1996 GMC Suburban

THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT CRACKS IN THE HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM MAY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE TRAILER AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, RESULTING IN THE UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE HIGH RATE OF WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR PROBLEMS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WITH THE RECOGNITION THE EACH INCIDENT OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE REPRESENTS A CONDITION OF VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER'S EVALUATION OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, AND THIS OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN THE DETAILS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT.

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

1996 GMC SUBURBAN, CAUGHT ON FIRE. BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0580-91 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10321947

Incident

Feb 4, 2009

TRAVELING UP FROM VA, THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE WHICH IS A LT245/75R16 MOUNTED ON A 1996 2500 SUBURBAN LOAD RANGE E TIRE RATED AT MAX 80 PSI, WAS INFLATED TO 65 PSI. I FELT A BOBBLING THEN THE TREAD CAME OFF THE CASING, DAMAGING THE SIDE OF MY SUBURBAN, RIPPING OFF THE MUD FLAP AND DAMAGE THE PAINT AS IT FLOPPED AROUND AND JUST RIPPED ITSELF OFF. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT BUT LOST THE ENTIRE TREAD PORTION. THIS SET OF FOUR WAS PURCHASE AND WAS EXACT REPLACEMENT FROM OEM TIRE WHEN NEW. THERE IS ABOUT 80% TREAD ON TIRES. FIRESTONE IS TELLING ME TO RUN 45 PSI IN THE FRONT END 80 PSI IN THE REAR. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS ACCURATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183227

Incident

Feb 21, 2007

Mileage

83,332 mi

ON THE GMC 6.5 THE PMD, OR PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER FAILS DUE TO HEAT FAILURE, ALSO FAILING FOR NO REASON IN 8 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. WHEN IT FAILS THERE ARE NO SIGNS, WARNINGS JUST STALLING THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES GONE. NOW PUT YOURSELF ON A 2 MILE HILL OF AN INSANE DESCENT, AND YOURSELF BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THIS IS INSANITY THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY HELP YOU IF THERE IS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON YOUR CAR, AND THEN ALL THEY DO IS REPLACE THE PUMP, WHEN THE PUMP ISN'T THE PROBLEM ITS THE PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPOKEN TO AND BEEN TO THE MANUFACTURERS AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, THIS IS THE MANUFACTURER! BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW AFTER 11 YEARS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ONLY A RIP AND REPLACE, AND IF THERE'S TO MANY MILES TO BAD FOR YOU. I HAVE TRIED ALMOST EVERY AFTER MARKET SOLUTION OUT THERE AND THESE MANUFACTURERS TOO ARE BAFFLED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. SO WHY IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM ARE THERE A DOZEN BUSINESS MAKING MONEY OFF OF TRYING TO FIX THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM? IF THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE BLAME THAN WHO DOES? THE FAMILY OF 7 THAT WROTE IN? WHEN THEY DIE IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE , BECAUSE ITS NOT A MATTER OF IF, ITS A MATTER OF WHEN, AND I HOPE THAT DAY NEVER HAPPENS. BUT I HOPE THAT MORE THAN THE FAMILY HAS TROUBLE SLEEPING BECAUSE I FEEL BETTER FOR TRYING TO AVOID THIS CATASTROPHE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. SINCERELY CONCERNED, JON LAMB

NHTSA ID

10182187

Incident

Feb 10, 2007

Mileage

197,446 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/18/2006 - THE INJECTOR PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL FAILED AGAIN. *NM THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTED TO RECALL FIXED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. RECALL NUMBERS 96V057000 AND 03V159000. UPDATED 03/21/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174069

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

208,671 mi

LIMITED RECALL LIMITS MY SAFETY! I HAD A RECENT CLOSE CALL IN MY 1996 GMC SUBURBAN. THE BRAKES BEGAN TO ANTI-LOCK ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN ANTI-LOCK ASSISTANCE WAS NOT REQUIRED, THUS GREATLY INCREASING MY STOPPING DISTANCE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT PRESSED HARD; THE ANTI-LOCK SHOULD NOT HAVE ENGAGED. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. CURRENTLY MY SUBURBAN IS NOT COVERED UNDER GM'S RECENT LIMITED RECALL. HOWEVER, ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THIS SITUATION; MY TRUCK NEEDS TO BE COVERED. MY CONCERN IS NOT A TRIVIAL, MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS IS AT HAND. GM SHOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE CARE OF A SAFETY ISSUE. I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE IN THE DETROIT NEWS ABOUT GM'S RECALL OF 1.4 MILLION 99-02 FULL SIZE TRUCKS AND SUV'S IN 20 STATES. THE RECALL CONCERNS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WHEEL HUB SENSOR GETTING INACCURATE READINGS. THE ARTICLE BROUGHT THE SEVERITY AND CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS RECALL AND MY PROBLEM TO MY ATTENTION. PROPER RECALL PROCEDURES NEED TO COVER ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED, NOT LIMITED BY MILEAGE, AGE, OR LOCATION. SAFETY NEEDS TO BE THE MAIN CONCERN, NOT A POLITICAL OR FINANCIAL AGENDA OF AUTOMAKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO MY CONCERNS. *NM..UPDATED 07/01/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10150785

Incident

Dec 22, 2005

DT: 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 05068 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES ON THE 1999 THROUGH 2002 MODELS. WAS ISSUED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER YET, BUT THE CONSUMER KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS MAKE AN MODEL, AND YEAR FOR THE ABS. THE ABS ACTIVATED BETWEEN 3-10 MPH, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, NOT EVERY TIME. NOW, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. COULD NOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE ABS FAILED.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10136238

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

74,000 mi

I HAD A FIRESTONE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY SUBURBAN. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BELT AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY SUBURBAN. MY SUBURBAN IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY BUT THE RENTAL COVERAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN EXCEEDED. I AM LEGALLY DISABLED AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL COST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138580

Incident

Aug 15, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN. WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT. HE WAS PULLING A TRAILER, WITH THE TRAILER AND THE TRUCK IT WEIGHS FROM ANY WHERE 10-15,000 POUNDS. THERE IS A BOLT THAT 3 QUARTERS INCH LONG . PUT THE TWO CABLES TOGETHER AND BOLTED IT INTO THE SIDE BATTERY. THE BOLT BECAME LOOSE. HAD ALL THE POWER NECESSARY TO STEER OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING THIS TRAILER IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE INSERT IN THE BATTERY, WHERE THE THREAD SECTION WAS PUT THE BOLT INTO. IF TIGHTEN EDIT IT PUTS A HOLE IN THE BATTERY AND STARTS TO LEAK BATTERY ACID. EVERY MORNING HE TIGHTENS THE BOLT A LITTLE BIT. CONSUMER SPOKEN WITH GM , AND THEY IGNORED IT. ALSO SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP . THEY DID NOT EVEN BELIEVE HIM. ONE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE CABLE BECAUSE IT DETERIORATED. HE HAS REPLACED FOR FOUR BATTERIES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE .*AK

NHTSA ID

10129182

Incident

Jul 15, 1999

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.