1988 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
112,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 21 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
Tires: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seats: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 15 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 5; 1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018570 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 131,098 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120797 · 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10120797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150086 · 2006-02-13 (February 13, 2006)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208502 · 2007-11-09 (November 9, 2007)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 84,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233598 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 84,571 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576312 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
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 US…
Owner-reported narrative. 223,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983839 · 2017-05-06 (May 6, 2017)
BRIDGESTONE 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482984 · 1995-04-05 (April 5, 1995)
REAR TAILGATE WINDOW BROKE/SHATTERED 5 TIMES UPON CLOSING DOOR. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482984 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
89V010000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1989-01-30 (January 30, 1989)
DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V016000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1993-02-01 (February 1, 1993)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Reported: 1993-08-02 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗