IllustrationBRIDGESTONE TIRE RUPTURE: PLY SEPARATION, ON FREEWAY, NO WARNING, AT 35000 MILES WITH LOTS OF TREADLIFE REMAINING. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS OF DAMAGED TIRE ON REQUEST. ALL PLIES OF TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED, THEY WERE NEVER BONDED TOGETHER PROPERLY. TIRE IS BRIDGESTONE M773 SWP II, SIZE 235-85-16.
1988 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban are lower than the model-year median of 118.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reportsIT WAS NOTICED THAT THE P/S GEARBOX WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS MOUNT ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. THE STEERING BECAME LOOSER. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE U-CHANNEL FRAME WAS CRACKED OUT IN THE AREAS OF 3 OF THE 4 POWER STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTS. THESE CRACKS HAD TO BE WELDED. A YEAR AN A HALF LATER A CHECK OF …
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IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE P/S GEARBOX WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS MOUNT ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. THE STEERING BECAME LOOSER. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE U-CHANNEL FRAME WAS CRACKED OUT IN THE AREAS OF 3 OF THE 4 POWER STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTS. THESE CRACKS HAD TO BE WELDED. A YEAR AN A HALF LATER A CHECK OF THE WELDS WAS MADE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND A NEW CRACK WAS FOUND. THERE WAS NO COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DOUBLER/STIFFENER REPAIR PLATE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT CRACK UNDER NORMAL USE. *TR
I PURCHASED FOUR PREMIUM BRIDGESTONE TIRES ($168 EACH). TWO OF THESE HAVE NOW FAILED PREMATURELY DUE TO CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION. THE FIRST WAS AT 29,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT 32,000 MILES. BOTH STILL HAD PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH REMAINING. I BELIEVE THAT MY SAFETY IS AT RISK WITH THE TWO REMAINING TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE NEVER…
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I PURCHASED FOUR PREMIUM BRIDGESTONE TIRES ($168 EACH). TWO OF THESE HAVE NOW FAILED PREMATURELY DUE TO CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION. THE FIRST WAS AT 29,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT 32,000 MILES. BOTH STILL HAD PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH REMAINING. I BELIEVE THAT MY SAFETY IS AT RISK WITH THE TWO REMAINING TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE NEVER DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, AND WERE WELL CARED FOR PRIOR TO SUDDEN FAILURE. THE TIRE MODEL WAS BRIDGESTONE R273SWP. *TR
PURCHASED FOUR BRIDGESTONE R273 SWP PREMIUM TIRES IN 2001 ($168 EACH) FROM BRIDGESTONE DEALER. VEHICLE IS 1988 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, USED FOR ON-ROAD USE ONLY. VEHICLE IS GARAGED DAILY, ONLY DRIVEN ~5000 MILES PER YEAR. TIRE SIZE IS 235-85R16E. TOTAL MILEAGE ON TIRES IS 29,000 MILES. ESTIMATED REMAINING TREAD LIFE 50% (9/32"). LEF…
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PURCHASED FOUR BRIDGESTONE R273 SWP PREMIUM TIRES IN 2001 ($168 EACH) FROM BRIDGESTONE DEALER. VEHICLE IS 1988 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, USED FOR ON-ROAD USE ONLY. VEHICLE IS GARAGED DAILY, ONLY DRIVEN ~5000 MILES PER YEAR. TIRE SIZE IS 235-85R16E. TOTAL MILEAGE ON TIRES IS 29,000 MILES. ESTIMATED REMAINING TREAD LIFE 50% (9/32"). LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY HAD TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. TIRE DID NOT LOSE AIR, BUT TREAD SEPARATED FROM CASING AND STEEL BELTS WERE VISIBLE FOR APPROX 6-8" IN AREA OF SEPARATION. THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE OR ANY OTHER VISIBLE EVIDENCE FOR CAUSE OF FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED TIRE FOR FREE, ONLY CHARGING FOR BALANCE/ETC. HOWEVER, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER THREE TIRES. HAS THERE BEEN ANY HISTORY OF FAILURES/RECALLS ON THIS TIRE? SHOULD I INSIST THAT BRIDGESTONE REPLACE THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR FREE? *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT FRACTURED CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARD. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE BOLT.
DT CONTACT STATES HE PURCHASED A SET OF GENERAL TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A HUGE FLAT SPOT AFTER 7,000 MILES OF DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FLAT SPOT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATES EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED THERE IS VIBRATION. THE TIRES ARE REGULARLY MAINTAINED. CONTACT FEELS THAT…
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DT CONTACT STATES HE PURCHASED A SET OF GENERAL TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A HUGE FLAT SPOT AFTER 7,000 MILES OF DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FLAT SPOT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATES EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED THERE IS VIBRATION. THE TIRES ARE REGULARLY MAINTAINED. CONTACT FEELS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE TIRES. *NM
SINGLE BOLT THAT ATTACHES SEAT BACK TO SEAT BASE FAILED, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO FALL BACK LEAVING ME LOOKING AT THE CEILING. I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THEIR WOULD CERTAINLY BEEN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATHS COULD HAVE RESULTED. THE DESIGN OF THIS SEAT IS AWFUL. ON THE ADJUSTMENT SIDE TH…
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SINGLE BOLT THAT ATTACHES SEAT BACK TO SEAT BASE FAILED, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO FALL BACK LEAVING ME LOOKING AT THE CEILING. I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD I BEEN DRIVING THEIR WOULD CERTAINLY BEEN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATHS COULD HAVE RESULTED. THE DESIGN OF THIS SEAT IS AWFUL. ON THE ADJUSTMENT SIDE THERE ARE TWO BOLTS ATTACHING THE SEAT BACK TO THE SEAT BOTTOM. IF EITHER BOLT FAILS THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSES WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLS OUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, AND HAD ENGINE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS WATER IN AIR THE FLITER HOUSING AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DIED, ALSO NOTICES A RATTLING COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. DEALER REPLACED …
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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLS OUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, AND HAD ENGINE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS WATER IN AIR THE FLITER HOUSING AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DIED, ALSO NOTICES A RATTLING COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE WIH USED ENGINE. *TT
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL A HISSING NOISE IS HEARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FIRESTONE, FR480, P235/75R15 DOT VNH, REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH 20000 MILES ON A 1988, CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A SPLIT NEAR TREAD LINE OF TIRE. ON JULY 3 2001 WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH , RIGHT FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A SPLIT NEAR TREAD OF TIRE. NO ACCIDENT.*AK *SLC
Official recalls
393V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 2, 1993
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
93V016000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 1, 1993
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence & remedy
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 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Jan 30, 1989
DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.