Total Complaints
24 filings
GMC SUBURBAN · model year
1989 GMC SUBURBAN
24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989GMCSUBURBAN carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1989 SUBURBAN is seats:front assembly:recliner with 3 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (2) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control (2). 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 1989 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.
24
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
20040422SEAT BELTS
WE PURCHASED A 1989 GMC SUBURBAN IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THE PERSON WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TOLD US THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE PAINT HAD BEEN RECALLED, BUT HE HAD NEVER CHECKED INTO IT. UPON US TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO SEARCH ON THE WEB AND CAME UPON YOUR INFORMATION AND TOOK THE ADVICE OF CONTACTING OUR LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TOO OLD AND THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. TODAY 6-31-03 I CALLED THE GM SERVICE CENTER AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE # OF 1-1-146-15140, AND TOLD TO CALL A DIFFERENT # GIVEN THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED WITH THIS REFERENCE# AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE YEAR AND MILEAGE THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE PAINT, AND THERE WERE "NO OPEN PAINT CLAIMS RECORDED" I ASKED WHAT THIS MEANT AND THE WOMAN SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS OPEN ON THIS YEAR FOR PAINT. I DID NOT ARGUE WITH HER, AS I HAD ALREADY TOLD HER I HAD LOOKED UP THIS RECALL ON THE WEB. THE TWO SIDE SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS. DON'T WO
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE PURCHASED A 1989 GMC SUBURBAN IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THE PERSON WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TOLD US THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE PAINT HAD BEEN RECALLED, BUT HE HAD NEVER CHECKED INTO IT. UPON US TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO SEARCH ON THE WEB AND CAME UPON YOUR INFORMATION AND TOOK THE ADVICE OF CONTACTING OUR LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TOO OLD AND THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. TODAY 6-31-03 I CALLED THE GM SERVICE CENTER AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE # OF 1-1-146-15140, AND TOLD TO CALL A DIFFERENT # GIVEN THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED WITH THIS REFERENCE# AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE YEAR AND MILEAGE THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE PAINT, AND THERE WERE "NO OPEN PAINT CLAIMS RECORDED" I ASKED WHAT THIS MEANT AND THE WOMAN SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS OPEN ON THIS YEAR FOR PAINT. I DID NOT ARGUE WITH HER, AS I HAD ALREADY TOLD HER I HAD LOOKED UP THIS RECALL ON THE WEB. THE TWO SIDE SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS. DON'T WO
20030530TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. STEELTEX RADIAL LT TIRES. *AK THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD RUN LOW, BUT NEVER MORE THAN 2 PSI HIGH. (NEVER ANY IMPACT) THE BLOWOUT HAPPENED ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT A LOW SPEED. THERE WERE NEVER ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE TIRES. THE BLOWOUT HAD A "T" SHAPED 4-5" EDGE OF TREAD, WITH A LEG OF "T" THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TREAD NEAR THE BEAD. FIRESTONE CONSIDERED THIS IMPACT DAMAGE AND WOULD NOT REPLACE. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 13,982
20020325CrashTIRES
THE TIRE BLEW UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED A WRECK AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)
19991015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE COMIG FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990802SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE.
19971130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
EXHAUST MAINFOLD TO CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO HEAT STRESS EXHAUST LEAKAGE IS APPARENT.
19971130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
EXHAUST MAINFOLD TO CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO HEAT STRESS EXHAUST LEAKAGE IS APPARENT.
19971030SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
19970717SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PASSENGER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DUE TO FAILURE OF BOLT BREAKAGE, CAUSED INJURY.
19970602SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AS A RESULT OF RECLINER BUCKET SEAT RECALL, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE AND THE ENTIRE BACK OF SEAT RELEASED, INJURING CONSUMER'S WIFE. *AK
19970527FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING FIRE.
19961231STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.
19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.
19961231EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
POWER STEERING PUMP BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT 55 MPH AND SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF AND DESTROY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR.
19960327STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS COME LOOE AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL FROM TIME TO TIME. *AK
19960327STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS COME LOOE AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL FROM TIME TO TIME. *AK
19960212SEATS
THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO PART. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19960125CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS CHAIR SLIPPED BACK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY PRIOR TO RECALL.(93V187000) *DSH
Compare 1989GMCSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 GMC SUBURBAN have?▼
The 1989 GMC SUBURBAN has 24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 GMC SUBURBAN is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL.
Is the 1989 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.