RoadVitals

1992 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.
80
Latest Mar 10, 2009
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
23

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 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

  • Brakes6772.8%
  • Visibility1213.0%
  • Suspension33.3%
  • Other / unspecified22.2%
  • Electrical22.2%
  • Engine22.2%
  • Transmission22.2%
  • Body & structure11.1%
  • Powertrain (other)11.1%

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

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

67
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALWAY DOWN TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE MAKES NOISES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 886047 · filed Apr 16, 2001

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE MAKING A STOP, AND ALL BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.*AK

NHTSA ID 882582 · filed Mar 9, 2001
All 67 reports naming brakes

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND USUALLY FAILS WHEN IT IS WET OR HUMID. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE HAD IT. ALSO WAS A CONSISTANT PROBLEM ON THE 89 SHEVY 1 TON PICKUP I HAD BEFORE.

NHTSA ID 10005005 · filed Jan 31, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN ON, THE CONSUMER TAPS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THIS WILL GET IT WORKING FOR A WHILE. *SLC

NHTSA ID 557611 · filed Nov 28, 2000
All 12 reports naming visibility

Suspension

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

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

REAR BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID 532993 · filed Mar 24, 1998

WHEN COLD OR WHEN VEHICLE GETS WET ABS BRAKES LOCK UP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKES VERY TOUGHY AND GRAB BAD WHEN IT IS COLD, RIGHT REAR DOOR DEFOGGER INOPERATIVE,RIGHT AXLE SEAL LEAK,LEFT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF. *ET

NHTSA ID 817615 · filed Oct 24, 1997

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE WBCCI, A CONSUMER ASSOCIATION STATED THAT THE OEM TRAILER TOWING HITCH PLATFORMS HAD FAILED AND CONSUMER HAS AN REQUESTED INVESTIGATION. (OEM TRAILER TOWING HITCH PLATFORMS ON 1992-1999) *YH

NHTSA ID 556288 · filed Oct 18, 2000

BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON SLICK SURFACES & BUMPY SURFACES THEY EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

NHTSA ID 538798 · filed Aug 4, 1998

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

REAR BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID 532993 · filed Mar 24, 1998

THE SERPENTINE BELT MAKES NOISE TOOK TO DEALER EIGHT TIMES DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . TT DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP PULLEY ALSO. VEHICLE KEEPS EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKS, DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 GASKETS AND AN OIL FILTER. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. ALTERNATOR REPLACED. REAR SPEAKERS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID 974602 · filed Nov 6, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, 65-70MPH, FOOT FELT HEAT, TURNED HEAT OFF, VAN STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN EVERYONE WAS OUT OF VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, REPORT WAS TAKEN, NO INJURIES. VEHICLE TOTALLED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID 835208 · filed Feb 24, 1999

THE SERPENTINE BELT MAKES NOISE TOOK TO DEALER EIGHT TIMES DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . TT DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP PULLEY ALSO. VEHICLE KEEPS EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKS, DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 GASKETS AND AN OIL FILTER. FRONT BRAKES REPLACED. ALTERNATOR REPLACED. REAR SPEAKERS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID 974602 · filed Nov 6, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH MY 1992 GMC K2500 SUBURBAN IT BURNED TRANNY UP IF I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGULFED 1 PERSON RECEIVED A NON SUTURED LACERATION ON FOR HEAD FELL WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE TO GET AWAY FROM FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE ON TRANNY PROBLEM THE ONLY THING THAT GOT DAMAGED WAS MY SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT DID TO THE UNDERNEATH I HAVE TO CHECK. *TR

NHTSA ID 10261461 · filed Mar 10, 2009

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. *SD

NHTSA ID 506435 · filed Jul 14, 1996

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT 'HITCH PLATFORM' WHICH IS USED TO PULL AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER, 8900 LBS, IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID 882782 · filed Mar 12, 2001

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. *SD

NHTSA ID 506435 · filed Jul 14, 1996

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 .