NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban.
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE STEERING U-JOINT HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
DRIVER SEAT BACK RETAINING BOLT BROKE LEADING TO TOTAL REARWARD COLLAPSE OF DRIVER SEAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IN SPEAKING WITH MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TODAY IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT HE HAS OR HAD A VEHICLE IN HIS POSSESSION FOR REPAIR OF VERY SAME DEFECT RECENTLY.
NHTSA RECALL 93-V-187-000: RECLINER MECHANISM AND 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. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM . HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
The 1989 Chevrolet Suburban has 4 NHTSA recalls and 65 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
Component: SEATS
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.
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
I HAVE 1989 SUBURBAN AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND SOME OF THE PIN STRIPING IS PEELING OFF AND I WAS READING SOME OF THE RECALLS AND I WAS WONDERING HOW COULD I FIND OUT IF I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAINTING AND ALSO TWO OF MY SEAT BELTS HAVE FROZE UP AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETAINER REEL OR WHAT EVER IT IS. *NLM
IN JULY OF 2000 I WENT TO FIRESTONE TO REPORT A BUBBLE IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE EMPLOYEE SAID THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPERATING AND THAT I SHOULD BUY NEW TIRES. THEY HAD NONE IN STOCK SO I BOUGHT ELSEWHERE. I STILL HAD THE FIRSTONES ON THE REAR. ON EASTER 2001 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUFFERED TREAD SEPERATION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND HAD THE TIRE CHANGED. I HAD 5 FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CAR WHO WERE VERY SCARED BY THIS. DAMAGE WAS $2300. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WRITE A MORE IN DEPTH REPORT OR BE INTERVIEWED. I NEVER SAW ANY INDICATION THAT THESE TIRES WERE RECALLED. IF I HAD LEFT THE ONES ON THE FRONT WE MAY ALL BE DEAD. PLEASE STOP FIRSTONE FROM HANDLING INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS RATHER THAN RECALLING ALL OF THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES - NOBODY ELSE SHOULD DIE IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM MONEY AND REPUTATION. I HAVE THE TIRE....AND PHOTOS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDXF AXD TIRESIZE: 33X12.50R1)
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 93V187000 FOR SEAT RECLINING & HAD IT REPAIRED. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER FELT THAT HE WAS NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *AK
YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING 60MPH DOWN HWY 59 IN HOUSTON AND HEARD THIS AWFUL NOISE LIKE I RAN OVER SOMETHING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET QUICKLY OVER TO THE SHOULDER. SURE ENOUGH THE BACK LEFT TIRE, A FIRESTONE 235/75/15 FR480 (SAME SIZE AS THE RECALL, BUT DIFFERENT FIRESTONE) TIRE PEELED OFF THE BELTS. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO POP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT DID NOT. IT DID SOME DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE ALSO. I WENT TO A FIRESTONE SHOP AND HE WANTS TO JUST SELL ME NEW TIRES... NOT EVEN REPLACE THE BLOWOUT!!! HE DID GIVE ME AN 800 NUMBER FOR THE DAMAGE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 275/55R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 275/55R15 )
CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR FIRESTONE LT 235-85-R16 A/TMS TIRES, TWO OF THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. *MJS
THIS SUBURBAN WAS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES LT235/85R16, DOT:VNOR. IT WAS NOT (OE), AND WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH TREAD SUDDENLY PEALED OFF THE TIRE. FIRESTONE WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK
PE 00 020/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: RIGHT REAR EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON A 1989 CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WITH DRIVER AND SEVEN PASSENGERS. AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 134,944 MILES, TIRE SIZE 31X10.50/R15, DOT# VD60AW3258. VEHICLE RECEIVED REAR END BODY DAMAGE, AND TIRE WAS AVAILABLE FOR ANAYLSIS. *AK *SLC
COMPLETE TREAD LOSS, NO FLAT, ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVE HOME ON STEEL BELTS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/15R75 )
SECOND FALIURE OF REPAIRED DRIVERS SEATBACK. DRIVERS SIDE (LEFT) RECLINER BOLT BROKE CAUSING DRIVER TO STIKE HEAD ON DOOR PILLAR AS HE WAS THROWN REARWARD DURING ACCELERATION ONTO FREEWAY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP WITH FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS SEAT WAS REPAIRED BY HUFFINES CHEVROLET IN LEWISVILLE TX FOR A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN 1999 WHEN THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED THROWING THE DRIVER ONTO THE REAR SEAT.
I HAVE HAD ONE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT LOCKING SYSTEM REPLACED IN THE PAST. I WENT THROUGH THE VEHICLE TODAY AND I HAVE THREE THAT DO NOT LOCK AT HARD BREAKING. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE WOULD FAIL WITHIN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN THE EARLY TO MID '90'S FOR FAILURE OF A BOLT WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. WHEN I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL, I PROMPTLY HAD THE WORK DONE. BUT WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I FELT UNEASY BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T THINK THEY DID THE WORK. ABOUT A YEAR TO TWO YEARS AFTER THE BOLT WAS "REPLACED" THE SEAT COLLAPSED ON ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT IMMEDIATELY. IN HINDSIGHT, I WAS UPSET I DIDN'T KEEP THE BOLT THAT BROKE TO DETERMINE BY TESTING IF IT HAD INDEED BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL. ANYWAY, YESTERDAY, JULY 27, 2000, I WAS DRIVING ALONE AT 40 MPH WHEN THE BOLT AGAIN BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE AND ME TO FALL BACKWARDS, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS JUST LUCKY IT WAS A WIDE ROAD AND THERE WAS NOBODY NEAR ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I FOUND THE BOLT THAT SNAPPED AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT TESTED. *AK
Showing 15 of 65 complaints