1989 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
127,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats | 8 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
Seats: 8; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Tires: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 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: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 31 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 | 11 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 4; 2000: 12; 2001: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seats leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10010731 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026555 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026617 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096095 · 2004-10-20 (October 20, 2004)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979026 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482751 · 1995-03-27 (March 27, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BOLT SHEARED, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARDS/INJURY. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488819 · 1995-09-29 (September 29, 1995)
BOLT HOLDING DRIVERS SEAT UPRIGHT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO RECLINE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. (93V187000) *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504041 · 1996-05-04 (May 4, 1996)
SEAT BACK RECLINES UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURY. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504041 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.
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 ↗93V187000 · Seats
Reported: 1993-11-16 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗