40 of the 531 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban are about the tires — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 42,000 miles.
40
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
TIRES
1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, INTAKE MANIFOLD, ENGINE COOLING, TRANSMISSION, TIRES, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL CONSUMPTION AND WIPERS.*MR CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DO ANYTHING BUT TAKE THE BATTERY CABLE OFF TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE BRAKES WERE NEVER LOOKED AT.
NHTSA complaint #10130223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
ANTI LOCKS SYSTEM KICKS IN AT ALMOST EVERY STOP. STARTS TO VIBRATE AT 4 TO 5 MPH. AT DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE WE COULDN'T GET A READING PERIOD, IT WAS ON LIFT STANDING STILL. *AK ABS WAS READIND MOVING AT 3MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10068494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DOT CCFJ VMP 2801 DELTA TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATING. RETAIL WILL NOT PRO-RATE P265 75R15.
NHTSA complaint #10067839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM AN INCIDENT WITH THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRE WHICH LOST IT'S TREAD AND NEARLY KILLED MY FAMILY. REFER TO MY COMPLAINT WHICH I CLASSIFIED UNDER FIRESTONE, LT245/75R16 (JUNE 28TH, 2003). FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR...FIRESTONE IS BEING TOTALY UNETHICAL REGARDING THEIR RESPONSE TO ALL THESE FAILURES. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS ORGANIZATION, NHTSA IS NOT REPRESENTING THE TAX PAYERS IN THAT IT IS OBVIOUS FROM ALL THESE REPORTS FILED THAT SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. WHY DON'T YOU PUT ALL FIRESTONE, STEELTEX, TIRE COMPLAINTS UNDER ONE CATAGORY? YOU ARE WATERING DOWN THE SEVERITY OF THIS BY HAVING 10-15-20 OR MORE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS WHERE PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF LODGE COMPLAINTS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TIRES....MORE PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE. AK
NHTSA complaint #10033153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY FAMILY AND I WERE NEARLY KILLED WHEN OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE ON OUR 1996 SUBURBAN LOST IT'S TREAD. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, AT, STEELTEX, 245/75R16. THE TIRE NEVER LOST PRESSURE THE TREAD CAME OFF AND CAUSE US TO GO OUT OF CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE WE NEARLY HIT A PICKUP TRUCK HEAD ON. FROM THE POINT WHERE THE TIRE LOST THE TREAD TO THE TIME THAT I AVOIDED HITTING THE ONCOMING TRUCK WE WERE IN A SKID WHICH WAS ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET WITH A CHORD LENGHT OF ABOUT 8'. SINCE I HAD OVERCOMPENSATED TO MISS THE ONCOMING TRUCK WE STARTED TO SKID SIDEWAYS WITH THE FRONT TIRES POINTED TOWARDS THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AT THE TIME THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD WE WERE JUST PAST PERPENDICULAR TO THE HIGHWAY. I DON'T THINK THAT I HAD APPLIED ANY BRAKES BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WOULD MAKE MATTERS WORSE PERHAPS IT WOULD ROLL. AT THAT TIME WE LEFT THE ROAD...I CRANKED THE WHEEL THE OPPOSITE WAY TO AVOID ROLLING THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED TO GO STRAIGHT FOR A TIME THEN IT SPUN AROUND THE OTHER DIRECTION...WE WERE SKIDDING WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE POINTED TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY. WE SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR SEVERAL FEET WHERE WE CAME TO REST NEXT TO A TELEPHONE POLE. MY WIFE, MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND MY TWIN BABIES LUKE AND MARIN, 2 YEARS OLD WERE IN THE BACK SEAT. EVERYONE WAS SHAKEN UP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE IS APPROXIMATLY $2,500 DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE. $1,000 TO THE YARD THAT WE DAMAGED. THE DAY BEFORE OUR TRIP I TOOK THE SUBURBAN TO GET THE TIRES CHECKED AT A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS 8/32NDS OF TREAD ON THE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10029318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. *JB THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND VIBRATED BADLY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND NOTHING APPEARED OUT OF ORDER AND AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF VIBRATING OR BOUNCING. THE DEALER FOUND THE TIRE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS, THERE WAS NO LEAKAGE OF AIR, AND NO SPLITTING OF TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE FIRESTONE DEALER SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. (MODEL TIRE/R4S II) *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10020400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY, CONSUMER EDXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TIRE AT A DISCOUNT PRICE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDED A FREE REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE AS WELL AS THE FIVE HUNDRED DEDUCTIBILE TO CONSUMER VEHICLE DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE. FIRESTONE LT 245/75R-16 LOAD RANGE E (MS).
NHTSA complaint #561704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. ENTIRE TREAD PEELED OFF TIRE, BUT DID NOT BLOWOUT. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO WHEEL WELD, AND PASSENGER MIRROR. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER, GS-A LT265/75R-16C, DOT# MDW8WK0V179, AND TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30K MILEAGAE.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #892257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE 00 040/TREAD SEPARATION: BOTH REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH WITH DRIVER AND SEVEN PASSENGERS, 4 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN IN A 1996 CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P245/75R16, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES REPORTED. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED, AND WILLING TO ASSIST ON A PRORATE REPLACEMENT ONLY. *AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S, E LOAD. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THIS IS THE 2ND ONE OF THESE TIRES ON MY SUBURBAN THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE 1ST ONE WAS ON 8/26/2000 AND WAS UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER E RATED TIRE FROM DEALER. I HAD TO TAKE A C RATED TIRE FOR A SPARE. I INTEND TO REPLACE THE REMAING TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND BEFORE I KILL SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND FIRESTONE WILL ONLY "ADJUST" THEM. PLEASE HELP! LA BURKE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75 16 )
NHTSA complaint #744096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING AND TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )
NHTSA complaint #743079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN 1996, CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN WHEN RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE, P245/75R16, DOT: BD11BAC509 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #883538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, STEE TEX, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16, DOTVM11B3A197; WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TREAD ON RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #880212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING 75MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. VEHICLE VIBRATED. PULLED TO SIDE., AND CHECKED TIRES. NOTICED TREAD HAD PEELED OFF. PUT SPARE ON. BROUGHT ANOTHER TIRE TO REPLACE SPARE. 2ND TIRE LEFT REAR BLEWOUT, SAME THING HAD HAPPENED. THEN, 3RD TIRE, RIGHT FRONT, SAME PROBLEM. THREW AWAY FIRST TIRE. KEPT OTHER TWO TIRES THAT BLEW OUT SAME DAY. VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD TO THE LEFT & THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION OF THIRD TIRE. BRIDGESTONE PUELER APT (AFTER MARKET) LT 265/75R16.
NHTSA complaint #876917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, MY WIFE AND I BEGAN A TRIP, TUCSON TO YUMA, IN A NEWLY ACQUIRED '96 SUBURBAN 2500. EARLIER THAT MORNING I HAD BEEN READING SOME OF THE NEWS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED ON THE INTERNET AND HAD COME ACROSS ANOTHER IN THE NEVER ENDING STORIES OF THE WOES OF FIRESTONE (TIRES). THE (BAD) NEWS HAD SPILLED OVER FROM THE FORD APPLICATIONS TO REFERENCE FIRESTONE'S STEELTEX R4S AND AT MODEL TIRES... THAT COME AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON, OF ALL THINGS, THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN! I WALKED OUT TO THE GARAGE AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED ON THE "NEW" '96 AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LIKE NOW R4S TYPES INSTALLED ON ALL FOUR CORNERS! "NAH, IT CAN'T BE" I SAID TO MYSELF. I HAD READ FURTHER, ON THE INTERNET, THE RESPONSE OF FIRESTONE TO THE NEW ALLEGATIONS WAS FIRESTONE BELIEVED THAT THE SAFETY BOARD/GURUS WERE ONLY BEGINNING THEIR INVESTIGATION AND THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANY REAL PROBLEMS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE R4S AND AT MODEL TIRES. WITH RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN FIRESTONE (REINFORCED BY THEIR PUBLISHED STATEMENT) WE STARTED OUR TRIP TO YUMA. SEVENTEEN (17) MILES INTO THE TRIP, TRAVELLING AT 75 MPH (WHICH IS LEGAL SPEED LIMIT IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS), THINGS GOT REAL EXCITING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR STARTED TO "THUMP" THE TIRE CAME APART, AND CONTROL BECAME "DICEY". WE WERE IN THE LEFTMOST LANE OF THE INTERSTATE WITH AUTOMOBILES TO OUR RIGHT SIDE AND BEHIND US. I GOT THE SUBURBAN TO SLOW ENOUGH, WITHOUT USING BRAKES, TO ENTER THE MEDIAN SAFELY AND REVIEW "THE DAMAGE". A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN (STATE TROOPER) PULLED IN ALONG SIDE TO SEE IF WE WERE OK AND OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE. HE SEEMED TO THINK THAT WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE REALLY TAKEN A TUMBLE OR ROLLED THE VEHICLE. AN AVERAGE DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST IT. WE RETURNED TO TUCSON AND IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL FIVE (5) FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: V611B1A378 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
NHTSA complaint #733542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
@ TIRES HAVE BLOW OUT FORNO APPARENT REASON (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R1 )
NHTSA complaint #733455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
2 OF THESE TIRES BLEW OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES - FOR NO APPARENT REASON (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R1 )
NHTSA complaint #733456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
THE CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE HAD 2 BLOWOUTS CAUSED FROM TIRE SEPARATION; THE FIRST OCCURENCE WAS IN 6/98 WITH APPROX. 35K MILES ON THE TIRE AND THE SECOND IN 8/00 WITH APPROX . 54 K MILES ON THE TIRE. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR OCCUPENTS. I HAVE 3 TIRES LEFT THAT HAVE 20 K MILES OF USE. SINCE I TOW A RV TRAILER, MY CONCERN IS WHETHER I SHOULD REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: V611B1A TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
NHTSA complaint #733214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF DRY ROT ALONG SIDEWALL AS LARGE AS A GOOSE EGG. FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
BOTH TIRES SEPARATED. I STILL HAVE ONE OF THE TIRES WITH DAMAGE OFF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #732903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
NO SUMMARY LISTED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: TRASHED IT TIRESIZE: 275 X 16.5)
NHTSA complaint #732907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-81 ON THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD, WE WERE NEAR BLACKSBURG, VA. WE WERE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WERE DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. OUR LEFT FRONT TIRE BEGAN TO SHAKE, SO WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. A LARGE PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL ON THE TIRE HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT. I BELIEVE IT WAS LUCKY FOR US THAT WE WERE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT THE TIME AND NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. WE DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS OR THE TIRE, BUT THE MAN AT THE FIRESTONE STORE SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. (DOT NUMBER: VNII BAB38 TIRESIZE: 247/75R16)
NHTSA complaint #733033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS PULLING UP INTO DRIVEWAY, AND SHE HEARD A NOISE. WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX #AT, LT245/75R16.
NHTSA complaint #872665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00-020 REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1996 CHEVY SUBURBAN, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16, DOT NUMBER VN11B1A, TIRE HAVE ABOUT 35 THOUSANDS MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END, CONSUMER HAD TIRES INSPECTED AND RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING 70 MPH THE LEFT REAR ENTIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. TIRE WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #871982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 OR 60 MPH TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE CAME COMPELETELY OFF, BEATING THE TRUCK TO PIECES. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1996, SUBURBAN. TIRE SIZE LT24575R16. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 26,000 MILES. OWNER REPLACED TIRE WITH THE SAME TIRE. FIRESTONE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE TIRE. CHEVROLET REPAIRED TRUCK, AND OWNER RECEIVED A NEW TIRE FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE VEHICLE DEALER REPAIRED DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE AS WELL AS REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.
NHTSA complaint #872049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TRAVELING 65MPH & VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. WAS TOWING CAMPER AT TIME. STOPPED & CHECKED & NOTICED NOTHING AMISS. DROVE FOR 10 MILES & VIBRATION GOT WORSE. STOPPED AGAIN & CHECKED TIRES. NOTICED TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING, BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED. CONTACTED AAA & TIRE CHANGED FOR SPARE. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. SPARE REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR AT TIRE SHOP. BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FIRESTONE RETAILER BUT NOT GIVEN TIRE EXCHANGEMENT. FIRESTONE STEEL TEX LT245/75416 WITH 47,000 MILES.*AK DOT #W211B1A435. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #871896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURES(2)INVOLVED TREAD COMING OFF THE TIRE (SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING RECALLED)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )
NHTSA complaint #730611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURES(2)INVOLVED TREAD COMING OFF THE TIRE (SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING RECALLED)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )
NHTSA complaint #730611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
TREAD SEPARATION ON 4 TIRES--FIRESTONE PRORATED 2 AND I REPLACED 2 WITH MICHELINS AT MY EXPENSE AS I WAS ADVISED NOT TO REPLACE WITH FIRESTONE. TWO TIRES TREAD SEPARATED UNDER 20,000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16E )
NHTSA complaint #729524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
AT 75MPH ON I15 20IN SECTION OF TREAD SEPARTED. STOPPED SAFELY BEFORE TREAD LEFT TIRE. FIRESTONE WOULD ONLY ADJUST TIRE. I WANT FIRESTONE TO REPLACE ALL TIRES ON MY 2500 SUBURBAN. THESE ARE E LOAD RATED TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/R16 )
NHTSA complaint #729628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.