RoadVitals

1987 GMC 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.
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Latest Jan 18, 2002
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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 1987 GMC 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

  • Fuel system337.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Seat belts112.5%
  • Suspension112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%
  • Transmission112.5%

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

Fuel system

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

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK FLOATING AROUND FREELY INSIDE OF GAS TANK. BAFFLE HAS KNOCKED SOME PIECES LOOSE INSIDE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 8002431 · filed Jan 18, 2002

DRIVING HOME ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 65MPH SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BY TIME GOT OUT AND POPPED THE HOOD THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT . SAID CAUSE OF FIRE WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID 809379 · filed Feb 25, 1997

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE REGULAR BRAKES ON THE TRUCK DO NOT DO WELL. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BRAKING THERE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 971321 · filed Aug 29, 1995

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

VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE RESTRAINT BELT IS PLACED INTO THE BUCKLE IT COMES OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID 816054 · filed Sep 5, 1997

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SUSPENSION; REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE SWAY AND LEAN. *AK

NHTSA ID 810617 · filed May 6, 1997

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE 1987 GMC SUBURBAN, LICENSE #BVW 5641WAS BEING DRIVEN ON I-40 AT 65 MPH. THE CRASH TOOK PLACE JUST SOUTH OF THE 138 EXIT, NEAR GREENSBORO.THE CRASH WAS INVESTIGATED BY TROOPER GLENN M. POWELL, MASTER TROOPER, TROOP D, DISTRICT 2, GILFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL, 650 FRANCIS STREET, HIGH POINT, NC 27263. OFFICE: 336-883-6155 COMMUNICATIONS 1-800-445-8621. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 22417 UR B TIRESIZE: 31X10.50R)

NHTSA ID 737646 · filed Dec 11, 2000

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING FLUID TO SPRAY ALL OVER ENGINE MANIFOLD & THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID 849787 · filed Nov 23, 1999

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 .