RoadVitals

1991 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
52
Latest Aug 19, 2020
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.
10
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 28, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 52 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 52 · page 1 of 3

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 19, 2020

I HAVE A SET OF HANKOOK OPTIMO 727 TIRES ON MY FAMILY SUBURBAN, AND ONE OF THEM BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT ONLY HAD 14,596 MILES ON IT. THE SIZE IS P235-75-15. ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN FEBRUARY 2016, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN MY GARAGE. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SUN OZONE DEPLETION, AND AGAIN, IT NEVER SAT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT HAD ALOT OF TREAD DEPTH LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERLOADED, AS I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN IT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 65, JUST SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE, KY, I FELT SOME VIBRATION FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN BOOM!, THE TIRE LET GO. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN HANKOOK TIRES, AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER.

NHTSA ID
11350271
Incident
Aug 15, 2020
Mileage
159,929 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 2010

FRAME WHERE STEERING BOX IS ATTACHED FAILED. FLEXING FROM NORMAL USE CAUSED THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO CRACK AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEPARATE THE STEERING BOX FROM THE FRAME IF LEFT UNREPAIRED. REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES ON 4X4 VERSIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING FOR SOME YEARS DUE TO THE HIGHER STRESS CAUSED BY THE FRONT AXLE AND THE USE OF OVERSIZED TIRES. IN THIS CASE THE SUBURBAN IS A 1/2 TON 2WD UNIT AND HAS ALWAYS RUN ON FACTORY SIZED TIRES. CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED JANUARY 2005 WITH 106744 MI DURING A REPAIR JOB FOR A LOOSE FRAME RIVET. CURRENTLY, DECEMBER 2010 AND 206000 MI., CRACKS HAVE FORMED ON ALL MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND REQUIRES A FRAME REPAIR KIT. REPAIR INCLUDES GRINDING AND WELDING OF CRACKS; AND WELDING ADDITIONAL REENFORCING PLATES TO STRENGTHEN THE AREA.

NHTSA ID
10370051
Incident
Jan 25, 2005
Mileage
106,744 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 2, 2010

TREAD SEPARATION AROUND 9/10 OF TIRE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. RUBBER SEPARATING FROM SAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328457
Incident
Apr 30, 2010
Mileage
137,186 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 14, 2008

PEP BOYS FUTURA SCRAMBLER A/P TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234247
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
11,976 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VALVE STEM FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THE TIRE FLATTENED AND WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE VALVE STEM FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VARIOUS RECALLS PERTAINING TO VALVE STEM FAILURES AND CRACKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID
10233685
Incident
Jul 3, 2008
Mileage
51,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 7, 2003

THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD SEPARATED. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. THE SAME PART FOR THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR THE RECALL BRAKE PART AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS CLOSED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED DUE TO NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER RECALL 93V119000. *CM *SCC

NHTSA ID
10019363
Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2003

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017479
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 8, 2002
Crash reported

BRIDGESTONE LT 23585R16 DOTEP9JHND205 WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND DEFLATED, WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8020405
Incident
Oct 1, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 24, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, 2 LUG BOLTS SNAPPED OFF THE HUB AND ONE OTHER BOLT WAS LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO JACKKNIFE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD. THE TRAILER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IN A DITCH. THE REMAINING LUG BOTLS WERE MISSING THREADS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.(OHIO TRAFFIC REPOERT#10-90-210) *TT

NHTSA ID
566202
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Mar 21, 2001

ON THE 18TH OF MAR 2001, AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND ENDED UP LYING FLAT ON MY BACK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE NO KIDS WERE SITTING BEHIND ME. A SINGLE GRADE 8 BOLT BROKE. A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 100K ON IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PERFORMANCE CHEVY IN SACRAMENTO CA) TOLD ME THERE WAS A CAMPAIN TO REPLACE THE BOLTS FROM GRADE 5 TO GRADE 8. APPARENTLY THE GRADE 5 LASTED LONGER THAN THE GRADE 8. THE DEALER HERE IN OGDEN SAYS THE VEHICLE IS TO OLD AND THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR MAKING THIS A SAFER SEAT. IF THIS HAD ACCURED WHILE DRIVING THERE ISNO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. I AM NOT A COMPLAINER BUT THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS WRONG. AND WHEN I GO TO SELL THIS VEHICLE HOW CAN I SAY IT IS A SAFE CAR. HOPE YOU CAN HELP,AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS, I CANT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.. PHILLIP WILLIAMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
742826
Incident
Mar 18, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 9, 2000

ENGINE OIL COOLING LINES FROM ENGINE OIL FILTER TO ENGINE OIL COOLER WEAR AGAINST FRAME UNDER ENGINE, AND MAY CAUSE BAD ENGINE OIL LEAK . I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM TWO TIMES ONCE ON MY OWN TRUCK AND ON A FRIENDS TRUCK OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL YEAR AND GENERAL EQUIPMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
736034
Incident
Jul 13, 1999
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 45 AND ABOVE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
871511
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 19, 2000

TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ONE TIRE SHOWED A SMALL "BALLOON" ON THE SIDEWALL. I REPLACED IT. THE NEXT DAY, A DIFFERENT GOODYEAR TIRE HAD MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE INTERSTATE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.50R15 )

NHTSA ID
731859
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 26, 2000

DEAR NHTSA, I HAD MANY TIRE FAILURES WITH MY FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES. I PURCHASED THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD 57,358 MILES ON 03/19/94. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES PER YEAR. ALL THE PREVIOUS TIRE FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS I HAD WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FOR PRORATED TIRE REPAIRS. THEY KEPT TRYING TO BLAME MY BLOWOUTS ON MY ALUMINUM WHEEL RIMS ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY PREVIOUS UNIROYAL TIRES. IN 1998 AFTER YET ANOTHER TIRE PROBLEM I SWITCHED TO MICHELINS, AND I HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE IN 8/99. AT THE TIME OF THESE PROBLEMS, I WAS CONCERNED AS TO THE AMOUNT OF BLOWOUTS I HAD, AND UNTIL THE RECALL CAME OUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OF SOME RELEVANCE TO YOU. I HAVE ALL MY ORIGINAL PAPERWORK FROM FIRESTONE. MANY OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES I HAD CARRIED IN TO THE STORE SO I DON'T HAVE EXACT MILAGE OF THE TIRES. I DO POSSIBLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE TIRES ON MY PROPERTY BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME EFFORT TO RETRIEVE AND FIND IT. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOT LONGER THAN FIRESTONE HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN. I AM ALSO GOING TO CONTACT FIRESTONE' S WEBSITE AND GIVE THEM THIS INFORMATION AS WELL. SINCERELY LISA R. KING( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235-75-15 )

NHTSA ID
729227
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Nov 30, 1999

ALSO, IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, IN SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, IS UNABLE TO BE USED BECAUSE IT LOCKS UP. PASSENGER USING THAT SEAT WOULD BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT WHILE TRAVELING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF INVOVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
853509
Incident
Nov 7, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Nov 30, 1999

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO BE USED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT TO BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
853508
Incident
Nov 7, 1999
Filed Sep 22, 1999

1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PEELING PAINT - TOP OF SUBURBAN - BAD!

NHTSA ID
711794
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 15, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM FIXED BY OWNER--BOLTS IN THE SEAT WERE REPLACED. UNDER RECALL # 96V226000 GM/ BUCKET SEATS. *ML

NHTSA ID
844302
Incident
Jun 25, 1999
Body & structureBrakesInterior & seats
Filed Aug 27, 1999

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1. CRACKS DEVELOPING ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE ROOF, CAN BE A POTENTIAL DANGER IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT; 2. BRAKES CAUSE ERRATIC OPERATION WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER AROSS THE ROAD, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT; AND 3. SEATBACK WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE BACKWARDS EVERY TIME VEHICLE ROLLS OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMPS. ALSO COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE BEING OUT OF CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
846061
Incident
Feb 15, 1991
BrakesTransmission
Filed Aug 27, 1999

TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR INTO ANOTHER GEAR WHILE DRIVING. CAN TAKE OUT OF PARK & INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE WOULD GO FORWARD INSTEAD. BRAKES WOULD MAKE RATTLING SOUNDS WHEN APPLIED. WOULD HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.

NHTSA ID
846059
Incident
Jan 29, 1999
Electrical
Filed Apr 30, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AT THIS TIME NO ONE HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND A CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
836723
Incident
Apr 3, 1999
Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 1999
Crash reported

GM WAS AWARE OF THE IMPROPER COMPONENTS INSTALLED IN THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION BUT FAILED TO RECALL CAR AND CORRECT DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
703855
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 8, 1998

RECALL # 96V226000 GM/BUCKET SEATS; BOLTS WERE REPLACED ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS UNDER RECALL ABOUT ONE YEAR. THE BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAVE BROKEN AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
832016
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 10, 1998

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RETAINING BOLT, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
537571
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 19, 1998

WELDING ON THE REAR REMOVEABLE SEAT , OVER TIME HAS BECOME WEAK AND SEPARATED FROM THE TUBING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
824473
Incident
Jun 12, 1998

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.

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