14 of the 220 complaints about the 1996 GMC Suburban are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 76,100 miles.
14
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE REPLACED OUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TWICE SINCE OWNING OUR 96 GMC SUBURBAN. WE HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 1998.
NHTSA complaint #10063605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERIES OF EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN MY 1996 GMC SUBURBAN WHICH FAILED AFTER ONLY 75,000 MILES - 25,000 MILES BEFORE THE GM RECOMMENDED SERVICE. GM HAS CHOSEN NOT TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GM TRANSMISSIONS. 12/31/2003 08:37 AM MICHELLE, I HAD THE LOCAL DEALER INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION LAST WEEK. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHY THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. HE NOTED THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED AND TRASH AND DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE FLUID. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THEY, THE GM DEALER, RECOMMEND SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 50,000 MILES. I FOLLOW THE SHORT-TRIP SERVICE SCHEDULE EVEN THOUGH MY TRUCK IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT USED EXCESSIVELY TO AVOID PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ACCORDING TO THE GM OWNERS MANUAL, THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED SERVICING FOR ANOTHER 25,000 MILES. I FOLLOW AND EXCEED YOUR SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS. I NOW HAVE A FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED MORE FREQUENT SERVICE. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND. -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: TWARD@CHARBROIL.COM SENT: 12/23/03 10:08:53 AM TO: CAC@GMC.COM SUBJECT: RE: 1-172307605 I HAD A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH JOE. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH HIS BEST EFFORTS, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SECURE ANY ASSISTANCE. I UNDERSTAND THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND - AFTER SPEAKING WITH MULTIPLE AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING SEVERAL GM SERVICE AND PARTS ASSOCIATES - IS WHY THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM TRUCKS. I CAN ALSO SPEAK FROM MY SISTER'S PERSONAL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN HER 2002 Z71TAHOE. IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES, HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, OR HAD OVER 150,000 MILES - I COULD UNDERSTAND THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. AGAIN, THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 75,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND HAS BEEN USED FOR FAMILY TRAVEL.
NHTSA complaint #10052481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL FROM PARK WITHOUT VEHICLE RUNNING AND WITHOUT BRAKES PUSHED ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITH DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPEN INTO A POLE CAUSING DOOR TO BE DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #764651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE SNAP RING FAILED SECOND TIME IN 89,000 MILES. MAKES GRINDING SOUND FROM STOP AS GEARS CLASH. CAN AVOID MAJOR DAMAGE IF ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. SNAP RING IS A $2 PART. LABOR IS ABOUT $150 TO REPLACE SNAP RING. $700 TO REPAIR TRANSFER CASE IF INTERNAL DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #725437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WORST PROBLEM IS IN DIFFERENTIAL - IT MAKES A SOUND LIKE AIRPLANE READY TO TAKE OFF - CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A 4 YR. OLD CAR CAN HAVE THIS HAPPEN - HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $5,000 SINCE I BOUGHT IT - REALLY UPSET !
NHTSA complaint #720669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #843444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
CONSUMER HAS NOTICED LEAKING OF BEARINGS AND ALL 8 SEALS. ALSO WHEN DRIVING OF GRAVEL SURFACES AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #837002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
CONSUMER HAS NOTICED LEAKING OF BEARINGS AND ALL 8 SEALS. ALSO WHEN DRIVING OF GRAVEL SURFACES AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS THE NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #837002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
PRESSURE REGULATOR/ FUEL INJECTORS/ FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #781301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #534598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #605186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DIFFERENTIAL INTERNAL CASE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #603048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, DEFECTIVE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE DRIVESHAFT NEAR THE REAR PINION FELL APART, CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FALL OUT WHICH ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #811611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.