Gmc SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,119 owner complaints analyzed
21 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1966 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 212 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 355 of 1,119 complaints (31.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 492 | 44.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 79 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 75 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 45 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 41 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 35 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 355 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 65 |
| Tires | 58 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 55 |
| Seats | 49 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 46 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 39 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 37 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 355; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 65; Tires: 58; Tires:Tread/Belt: 55; Seats: 49; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 46; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 39; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 37
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 49 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 54 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 49; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 21
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 907 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 199 |
| 1996 | 81 |
| 2000 | 274 |
| 2001 | 158 |
| 2002 | 89 |
| 2003 | 89 |
| 2004 | 65 |
| 2005 | 73 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
1995: 199; 1996: 81; 2000: 274; 2001: 158; 2002: 89; 2003: 89; 2004: 65; 2005: 73; 2006: 34; 2007: 16; 2008: 9; 2009: 9; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 492 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 79 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 977091 · 1995-12-28 (December 28, 1995)
ABS BRAKES HAD TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER 4 TIMES. ONWER OF THE CAR HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP. ONLY BACK BRAKES WERE WORKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963165 · 1995-04-05 (April 5, 1995)
PROPORTIONING VALVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8005467 · 2002-03-12 (March 12, 2002)
CONSUMER RAISED HOOD; ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, AFTER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DOUGLAS BATTERY SUDDENLY BLEW UP, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724356 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
APRIL 26, 1996 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY FAILED, WAS REPLACED AT SUPERIOR PONTIAC, SAN ANTONIO TEXAS WITH A AC DELCO PART 1981590. ON JULY 30,1997 THE ABS LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. RESULT OF "ACID FROM BATTERY LEAKED ONTO SPEED SENSOR, SHORTING IT OUT." HAD TO HAVE WIRING AND CONNECTORS, REPAIRS TO ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, CABLES AND PAINT REPLACED. I HAVE ALL DEALER PAPERWORK THAT SAYS ALL THIS IN PRINT. WAS WITTNESS TO PHONE CALL AT DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS SAME THING AHPPENING ON MINI VAN. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT AC DELCO HAS A BIG PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981270 · 1996-03-27 (March 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855598 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKES /STEERING AND HEADLIGHTS TO GO COMPLETLY OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261461 · 2009-03-10 (March 10, 2009)
TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH MY 1992 GMC K2500 SUBURBAN IT BURNED TRANNY UP IF I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGULFED 1 PERSON RECEIVED A NON SUTURED LACERATION ON FOR HEAD FELL WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE TO GET AWAY FROM FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE ON TRANNY PROBLEM THE ONLY THING THAT GOT DAMAGED WAS MY SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT DID TO THE UNDERNEATH I HAVE TO CHECK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 194,236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865008 · 2000-07-07 (July 7, 2000)
EA95026, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SLIDE. THIS CONDITION HAS LED TO TWO REAR END CRASHES. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL RATTLED, THE DEALER FOUND THE BEZEL TO BE CRACKED AND BROKEN. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE GETS BAD GAS MILEAGE. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSES AND LINE SEALING WERE LEAKING. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8002431 · 2002-01-18 (January 18, 2002)
BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK FLOATING AROUND FREELY INSIDE OF GAS TANK. BAFFLE HAS KNOCKED SOME PIECES LOOSE INSIDE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965142 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)
FUEL TANK FAILURE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505432 · 1996-05-22 (May 22, 1996)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724528 · 2000-06-25 (June 25, 2000)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREEZE UP AND STALL AFTER MOVEING ABOUT 1 INCH,IF I JIGGLE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE IT SOMETIMES WIPES WINDOW 1 TIME AND THEN SHUTS OFF.THEN IT SEEMS TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE.I KNOW GMC HAD A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR.COULD THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAVE BEEN USED ON MY VEHICLE?MY VEHICLE WAS MADE ABOUT 4+MONTHS BEFORE THE AFFECTED RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724528 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
1988: 2; 1989: 2; 1990: 2; 1991: 2; 1992: 2; 1993: 0; 1994: 3; 1995: 6; 1996: 3; 1997: 2; 1998: 2; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 | Not available |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 7 | 2 | +2 |
| 1989 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 36 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 109 | 0 | -2 |
| 1994 | 229 | 3 | +3 |
| 1995 | 116 | 6 | +3 |
| 1996 | 91 | 3 | -3 |
| 1997 | 126 | 2 | -1 |
| 1998 | 79 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 243 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 15 | 2 | +1 |
| 2001 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 1 | -1 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | -1 |