CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year

1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

65 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 7 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 SUBURBAN is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 10 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:recliner (10) and tires (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1991 SUBURBAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

65
Complaints
6
Crashes
7
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

65 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER10
TIRES5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
SEATS3
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
POWER TRAIN1
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER1

Recent Complaints

20200819TIRES

I HAVE A SET OF HANKOOK OPTIMO 727 TIRES ON MY FAMILY SUBURBAN, AND ONE OF THEM BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT ONLY HAD 14,596 MILES ON IT. THE SIZE IS P235-75-15. ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN FEBRUARY 2016, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN MY GARAGE. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SUN OZONE DEPLETION, AND AGAIN, IT NEVER SAT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT HAD ALOT OF TREAD DEPTH LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERLOADED, AS I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN IT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 65, JUST SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE, KY, I FELT SOME VIBRATION FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN BOOM!, THE TIRE LET GO. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN HANKOOK TIRES, AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER.

Mileage: 159,929

20101206UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRAME WHERE STEERING BOX IS ATTACHED FAILED. FLEXING FROM NORMAL USE CAUSED THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO CRACK AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEPARATE THE STEERING BOX FROM THE FRAME IF LEFT UNREPAIRED. REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES ON 4X4 VERSIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING FOR SOME YEARS DUE TO THE HIGHER STRESS CAUSED BY THE FRONT AXLE AND THE USE OF OVERSIZED TIRES. IN THIS CASE THE SUBURBAN IS A 1/2 TON 2WD UNIT AND HAS ALWAYS RUN ON FACTORY SIZED TIRES. CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED JANUARY 2005 WITH 106744 MI DURING A REPAIR JOB FOR A LOOSE FRAME RIVET. CURRENTLY, DECEMBER 2010 AND 206000 MI., CRACKS HAVE FORMED ON ALL MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND REQUIRES A FRAME REPAIR KIT. REPAIR INCLUDES GRINDING AND WELDING OF CRACKS; AND WELDING ADDITIONAL REENFORCING PLATES TO STRENGTHEN THE AREA.

Mileage: 106,744

20101206STEERING

FRAME WHERE STEERING BOX IS ATTACHED FAILED. FLEXING FROM NORMAL USE CAUSED THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO CRACK AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEPARATE THE STEERING BOX FROM THE FRAME IF LEFT UNREPAIRED. REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES ON 4X4 VERSIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING FOR SOME YEARS DUE TO THE HIGHER STRESS CAUSED BY THE FRONT AXLE AND THE USE OF OVERSIZED TIRES. IN THIS CASE THE SUBURBAN IS A 1/2 TON 2WD UNIT AND HAS ALWAYS RUN ON FACTORY SIZED TIRES. CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED JANUARY 2005 WITH 106744 MI DURING A REPAIR JOB FOR A LOOSE FRAME RIVET. CURRENTLY, DECEMBER 2010 AND 206000 MI., CRACKS HAVE FORMED ON ALL MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND REQUIRES A FRAME REPAIR KIT. REPAIR INCLUDES GRINDING AND WELDING OF CRACKS; AND WELDING ADDITIONAL REENFORCING PLATES TO STRENGTHEN THE AREA.

Mileage: 106,744

20100502TIRES

TREAD SEPARATION AROUND 9/10 OF TIRE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. RUBBER SEPARATING FROM SAME. *TR

Mileage: 137,186

20080714TIRES

PEP BOYS FUTURA SCRAMBLER A/P TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. *TR

Mileage: 11,976

20080709TIRES:VALVE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VALVE STEM FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THE TIRE FLATTENED AND WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE VALVE STEM FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VARIOUS RECALLS PERTAINING TO VALVE STEM FAILURES AND CRACKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

Mileage: 51,000

20030507SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD SEPARATED. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. THE SAME PART FOR THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR THE RECALL BRAKE PART AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS CLOSED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED DUE TO NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER RECALL 93V119000. *CM *SCC

20030424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

20021008CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT

BRIDGESTONE LT 23585R16 DOTEP9JHND205 WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND DEFLATED, WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

20020702WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, 2 LUG BOLTS SNAPPED OFF THE HUB AND ONE OTHER BOLT WAS LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO JACKKNIFE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD. THE TRAILER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IN A DITCH. THE REMAINING LUG BOTLS WERE MISSING THREADS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.(OHIO TRAFFIC REPOERT#10-90-210) *TT

20010403SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

ON THE 18TH OF MAR 2001, AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND ENDED UP LYING FLAT ON MY BACK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE NO KIDS WERE SITTING BEHIND ME. A SINGLE GRADE 8 BOLT BROKE. A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 100K ON IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PERFORMANCE CHEVY IN SACRAMENTO CA) TOLD ME THERE WAS A CAMPAIN TO REPLACE THE BOLTS FROM GRADE 5 TO GRADE 8. APPARENTLY THE GRADE 5 LASTED LONGER THAN THE GRADE 8. THE DEALER HERE IN OGDEN SAYS THE VEHICLE IS TO OLD AND THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR MAKING THIS A SAFER SEAT. IF THIS HAD ACCURED WHILE DRIVING THERE ISNO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. I AM NOT A COMPLAINER BUT THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS WRONG. AND WHEN I GO TO SELL THIS VEHICLE HOW CAN I SAY IT IS A SAFE CAR. HOPE YOU CAN HELP,AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS, I CANT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.. PHILLIP WILLIAMS. *AK

20001115ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

ENGINE OIL COOLING LINES FROM ENGINE OIL FILTER TO ENGINE OIL COOLER WEAR AGAINST FRAME UNDER ENGINE, AND MAY CAUSE BAD ENGINE OIL LEAK . I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM TWO TIMES ONCE ON MY OWN TRUCK AND ON A FRIENDS TRUCK OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL YEAR AND GENERAL EQUIPMENT. *AK

20000926TIRES

TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ONE TIRE SHOWED A SMALL "BALLOON" ON THE SIDEWALL. I REPLACED IT. THE NEXT DAY, A DIFFERENT GOODYEAR TIRE HAD MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE INTERSTATE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 30X9.50R15 )

20000926SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 45 AND ABOVE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

20000926SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 45 AND ABOVE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

20000905TIRES

DEAR NHTSA, I HAD MANY TIRE FAILURES WITH MY FIRESTONE ATX II TIRES. I PURCHASED THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD 57,358 MILES ON 03/19/94. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES PER YEAR. ALL THE PREVIOUS TIRE FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS I HAD WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FOR PRORATED TIRE REPAIRS. THEY KEPT TRYING TO BLAME MY BLOWOUTS ON MY ALUMINUM WHEEL RIMS ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY PREVIOUS UNIROYAL TIRES. IN 1998 AFTER YET ANOTHER TIRE PROBLEM I SWITCHED TO MICHELINS, AND I HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE IN 8/99. AT THE TIME OF THESE PROBLEMS, I WAS CONCERNED AS TO THE AMOUNT OF BLOWOUTS I HAD, AND UNTIL THE RECALL CAME OUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OF SOME RELEVANCE TO YOU. I HAVE ALL MY ORIGINAL PAPERWORK FROM FIRESTONE. MANY OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRES I HAD CARRIED IN TO THE STORE SO I DON'T HAVE EXACT MILAGE OF THE TIRES. I DO POSSIBLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE TIRES ON MY PROPERTY BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME EFF

19991130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO BE USED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT TO BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

19991130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

ALSO, IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, IN SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, IS UNABLE TO BE USED BECAUSE IT LOCKS UP. PASSENGER USING THAT SEAT WOULD BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT WHILE TRAVELING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF INVOVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19990922UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PEELING PAINT - TOP OF SUBURBAN - BAD!

19990915SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROBLEM FIXED BY OWNER--BOLTS IN THE SEAT WERE REPLACED. UNDER RECALL # 96V226000 GM/ BUCKET SEATS. *ML

Compare 1991CHEVROLETSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN have?
The 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 65 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 7 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
The most-complained component for the 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER and TIRES.
Is the 1991 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 as of 2025. 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.