1990 GMC SUBURBAN

2 recalls, 28 complaints - 4 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

28 total complaints 3 crashes 4 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE	4
SEATS	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	4
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION	1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY	1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT	1

Incident date: Mar 3, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE METAL PARKING BRAKE CABLE WEARS INTO THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES, THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE WAS ALMOST WORN TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, THE METAL PARKING BRAKE CABLE DOES HAVE A METAL SLEEVE ON IT TO PROTECT THE RUBBER HOSE, BUT... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2002

Incident date: Aug 1, 2000

CONSUMER RAISED HOOD; ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, AFTER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DOUGLAS BATTERY SUDDENLY BLEW UP, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *TT

1 injured

Incident date: Mar 3, 2002

I BELIEVE THE SUBURBAN SERIES VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKE HOSE(FROM THE BODY TO A CONNECTOR ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL) IS USED AS A SUPPORT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE STRONGER, HEAVIER PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUBS ON THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING THE RUB... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2002

Incident date: Oct 8, 2000

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED RACING. COULD NOT STOP. PUT IN NUETRAL,ENGINE RACING. SHUT ENGINE . LATER FOUND THAT THE HOOK FROM SERVO HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF AND THE BAR ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE THROTTLE. THIS HOOK SHOULD NOT BE OF A MATERIAL THAT CAN RUST & BRE... Read more

Incident date: Nov 4, 2000

UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED 9/25/99 BY SUSPENSION PLUS IN SAN DIEGO USING MCQUAY NORRIS PARTS.. ON OR ABOUT 11/04/2000 THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING AT LOW SPEED LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE FRONT END. SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION DETERMINED THAT THE REPLAC... Read more

Incident date: Jan 30, 2001

LEFT REAR TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE ROLLED AT A HIGH SPEED ONTO INCOMING TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP RIGHT AWAY AND DRUM WAS DRAGGED 192 FEET, ONCE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WAS UP ON SIDEWALK, POSSIBLY RELATED TO LUG NUT FAILURE, REPAIR INCLUDED NEW LOCKS FOR THE LUG NUTS. *JB

Incident date: Jan 30, 2001

CONSUMER WAS HEARING NOISE FROM BRAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WAS INSPECTED, AND WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT BRAKES WERE NEEDED, AND REAR SHOCKS WERE LEAKING. *JB

Incident date: Jan 30, 2001

CONSUMER WAS HEARING NOISE FROM BRAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WAS INSPECTED, AND WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT BRAKES WERE NEEDED, AND REAR SHOCKS WERE LEAKING. *JB

Incident date: Nov 15, 2000

FRAME OF SEAT BACK SNAPPED WHEN DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND GOT INTO SEAT. *AK

Incident date: Sep 14, 1995

RECALL 93V187000, WAS PERFORMED, SEAT BOLTS BROKE 2 TIMES AFTER THAT, AND 3RD TIME CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE SEAT FRAME. *AK

Incident date: Feb 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. BUT, CONSUMER COULD KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. BRIDGESTONE 31.1050 R16. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1999

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY FIRST GMC PURCHASE SO FAR. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF BUYING THIS CAR, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE. NOW, TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I DONT UNDERSTAND H... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN EMERGENCY STOPPING PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Oct 12, 1998

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHERE L WAS SITTING STILL AND WAS THEN REARENDED AND CONSEQUENTLY FLEW THROUGH THE AIR AND HIT A FULL SIZE FORD PICKUP. WHEN L WAS HIT THE THIRD SEAT IN THE SUBURBAN WAS KNOCKED OFF THE BOLTS AND PUSHED INTO THE SECOND SEAT. MORE SEVERELY, THE DRIVERS SEAT (B... Read more

Crash 1 injured

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Incident date: May 17, 1998

DRIVER'S SEAT BOLTS FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE.

1 injured

Incident date: Oct 23, 1997

CONSUMER WAS LEAVING A STOP LIGHT UP TO 15 MPH. WHEN SHE HIT BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE RESISTING WITH A MUSHY FEELING. THERE WAS NO SUPPORT OF GRABBING, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING FORWARD, RESULTING IN A CRASH, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Crash 1 injured

CONSUMER CAN BE RELEASING BRAKE, STARTING OUT AT APPROX 5-10 MPH WHEN CONSUMER NEEDS TO MAKE SUDDEN STOP BRAKES WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY, PUSHES BRAKE TO FLOOR, , TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE VEHICLE WILLSTRT TO BRAKE. *AK

RECALL # 93V18700. OWNER STATED THAT THE BOLTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN VEHICLE. BOLTS NEED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. DEALER NOT WILLING TO REPLACE WITHOUT CHARGE. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HIS SEAT RECLINER AND THAT HE HAD WORK DONE ON SEAT; HOWEVER, 40,000 MILES LATER THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN. *AK

Incident date: Aug 12, 1996

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK *JB

Incident date: Aug 12, 1996

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK *JB

Incident date: Nov 7, 1994

THE TRUCK HAS ABS. THE BRAKES RELEASE ON A BUMPY ROAD AND DO NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Crash

Incident date: Jul 3, 1994

CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED, SHE IS STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SEAT FAILED. TT

Incident date: Jun 23, 1995

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE POPPED OFF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Technical Service Bulletins, 1990 GMC SUBURBAN

4 manufacturer communications from 4 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
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	1
103400 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT	1
100000 POWER TRAIN	1

103400 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

100000 POWER TRAIN

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

061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

COLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TW

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