RoadVitals

1991 GMC Suburban

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
30
Latest Mar 1, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Nov 4, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
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.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 GMC Suburban, most frequently naming the interior & seats, brakes and tires & wheels categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Interior & seats1136.7%
  • Brakes930.0%
  • Tires & wheels310.0%
  • Seat belts310.0%
  • Driver assistance13.3%
  • Powertrain (other)13.3%
  • Body & structure13.3%
  • Engine13.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
96V226000

SEATS

Nov 4, 1996
32,596 units potentially affected
The defect: THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN 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.
The risk: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
93V016000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Feb 1, 1993
1,702,880 units potentially affected
The defect: UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
The risk: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 93-C-07View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA94029ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jul 29, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1996

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EA92022ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE

Opened Jun 24, 1992
Closed Nov 19, 1993

There is no summary currently available

SEATSLed to recall 93V187000
PE92026ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BACK FAILURES

Opened Mar 6, 1992
Closed Jun 24, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SEATS
PE92005ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE LINE ABRASION

Opened Jan 16, 1992
Closed May 28, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 30
Seat belts
Filed Mar 1, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME UNBOLTED FROM THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061072
Mileage
206,095 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 27, 2000

RECALL FOR COLLAPSE OF DRIVER SEAT,RECALL DONE, SEAT COLLAPSED AFTER RECALL REPAIR???*AK

NHTSA ID
735280
Incident
Oct 27, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 26, 2000
1 injury reported

(LA SUPERIOR COURT,CASE NO.PC018776) A POLICE OFFICER BECAME A PARAPLEGIC AFTER THE GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT (LT235/85R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE OFFICER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. ATTORNEY IS WRITING IN WITH SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF TREAD SEPARATIONS AND INJURIES, POLICE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED WITH DETAILED INFORMATION. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT (BRIAN MATHEWS) WAS REPRESENTED IN COURT BY THE LAW FIRM (GREENE,BROILLET,TAYLOR, WHEELER & PANISH LLP). ATTORNEY IS WRITING IN WITH SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF TREAD SEPARATIONS AND INJURIES, POLICE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED WITH DETAILED INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
556651
Incident
Jan 25, 1996
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 30, 2000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 405 IN LOS ANGELES AT 65 MPH LAST THURSDAY NIGHT AT 10 PM. MY LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO COME APART AS IF THE SKIN WAS COMING OFF OF IT. I DID NOT CRASH BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY ONTO AN EXIT. THE TIRE APPEARS TO BE SHREDDING LIKE THE ONES I HAVE SEEN ON TELEVISION AND IN THE NEWSPAPER, EVENT THOUGH IT IS A DIFFERENT FIRESTONE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRE AND CALLED FIRESTONE, AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. I DRIVE 2 HOURS A DAY TO WORK AND I CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR, WHICH I NEED TO NOW DO. I AM ALSO VERY ANGRY BECAUSE I AM SO CAREFUL TO KEEP MY CAR IN WORKING ORDER ON THE LOS ANGELES FREEWAY, WHICH YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT PULL OVER ON SAFELY, AND IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. AND I HAD TO CHANGE MY TIRE AFTER A 13 HOUR WORKDAY. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS SITUATION. (TIRESIZE: L23585R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: L23585R16 )

NHTSA ID
732992
Incident
Sep 21, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 30, 2000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 405 IN LOS ANGELES AT 65 MPH LAST THURSDAY NIGHT AT 10 PM. MY LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO COME APART AS IF THE SKIN WAS COMING OFF OF IT. I DID NOT CRASH BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY ONTO AN EXIT. THE TIRE APPEARS TO BE SHREDDING LIKE THE ONES I HAVE SEEN ON TELEVISION AND IN THE NEWSPAPER, EVENT THOUGH IT IS A DIFFERENT FIRESTONE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRE AND CALLED FIRESTONE, AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. I DRIVE 2 HOURS A DAY TO WORK AND I CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR, WHICH I NEED TO NOW DO. I AM ALSO VERY ANGRY BECAUSE I AM SO CAREFUL TO KEEP MY CAR IN WORKING ORDER ON THE LOS ANGELES FREEWAY, WHICH YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT PULL OVER ON SAFELY, AND IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. AND I HAD TO CHANGE MY TIRE AFTER A 13 HOUR WORKDAY. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS SITUATION. (TIRESIZE: L23585R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: L23585R16 )

NHTSA ID
732991
Incident
Sep 21, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 2000

THE PROBLEM: THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOSE POWER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET FIXED. THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON ANYMORE. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED ALL THE COMPONENTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. NOW THE BRAKES ARE REALLY MUSHY AND THE TRUCK PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER CHANGED THE SPEED SENSOR, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS.

NHTSA ID
729828
Incident
Aug 14, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 1999

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V226000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE GIVEN. PICKED VEHICLE UP. RECALL WORK NOT DONE. VEHICLE IN SAME LOCATION. BOLTS WERE NEVER REPLACED. ORIGINAL BOLTS STILL ON SEAT & STILL RUSTY. SEATBACK HAD BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
849011
Seat belts
Filed Sep 21, 1999

REAR PASSENGERS RESTRAINTS DO NOT RETRACT OR PULL OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848224

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

020730024A

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

990730016A

POWER TRAIN

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT

376105

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

COLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TW

376602A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

NEW CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STAINLESS STEEL GASKET TO CORRECT ENGINE NOISE CONDITION. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Suburban by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004100—
2003512—
2002711—
2001522—
2000152148.1
19992852051.8
19981003052.7
19972003559.9
19961724560.6
19952277763.8
19944116368.1
19932122365.5
1992804270.3
1991Viewing302459.6
1990222462.6
1989172464.5
1988825—
1987803—
1986402—
1985301—
1984501—
1983200—
1982010—
1981010—
1974100—
1966010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.