Total Complaints
8 filings
GMC SUBURBAN · model year
1987 GMC SUBURBAN
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987GMCSUBURBAN carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 1987 SUBURBAN is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (1) and fuel system, gasoline (1). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1987 SUBURBAN. 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.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
BAFFLE IN THE GAS TANK FLOATING AROUND FREELY INSIDE OF GAS TANK. BAFFLE HAS KNOCKED SOME PIECES LOOSE INSIDE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK
20001213CrashTIRES
THE 1987 GMC SUBURBAN, LICENSE #BVW 5641WAS BEING DRIVEN ON I-40 AT 65 MPH. THE CRASH TOOK PLACE JUST SOUTH OF THE 138 EXIT, NEAR GREENSBORO.THE CRASH WAS INVESTIGATED BY TROOPER GLENN M. POWELL, MASTER TROOPER, TROOP D, DISTRICT 2, GILFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL, 650 FRANCIS STREET, HIGH POINT, NC 27263. OFFICE: 336-883-6155 COMMUNICATIONS 1-800-445-8621. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 22417 UR B TIRESIZE: 31X10.50R)
19991123FirePOWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING FLUID TO SPRAY ALL OVER ENGINE MANIFOLD & THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
19970905SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE RESTRAINT BELT IS PLACED INTO THE BUCKLE IT COMES OUT. *AK
19970506SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
SUSPENSION; REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE SWAY AND LEAN. *AK
19970225FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DRIVING HOME ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 65MPH SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BY TIME GOT OUT AND POPPED THE HOOD THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT . SAID CAUSE OF FIRE WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
19950829SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE REGULAR BRAKES ON THE TRUCK DO NOT DO WELL. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BRAKING THERE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950511FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK FAILURE. TT
Compare 1987GMCSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 GMC SUBURBAN have?▼
The 1987 GMC SUBURBAN has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 GMC SUBURBAN is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 GMC 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.