Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 54 · page 1 of 3
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED DUE TO VIBRATION AND WAS ADVISED TIRES WERE SEPARATING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT PART OF ANY RECALL, SO CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, 2 WEEKS LATER CONSUMER REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE ON RECALL, SO CONSUMER FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT IN, HOWEVER HAS HEARD NO RESPONSE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY407. *SLC
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SHOP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATING, WHICH WERE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER EXPENSE AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT APART OF ANY RECALL, THE TIRES THAT CONSUMER PURCHASED, HOWEVER WERE ON RECALL, CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET A REPSONSE FROM FIRESTONE. (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/75R15)*YH
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TREAD WAS FLAPPING UP AGAINST INNER FENDER WELL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER , AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, LT23585R16, DOT VN0RTXK127. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON I 95 WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 70 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH FROM THE LEFT LANE THEN BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOBODY WAS BESIDE ME AT THE TIME. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE ROAD I SAW THAT THE WHOLE TREAD WAS GONE OFF THE TIRE. IT BENT UP THE QUARTER PANEL AND RIPPED THE TAILPIPE OUT OF THE MUFFLER. THE TREAD HAD HIT SOME OTHER CARS AND WAS ABOUT 1/4-1/2 A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE TIRES ALL HAVE LARGE BULGES OF UNEVEN TREADS. I CALLED GOODYEAR AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AND ANY WEAR PROBLEMS ARE PROBABLY THE FAULT OF MY VEHICLE. THEY DID SAY THEY WANT THE BLOWN TIRE AND WILL REPLACE IT, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE OTHERS. SO THEY ARE ALL IN MY GARAGE WAITING FOR A RECALL. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL ME AT MY WORK #. THANK YOU. *AK (TIRESIZE: 31/10.5/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 31/10.5/15 )
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS SAME DEFECT AS RECALL 98V150001, BUT MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
ABOUT 1 MILE AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, I WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A WELL PAVED SURFACE STREET WHEN LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND VEER TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND SLOWLY SLOW DOWN BEFORE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE TIRE. ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TREAD STAYED ATTACHED TO THE STEEL BELTS AND THIS CAUSING A SLAPPING OF THE DETACHED PORTION OF THE TREAD AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ABOUT 300 FEET WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED WHEN THE TOW TRUCL DRIVER CMAME TO PUT ON MY SPARE TIRE. THE FIRESTONE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY ADJUSTMENT OR ALLOWANCE TOWARD REPLACING THE TIRE OR THE REMAINING 3 OTHER TIRES. SINCE I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE FIRESTONE DEALER'S ANSWER AND FELT THAT THE OTHER 3 TIRES COULD ALSO BE HAZARDOUS, I BOUGHT FOUR TIRES FROM GOODYEAR TO BE SAFE. THE ONLY REASON I AM WRITING IS SO THAT THE NHTSA WILL BE AWARE THAT THE TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEM ON FIRESTONE TIRES IS ALSO PRESENT IN THE 16 INCH SIZES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ISSUE A WARNING TO OWNERS OF THIS SIZE TIRE ALSO SO AT LEAST THOSE DRIVERS CAN BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TIRES THAT COULD KILL THEM OR THEIR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IF A TREAD SEPARATION SHOULD OCCUR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I KNOW THAT IF THE SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE JUST ONE MILE EARLIER WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH, I COULD EASILY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY TO MYSELY, MY OCCUPANTS, OR PERHAPS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT DAY. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTIFY THE DRIVERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE 16 FIRESTONE TIRES THAT THEY ARE ALSO AT EXTREME RISK, NOT ONLY THE 15 INCH TIRES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235-85-R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-85-R16 )
TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2M2 JBA TIRE SIZE: 255/70R15 )
AFTER BRAKING 2 TO 3 TIMES THE BRAKES STAGGER, SHUDDER GRABBING AND STICKING, SEEMS LIKE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM IS HAPPENING EACH AND EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE FIREHAWK (235/75R15) TIRE SUSTAINED A TREAD SUSTAINED A TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER, FIVE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIX DIFFERENT FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WITHIN 20,000 MILES. THIS ALWAYS OCCURED ON A HIGHWAY IN TEXAS. THE DATES WERE 10/96, 10/96, 5/97, 12/98, 3/99, & 6/99.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 321150R15 )
PE 00 020/TRIE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION ON A 1990 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT; P235/75R15; DOT# UNAVAILABLE. DRIVER / TWO PASSENGERS INVOLVED, NO INJURY REPORTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/75/R15 *MW
TRUCK ACCERERATED SOUNDED LIKE OVER 100 MPH BUT WAS GOING SLOW SPEEDCOULD NOT STOPR TRUCK TURNED OFF IN STREET AND JUMPED OUT CAR REAR END BROKE AND U-JOINT. VERY DANGEROUS. *AK
MIDDLE SEAT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES, LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE USED. REPLACED 3 TIMES, 1ST UNDER WARRANTY, HAVE SINCE PAYED FOR IT TWICE, AND THEY LAST LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WE CURRENTLY USE THE CAR WITHOUT PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEAT USING THE SEATBELTS, CAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THEM. TONY'S CHEVROLET IN WASILLA AK. HAS BEEN THE SERVICER THAT REFUSES TO FIX THE SEATBELTS FOR FREE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE ONES THAT INSTALLED THE ONES THAT DON'T WORK. *AK
SEATBACK RECLINING MECHANISM BROKE WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. SEATBACK IS CURRENTLY RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS IT WAS AGE AND FATIGUE. *AK
DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. NLM
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND PULLING A TRAILOR, VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, AND THEN FIRE STARTED NEAR FIREWALL OF RIGHT HAND SIDE OF ENGINE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. CAUSE OF FIRE UNDETERMINED. *AK *ML
LAST WEEK NOTICED VIBRATION (SHDDER) COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES OR BALANCING. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES (EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT WORN OUT). STILL HAD SHUDDER, SO NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER IN LIVERMORE. TOLD HIM THE SYMPTOMS AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 6/29/99 TO HAVE IT CHECKED. SERVICE MANAGER ASKED IF THE VEHICLE HAD OVERDIVE, REPLIED YES, HE RESPONDED IT MAYBE SOMETHING IN YOUR TORQUE CONVERTOR. NO DOUBT WILL FIND OUT. THEN CHECKED WITH A FRIEND IN MN WHO ALSO HAS A 1990 SUBURBAN. HE ASKED IF IT WAS HAPPENING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED. I SAID I NOTICED IT WHEN ACCELLERATING UP FROM 45 MILES PER HOUR. HE THEN ASKED IF I HAD OVERDRIVE AND I SAID YES. THEN HE ASKED IF IT HAPPENS IN THE DRIVE SETTING, SAID I DID NOT KNOW. CHECKED THIS OUT AND THEIR WAS NO SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH FULL WARRANTY IN NOV/DEC 1991, IT WAS A GM EXECUTIVE VEHICLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES THE ENGINE LITERALY BLEW UP AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTRY. AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND AGAIN FORTUNATELY IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY FRIEND IN MN ADVISED THAT HE ALSO LOST HIS TRANSMISSION UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF AND WARRANTY AND HAD IT REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET TRANSMISSION UNIT FOR THIS MODEL THAT DOES NOT USE / HAVE THE OVERDRIVE FEATURE. ACCORDING TO HIM THERE WERE MANY FAILURES OF THIS O/D TRANSMISSION UNIT AND HENCE THE AVAILABILITY OF AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AS DESCRIBED. HE SAID THE O/D FEATURE WAS DESIGNED IN TO MEET GOVERNMENT MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS AND CLEARLY HAD PROBLEMS. I WILL KNOW TOMORROW WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS, AND IF IT TURNS OUT TO WHAT MAYBE A DESIGN THAT DOES NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED (DEFECTIVE)AND THERE IS DATA TO SUPPORT THIS THEN I WOULD LIKE YOUR GUIDANCE AND OR SUGGESTIONS ON AN APPROPIATE WAY TO APPROACH GM TO CORRECT THIS AT THIER EXPENSE. PERHAPS ALL THIS NOTE IS REDUNDANT AS THEY (GM) MAY ALREADY HAVE A POLICY ON REPLACING THESE UNDER WARRANTY. THANKS FOR YOU HELP.
RETRACTABLE SEATBELTS REPEATEDLY FAIL. BELTS TWIST AND GET JAMMED IN RETRACTING PART ATTACHED TO FLOOR OF VEHICLE. CAN'T ALWAYS UNJAM, THEREBY LEAVING PASSENGERS UNBELTED. HAVE BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTACTED GM IN TROY, MICHIGAN. SEATBELTS CONTINUE TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP, O'DONNELL CHEVROLET IN SAN GABRIEL, CA SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX PROBLEM AND TO TAKE ELSEWHERE. *AK
TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
I WAS ENTERING THE I-205 SOUTHBOUND ON RAMP OFF OF MILL PLAIN BLVD IN VANCOUVER, WA WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY APPLIED HER BRAKES. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT LIMP ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDDLE STAYED LIMP AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I DIDN'T PANIC BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM ON HER BRAKES--THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF HER AND THERE WAS NO ONE PULLING IN FRONT OF HER, AND WE WERE ENTERING THE I-205 ON-RAMP. THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN OUR VEHICLES. I FIGURED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WOULD MOVE ON AS WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP. SHE THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP. AT THIS POINT THE SPEED WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 20 MPH. AS I WAS REACHING FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, MY SUBURBAN BUMPED INTO THE BACK OF HER 1987 ACURA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES ON MY SUBURBAN WORKED FINE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDDLE AFTER BOTH VEHICLES CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM THE IMPACT MOTION. I THEN PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND IT WAS GOOD. I BACKED UP A BIT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. I DROVE FORWARD A BIT AND UNTO THE SHOULDER AND THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE SKY WAS SUNNY. I COULDN'T EVEN FATHOM THE BRAKES FAILING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT SINCE THEY FAIULED ONCE THEY COULD FAIL AGAIN ABD POSSIBLY WITH MORE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. I TOOK THE SUBURBAN TO VANCOUVER CHEVROLET FOR A BRAKE CHECK AND EXPLAINED TO THE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING DOWN AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING DOWN MEANS. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AFTER I GOT HOME AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND IT WAS GOOD. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH A LIMP BRAKE PEDDLE ON THE SUBURBAN BEFORE. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THERE NEVER WAS ANY SPONGINESS OR ANY ANY INDICATION OF A BRAKE PEDDLE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE OVER 2YRS AGO (#93V187000). THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED. THE BOLTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATS FAILED TO HOLD THE SEAT.
RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT FAILURE.
DRIVE TRAIN/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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