Model year record

1989 GMC Suburban

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 24 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V187000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
604,207
Reported to NHTSA
1993-11-16
Owners notified
1994-01-20

Defect description

THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN 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.

Safety risk

IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V016000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component
Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,702,880
Reported to NHTSA
1993-02-01
Owners notified
1993-03-13

Defect description

UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.

Safety risk

THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Seats: front assembly: recliner3
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control2
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar2
Tires213,982 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1
Engine and engine cooling1
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Power train: automatic transmission1
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seat belts: front: retractor1
Seat belts: rear/other1
Seats1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump1
Unknown or other1

The 1988 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 1990 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.