1988 GMC SUBURBAN
2 recalls, 8 complaints - 2 TSBs
93V016000 Feb 1, 1993
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Defect Description
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence
THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
89V010000 Jan 30, 1989
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Defect Description
DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE.
Consequence
IN A CRASH, AFFECTED BELTS WOULD NOT LOCK, THEREBYINCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy
INSTALL A NEW DRIVERS SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
Complaint Statistics
8 total complaints
2 deaths
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| SEATS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
SUSPENSION
Jul 28, 2005
Incident date: Feb 26, 2002
CONSUMER REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING GM TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED IN HER 1988 SUBURBAN.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. *NM
TIRES
Dec 11, 2002
Incident date: Dec 5, 2002
I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT HAD TWO ATX TIRES ON IT UNTIL ONE WENT FLAT AND I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE TIRE DEALER SAID THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. HOW CAN A RECALL EXPIRE? I DO... Read more
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Oct 20, 2000
Incident date: Oct 16, 2000
SHOULDER BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ASPECT OF PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER COULD ONLY SAY THAT IT WAS VERY POORLY PRODUCED. THEY COULD ONLY SAY IT WAS DISCONTINUED. CONSUMER WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION & EQUIPMENT. *AK
STRUCTURE
Oct 20, 1998
DURING COLLISION CONSUMERS WERE EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMERS)
2 deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Jun 28, 1996
Incident date: May 22, 1996
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
May 28, 1996
Incident date: May 15, 1996
WHEN JACKING THE TRUCK UP THE GEARS, THE JACK LOCKS UP AND THE JACK WILL NOT LET THE TRUCK DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Mar 14, 1996
Incident date: Jul 1, 1992
FOUR SEAT BELTS IN VEHICLE, NONE OF THE BUCKLES WILL LOCK. *DSH
SEATS
May 11, 1995
Incident date: Jan 10, 1995
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK ANCHOR BOLT SHEARED OFF PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-187), CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 480470). *SKD
Technical Service Bulletins, 1988 GMC SUBURBAN
2 manufacturer communications from 2 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 063200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| 100000 POWER TRAIN | 1 |
990730016A
Oct 1, 2002
100000 POWER TRAIN
DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT
376602A
Jan 1, 1995
063200 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
NHTSA Safety Investigations, GMC SUBURBAN
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
PE92026
Opened: Mar 6, 1992 , Closed: Jun 24, 1992
SEAT BACK FAILURES
There is no summary currently available
PE92005
Opened: Jan 16, 1992 , Closed: May 28, 1992
BRAKE LINE ABRASION
There is no summary currently available
PE91020
Opened: Nov 30, 1990 , Closed: Apr 30, 1991
FUEL TANK BAFFLE/STALLS
There is no summary currently available
DP90017
Opened: Aug 24, 1990 , Closed: Dec 21, 1990
INADEQUATE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD
INADEQUATE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD
PE90026
Opened: Dec 12, 1989 , Closed: Apr 9, 1990
IMPROPER SPEED CONTROL
There is no summary currently available
PE90004
Opened: Oct 10, 1989 , Closed: Feb 2, 1990
TRAILER HITCH SEPERATION
There is no summary currently available
GMC SUBURBAN - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the GMC SUBURBAN across all model years (1966, 2003).
48
Total Recalls
2,329
Total Complaints
6
Investigations
246
Reported Crashes
39
Reported Fires
14
Reported Deaths
GMC SUBURBAN - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | View |
| 2003 | 1 | 8 | View |
| 2002 | 1 | 9 | View |
| 2001 | 2 | 5 | View |
| 2000 | 2 | 20 | View |
| 1999 | 2 | 393 | View |
| 1998 | 3 | 137 | View |
| 1997 | 3 | 268 | View |
| 1996 | 4 | 220 | View |
| 1995 | 7 | 294 | View |
| 1994 | 6 | 490 | View |
| 1993 | 2 | 254 | View |
| 1992 | 4 | 105 | View |
| 1991 | 2 | 33 | View |
| 1990 | 2 | 28 | View |
| 1989 | 2 | 24 | View |
| 1988 (current) | 2 | 8 | |
| 1987 | 0 | 8 | View |
| 1986 | 0 | 4 | View |
| 1985 | 0 | 6 | View |
| 1984 | 0 | 5 | View |
| 1983 | 0 | 2 | View |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | View |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | View |