Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year
1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1978CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1978 SUBURBAN is trailer hitches with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan (1) and tires:tread/belt (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1978 SUBURBAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TRAILER HITCHES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030714TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX RADIAL AT TIRE. *AK
Mileage: 137,900
20000814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45, THE BLADE FROM THE COOLING FAN BROKE OFF DENTING THE HOOD. YH
19960619CrashTRAILER HITCHES
TRAILER HITCH BROKE, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DH
Compare 1978CHEVROLETSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN have?▼
The 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is TRAILER HITCHES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1978 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.