1989 GMC SUBURBAN

2 recalls, 24 complaints - 2 TSBs

SEATS

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

604,207 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

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.

1,702,880 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

24 total complaints 2 crashes 1 fires 5 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	2
TIRES	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL	2
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER	1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT	1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP	1

Incident date: Jul 2, 2004

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Jun 15, 2003

WE PURCHASED A 1989 GMC SUBURBAN IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THE PERSON WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TOLD US THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE PAINT HAD BEEN RECALLED, BUT HE HAD NEVER CHECKED INTO IT. UPON US TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO SEARCH ON THE WEB AND CAME UPON YOUR INFORMATION AND TOOK TH... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2003

Incident date: Jun 26, 2003

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. STEELTEX RADIAL LT TIRES. *AK THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD RUN LOW, BUT NEVER MORE THAN 2 PSI HIGH. (NEVER ANY IMPACT) THE BLOWOUT HAPPENED ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT A LOW SPEED. THERE WERE NEVER ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE TIRES. THE BLOWOUT HAD A "T" SHAPED 4-5" EDGE OF TREAD, W... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 1998

THE TIRE BLEW UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED A WRECK AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

Crash 1 injured

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE COMIG FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1992

BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE.

EXHAUST MAINFOLD TO CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO HEAT STRESS EXHAUST LEAKAGE IS APPARENT.

Incident date: Feb 1, 1997

BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

Incident date: May 30, 1997

PASSENGER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DUE TO FAILURE OF BOLT BREAKAGE, CAUSED INJURY.

1 injured

Incident date: May 30, 1997

AS A RESULT OF RECLINER BUCKET SEAT RECALL, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE AND THE ENTIRE BACK OF SEAT RELEASED, INJURING CONSUMER'S WIFE. *AK

1 injured

Incident date: Feb 28, 1997

TRANSMISSSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING FIRE.

Fire

Incident date: Mar 1, 1995

POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.

Incident date: Mar 1, 1995

POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.

Incident date: Mar 1, 1995

POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.

Incident date: Mar 27, 1996

THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS COME LOOE AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL FROM TIME TO TIME. *AK

Incident date: Mar 27, 1996

THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS COME LOOE AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL FROM TIME TO TIME. *AK

Incident date: Feb 10, 1996

THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO PART. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Incident date: Feb 22, 1994

DRIVERS CHAIR SLIPPED BACK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY PRIOR TO RECALL.(93V187000) *DSH

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Jan 1, 1991

SEATBELT RETRACTOR ON BACK SEAT FAILED, REPLACED TWICE AND THE BUCKLE LOCKS UP. TT

Incident date: Jan 1, 1991

SEATBELT RETRACTOR ON BACK SEAT FAILED, REPLACED TWICE AND THE BUCKLE LOCKS UP. TT

THE DRIVER AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT LAP BELT BROKE . TT

Technical Service Bulletins, 1989 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

100000 POWER TRAIN

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT

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.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1988

SEAT BACK FAILURES