1989 Chevrolet Suburban
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Chevrolet › Suburban › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Chevrolet Suburban. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban. Newest first.
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Remedy
Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. the recall began on october 18, 2006. owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1).
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Unanticipated heat in the transmission can force the transmission fluid out of the vent tube.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
62 complaints4 involved a crash5 involved a fire8 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Steering
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…
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 90,000. The vin was unavailable.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Vehicle engine fire. Nar 07/02/2003.*mr while driving the vehicle caught on fire in the engine compartment. (ohio traffic crash report). *nm
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
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.
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
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
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor · Structure
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
- Tires › Tread/belt
In july of 2000 I went to firestone to report a bubble in my right front tire. The employee said that the tread was seperating and that I should buy new tires. They had none in stock so I bought elsewhere. I still had the firstones on the rear. On easter 2001 while returning home on the highway at…
In july of 2000 I went to firestone to report a bubble in my right front tire. The employee said that the tread was seperating and that I should buy new tires. They had none in stock so I bought elsewhere. I still had the firstones on the rear. On easter 2001 while returning home on the highway at 65 mph the left rear tire suffered tread seperation. I was able to pull to the side and had the tire changed. I had 5 family members in the car who were very scared by this. Damage was $2300. I would be happy to write a more in depth report or be interviewed. I never saw any indication that these tires were recalled. If I had left the ones on the front we may all be dead. Please stop firstone from handling individual claims rather than recalling all of the obviously defective tires - nobody else should die in order to save them money and reputation. I have the tire....and photos. *Ak (dot number: vdxf axd tiresize: 33x12.50r1)
- Seats
Consumer had recall 93v187000 for seat reclining & had it repaired. Problem has happened again. Dealer felt that he was not obligated to repair it again. *ak
- Tires
Consumer purchased four firestone LT 235-85-r16 a/tms tires, two of the tires were out of round causing vibration while driving. *mjs
- Tires
Yesterday I was driving 60mph down hwy 59 in houston and heard this awful noise like I ran over something. Luckily I was able to get quickly over to the shoulder. Sure enough the back left tire, a firestone 235/75/15 fr480 (same size as the recall, but different firestone) tire peeled off the…
Yesterday I was driving 60mph down hwy 59 in houston and heard this awful noise like I ran over something. Luckily I was able to get quickly over to the shoulder. Sure enough the back left tire, a firestone 235/75/15 fr480 (same size as the recall, but different firestone) tire peeled off the belts. It looked like it was about to pop and I don't know how it did not. It did some damage to my vehicle also. I went to a firestone shop and he wants to just sell me new tires... not even replace the blowout!!! he did give me an 800 number for the damage.*ak (tiresize: 275/55r15)( dot number: tire size: 275/55r15 )
- Tires › Tread/belt
This suburban was equipped with firestone tires lt235/85r16, dot:vnor. It was not (oe), and while driving at 70 mph tread suddenly pealed off the tire. Firestone was not contacted. *ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
Pe 00 020/tire tread separation: right rear experienced tread separation on a 1989 chevrolet, suburban while traveling at 65 mph with driver and seven passengers. after market equipment installed at 134,944 miles, tire size 31x10.50/r15, dot# vd60aw3258. Vehicle received rear end body damage, and tire was available for anaylsis. *ak *slc
- Tires › Tread/belt
Complete tread loss, no flat, able to continue drive home on steel belts( dot number: tire size: 235/15r75 )
- Seats
Second faliure of repaired drivers seatback. Drivers side (left) recliner bolt broke causing driver to stike head on door pillar as he was thrown rearward during acceleration onto freeway. Driver was able to bring vehicle to a stop with further incident. This seat was repaired by huffines chevrolet in lewisville tx for a similar incident in 1999 when the seat back collapsed throwing the driver onto the rear seat.
- Seats
The front driver seat was subject to a recall in the early to mid '90'S for failure of a bolt which would cause the seat back to collapse. When I received notice of this recall, I promptly had the work done. But when I left the dealership, I felt uneasy because I really didn't think they did the…
The front driver seat was subject to a recall in the early to mid '90'S for failure of a bolt which would cause the seat back to collapse. When I received notice of this recall, I promptly had the work done. But when I left the dealership, I felt uneasy because I really didn't think they did the work. About a year to two years after the bolt was "replaced" the seat collapsed on me. I took it back to the dealer and they fixed it immediately. In hindsight, I was upset I didn't keep the bolt that broke to determine by testing if it had indeed been replaced at the time of the recall. Anyway, yesterday, july 27, 2000, I was driving alone at 40 mph when the bolt again broke, causing the seat to collapse and me to fall backwards, losing control of the vehicle. I was just lucky it was a wide road and there was nobody near me when this happened. I found the bolt that snapped and would like to have it tested. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
I have had one seat belt restraint locking system replaced in the past. I went through the vehicle today and I have three that do not lock at hard breaking. hard to believe that such an important safety feature would fail within the life of the vehicle. *ak
- Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion) · Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump · Structure › Frame and members
Frame section located near steering gear box, IS cracked/ steering gear box IS leaking fluid and pulley on power steering pump IS shredding. steering gear box has been replaced. T vehicle IS not controllable if fluid leaks out too fast. *ak
- Seats
Front passenger's seat anchor attachment bolts broke ,causing the seat to fall backwards. dealer has been contacted. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Exhaust manifold has been replaced four times from 1997 to the present once in 1997, once in 1998, & twice in 199. all parts are GMC. Dealer notified. *ak *ML
- Seats
Recall component repair completed then failed again. (93v-187) *nlm
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
This vehicle was in a chain reaction rear end collision when struck in the rear, driver's seat back bolts broke, causingthe seat to collapse. dealer has been contacted. *Ak consumer was injured in the accident, injuries to back, neck, left knee, and hip. *slc
- Power train › Manual transmission
Recall repair completed (93v-016) however failure of the transmission occurred due to overheating of the transmission (remedy failure). Mjs
- Trailer hitches
Trailer hitch installed at factory became loose due to bolts falling off. Mjs
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
Transmission front seal broke, causing the hot transmission fluid to hit exhaust, resulting in a underhood fire . *Ak
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
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
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
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.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Engine compartment fires
An alleged malfunction in the atlernator resulting in engine compartmet fires.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10007838Diagnostic information for intermittent transmission downshift, slip, busy/cycling tcc or noisy cooling fan.
- 39070New cast iron exhaust manifold and stainless steel gasket to correct engine noise condition.
Every Chevrolet Suburban model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.