL FLEXIBLE HOSE IS NOT SUPPORTED AND IS DESIGNED TO LAY UPON A STRUT. THE STRUT WORE A HOLE THROUGH THE FUEL HOSE ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY ON THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE STUD BROKE. THIS IS PART OF THE RING GEAR HOUSING. WHEN THE STUD BROKE HIS VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS HAPPENING. *AK
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
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAILGATE WINDOW HAS BROKEN TWICE AND HAS COME OFF THE TRACK MANY TIMES. TT
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 .