1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

1 recalls, 1 complaints

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Defect Description

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT THE RETAINER CLIP FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD. THE ABSENCE OF THIS RETAINER CLIP COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE MASTER CYCLINDER PUSH ROD.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE RETAINER CLIP ON ALL SUSPECT VEHICLES WITHOUT CHARGE.

364 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

1 total complaints

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
TIRES	1

Incident date: Jun 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKING SEVERELY. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED IT. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE SHAKING BEGAN AGAIN. AFTER ANOTHER INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND. *AK... Read more

NHTSA Safety Investigations, CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2000

OVERHEATED FUEL PUMP WIRING

IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 14, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT HAD IDENTIFIED A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY IN APPROXIMATELY 316,508 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-01 1500 SERIES CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND GMC YUKON XL VEHICLES (RECALL 05V-155).GM DETERMINED THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE... EQUIPPED WITH FUEL MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRAS) THAT CONTAIN FUEL PUMP WIRES AND/OR CONNECTORS THAT MAY OVERHEAT UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, FUEL PUMP WIRES THAT OVERHEAT MAY RESULT IN ONE OR MORE CONDITIONS THAT PRESENT RISKS TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY:(1) FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE MRA PASS-THROUGH CONNECTOR IF THE OVERHEATING PRODUCES A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR; (2) ENGINE STALL IF WIRING EXPOSED BY THE OVERHEATING SHORTS TO GROUND AND CAUSES THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO BLOW; OR (3) INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS IF OVERHEATED WIRING IS SHORTED TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENDER CARD.GM'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE OVERHEATED WIRING AS A HIGH-RESISTANCE CONDITION IN THE MRA CONNECTOR CONTACTS DUE TO FRETTING CORROSION THAT MAY DEVELOP OVER TIME.GM DETERMINED THAT THE CORROSION IS CAUSED BY MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CONTACT SURFACES AND THAT SUCH MOVEMENT IS PRIMARILY INFLUENCED BY CHASSIS AND FUEL TANK VIRBRATION CHARACTERISTICS.GM'S TESTING FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK VIBRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECALLED MY 2000-01 1500-SERIES VEHICLES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN IN OTHER GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME MRA CONNECTORS.THESE VEHICLES HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF RELATED FUEL LEAK AND STALL COMPLAINTS; AND A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY GM FOUND EVIDENCE OF MRA WIRING OVER-HEATING IN ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF THE 1500-SERIES VEHICLES INSPECTED. OTHER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT MRA CONNECTOR AND EVALUATED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MY 2000-01 2500-SERIES SUBUBRAN AND YUKON XL VEHICLES, WHICH FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF EA04-026, AND PEER POPULATIONS OF SHORT WHEELBASE YUKON AND TAHOE UTILITY VEHICLES AND FULL-SIZE SILVERADO AND SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 05V-155 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:(1) THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FUEL TANKS WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS VIBRATION AT THE MRA INTERFACE THAN THE RECALLED VEHICLES; (2) THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE IS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER IN THE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SHORT-WHEELBASE UTILITY VEHICLES DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN FUEL TANK CONFIGURATION AND NO INCIDENTS OF FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO OVERHEATED WIRING WERE VERIFIED IN THESE VEHICLES; (3) THERE THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY THREE POTENTIALLY RELATED COMPLAINTS OF FUEL LEAKAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERHEATED WIRING CONDITION IN THE 2500-SERIES LONG-WHEELBASE UTILITY VEHICLES; AND (4) NO EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATED WIRING WAS FOUND IN THE 2500-SERIES SUBURBAN AND YUKON XL VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS INSPECTED BY GM IN ITS VEHICLE SURVEY EFFORTS AND THE RATE FOUND IN THE SHORT-WHEELBASE UTILITIES WAS LOWER THAN THE RECALLED VEHICLES BY AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE EXPERIENCE IN THE 2500 SERIES MY 2000-01 LONG-WHEELBASE UTILITY VEHICLES.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS FOR THE 2500 SERIES VEHICLES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES.Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2000

OVERHEATED FUEL PUMP WIRING

THE FUEL PUMP WIRING AND CONNECTOR MAY OVERHEAT AND MELT A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE FUEL TANK LEAKAGE AND ENGINE STALL WITH NO RESTART.FOURTEEN OF THE 20 COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGE FUEL TANK LEAKAGE, INCLUDING ONE THAT REPORTED THAT A FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CA... LLED TO THE SCENE AFTER A POOL OF GASOLINE WAS DISCOVERED BENEATH THE VEHICLE.MOST OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS REPORT INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. ACCORDING TO GM, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IF THE HEAT IS SUFFICIENT TO MELT A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR LARGE ENOUGH FOR LIQUID FUEL TO FLOW THROUGH.ON-BOARD EMISSIONS DIAGNOSTICS MAY DETECT HOLES THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 0.040 INCHES OR MORE AND SET A SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT.THE CONNECTOR POSITION IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS BELOW THE FUEL LEVEL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL.WHILE GM DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL COULD LEAK FROM A TANK WITH A MELTED FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR, SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED SIGNIFICANT LEAK EVENTS.ENGINE STALL CAN OCCUR IF:(1) A SHORT OCCURS IN THE PUMP WIRING (BARE WIRE EXPOSED BY MELTED INSULATION SHORTS AGAINST A GROUND OR GROUND WIRE) AND THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FUSE IS BLOWN; OR (2) THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL DUE TO AN INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE READING RESULTING FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP WIRING AND THE LEVEL SENSOR WIRING. GM'S ANALYSIS OF FIVE ASSEMBLIES RETURNED FROM INCIDENT VEHICLES DETERMINED THAT THE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY ELEVATED RESISTANCE/ ARCING AT THE MRA UNDERCOVER B CAVITY TERMINAL OF THE FOUR-WAY 150 METRI-PAK CONNECTOR.GM ATTRIBUTES THE HIGH RESISTANCE AND ARCING TO A DEPRESSED CONTACT ARM AT THE 150 METRI-PAK B CAVITY FEMALE TERMINAL.GM IS CONTINUING ITS INVESTIGATION TO COMPLETE ITS ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS. MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES USING THE 150 METRI-PAK CONNECTORS WERE USED BY GM IN SEVERAL MILLION C/K-SERIES SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS FROM MY 1997 THROUGH 2002, WHEN GM RELEASED A METAL MRA COVER AND A 280 METRI-PAK CONNECTOR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.DURING PE04-042, ODI COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM GM CONCERNING MY 2000-2002 C/K SUV'S AND PICKUP TRUCKS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES COMPRISE APPROXIMATELY 9 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR THOSE VEHICLES AND ABOUT 39 PERCENT OF COMPLAINTS TO GM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN GM C/K-SERIES VEHICLES.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1995

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

There is no summary currently available

DP, Open , Model Year: 1993

OEM HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM CRACKING

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

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1997

ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIV

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREN... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1994

DRIVERS SEAT FAILURE

THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE OR TIP REARWARD INTO A RECLINED POSITION.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1995

UNDERSEAT VEHICLE FIRES

ALLEGED SHORTING OF WIRE FOR POWER SEAT CAUSES UNDERSEAT FIRE.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1992

POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE

POOR PERFORMANCE OF ABS BRAKES

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1984

POOR BRAKING ON PANIC STOP

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the CHEVROLET SUBURBAN across all model years (1981, 2024).

178 Total Recalls

10,548 Total Complaints

9 Investigations

814 Reported Crashes

186 Reported Fires

21 Reported Deaths

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2024	1	49	View
2023	3	141	View
2022	4	150	View
2021	12	242	View
2020	4	60	View
2019	3	92	View
2018	4	111	View
2017	5	184	View
2016	6	297	View
2015	11	588	View
2014	3	77	View
2013	4	170	View
2012	4	139	View
2011	3	193	View
2010	3	161	View
2009	5	133	View
2008	4	276	View
2007	4	358	View
2006	1	33	View
2005	7	161	View
2004	6	265	View
2003	7	361	View
2002	4	352	View
2001	8	543	View
2000	11	382	View
1999	2	861	View
1998	3	299	View
1997	3	556	View
1996	4	531	View
1995	7	587	View
1994	6	1,038	View
1993	2	616	View
1992	5	226	View
1991	4	65	View
1990	4	67	View
1989	4	68	View
1988	4	35	View
1987	1	21	View
1986	0	7	View
1985	0	12	View
1984	0	6	View
1983	0	4	View
1982	1	1	View
1981 (current)	1	1
1979	0	1	View
1978	0	3	View
1977	0	3	View

Other CHEVROLET Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
TAHOE	240	12,622	View
MALIBU	216	29,080	View
SILVERADO 1500	200	22,534	View
CORVETTE	187	6,308	View
CAMARO	179	4,298	View
SILVERADO	159	10,964	View
SILVERADO 3500	152	1,409	View
EXPRESS	151	838	View

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