IllustrationRECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (93V-016) HOWEVER FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION (REMEDY FAILURE). MJS
1989 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from 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: 2 of 62 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.
- Seats. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reportsTRAILER HITCH INSTALLED AT FACTORY BECAME LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS FALLING OFF. MJS
TRANSMISSION FRONT SEAL BROKE, CAUSING THE HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID TO HIT EXHAUST, RESULTING IN A UNDERHOOD FIRE . *AK
THE STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE 3 TIMES(9/3/93, 12/16/97, 2/3/99). THIS IS A POOR DESIGN WITH CHEAP WHITE METAL PARTS. THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ME $1000 TO DATE($100,$400 AND$500). I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG MY LATEST REPAIR(REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN) WILL LAST. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ON A…
Read full complaint
THE STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE 3 TIMES(9/3/93, 12/16/97, 2/3/99). THIS IS A POOR DESIGN WITH CHEAP WHITE METAL PARTS. THE REPAIRS HAVE COST ME $1000 TO DATE($100,$400 AND$500). I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG MY LATEST REPAIR(REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN) WILL LAST. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ON A $25000 VEHICLE. I AM RATHER RELUCTANT TO PROCURE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. *AK
FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE RUBS ON 4WD TRANSFER CASE SUPPORT, WEARING A HOLE THROUGH IT. PRESSURIZED FUEL THEN SPRAYS ON HOT EXHAUST PIPE. EXTREME FIRE HAZARD, ALTHOUGH MINE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. OTHER VEHICLES FOUND WITH SAME PROBLEM. ONLY APPLICABLE TO 4WD MODELS.
DURING A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO GO FORWARD AND CRUSHING THE OCCUPANT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALL DONE FOR THE SEATBACK BOLTS. *AK
OWNER INTERESTED IN DETAILED INFORMATION ON TSB NUMBERS 931030, 231054R, AND 231054 CONCERNING PAINT.
SEAT SUPPORT BOLTS FAILED BEFORE/AFTER RECALL REPAIR CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLASPE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE.
BOLTS TO BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT SHEARED OFF CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE, RECALL WORK ON THE BOLTS COMPLETE, HOWEVER THEY STILL FAILED.
Official recalls
393V187000 · Seats
Nov 16, 1993
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 & remedy
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.
93V119000 · 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.
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
1EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.