FaultScore

GMC Suburban body problems

29 of the 2,323 complaints filed about the GMC Suburban are about the body and structure — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

29

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

Body & Structure complaints by model year

1988 Suburban 1 3.4%
1991 Suburban 1 3.4%
1992 Suburban 1 3.4%
1993 Suburban 1 3.4%
1994 Suburban 4 13.8%
1995 Suburban 3 10.3%
1996 Suburban 2 6.9%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

1997 Suburban 5 17.2%
1998 Suburban 3 10.3%
1999 Suburban 7 24.1%
2000 Suburban 1 3.4%

What owners said

1999 GMC Suburban SAN Jose, CA

STRUCTURE

PAINT ON MY 1999 GMC SUBURBAN HAS STARTED TO PEEL AND EXPOSE THE METAL. THERE IS NO VALID REASON FOR THIS OTHER THAN ORGINAL FAULT OF PAINT OR PROCESS OF PAINTING AT THE MANUFACTURER. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF? THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC, BUT WHEN I WENT TO MY LOCAL GMC AUTHORIZED DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS, THEY DENIED THERE HAS BEEN SUCH RECALL. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY SUCH RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10215835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Suburban West Islip, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 GMC SIERRA AND A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. THE VEHICLE'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE BREAKING. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IS OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS HAPPENING ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THIS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S VECHILES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10123991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Suburban at 90,000 miles Lyme, CT

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND AS TIME WENT ON THE HANDLE BROKE OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10009595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 GMC Suburban Jackson, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY

WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ALSO THERE WAS A MOLD PROBLEM, THE DEALER TRIED TO REMEDY PROBLEM BY SPRAYING A CHEMICAL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE ODOR WAS STILL THERE, THE REAR TRANSFER CASE AND DOOR LOCK WAS REPLACED, AND THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT WAS READJUSTED. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Suburban Northridge, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TS

NHTSA complaint #767815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 GMC Suburban Rockledge, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TWO DOORS HIT TOGETHER AND DENTED SIDE DOOR. DOOR OPENS TOO FAR.*AK THE DOOR OPENING TOO FAR COULD RESULT IN HINGE FATIGUE AND FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVEN DIFFERENT SERVICE SHOPS WHERE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #8015332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Suburban Cottage Grove, MN 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

FRONT PASSENGER DOORS WILL SLAM SHUT WHETHER ON SLIGHT INCLINE, WIND BLOWING, WHEN LOADING ENFANT CAR SEAT, ETC. TRUCK HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR MODIFICATIONS OF DOOR HINGES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8010511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Suburban Kent, WA

STRUCTURE

CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE BENT AND LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED AND REPLACED BRACKETS.

NHTSA complaint #563531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Suburban Kent, WA

STRUCTURE

CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE BENT AND LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED AND REPLACED BRACKETS.

NHTSA complaint #563531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Suburban Wyckoff, NJ Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT GRADE IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT DRIFTED BACKWARDS APPROXIMATELY 2' (1MPH - MAYBE) WHERE IT CONTACTED A SAPLING TREE WITH THE RIGHT END OF THE BUMPER. AT FIRST GLANCE, NO DAMAGE WAS DETECTABLE. ON CLOSER EXAMINATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE END OF THE BUMPER HAD BENT INWARDS TOWARDS THE VEHICLE AND JUST NARROWLY MISSED CONTACTING THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. FURTHER INSPECTION UNCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE BUMPER HAD BUCKLED UNDER THE STEP COVER NEAR THE CENTER OF THE BUMPER. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, THEY RECITED THE GM POLICY STATEMENT THAT THE BUMPER ONLY WITHSTANDS IMPACTS THAT ARE SQUARELY APPLIED AT THE VERY CENTER OF THE BUMPER. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT GMC WAITED UNTIL CONTACTING THE DEALER TO RECITE THE SAME FINDING. MOST PEOPLE PURCHASE THIS TRUCK FOR THE SIZE AND SAFETY OF A LARGER VEHICLE, AND CERTAINLY ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT AN SUV WOULD BE STURDILY BUILT. I WANT THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THIS BUMPER UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A SAFETY HAZARD AS A 5MPH IMPACT WOULD HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING AFFECT ON THE VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA complaint #745363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 GMC Suburban Folsom, CA

STRUCTURE

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT 'HITCH PLATFORM' WHICH IS USED TO PULL AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER, 8900 LBS, IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #882782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Suburban Bella Vista, AR

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 GMC Suburban Newton, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE LOCKING MECHANISM LOCKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #732451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 GMC Suburban Newton, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE LOCKING MECHANISM LOCKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #732451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Suburban Atascadero, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND.

NHTSA complaint #553161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 GMC Suburban SAN Fransico, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

EA95026, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SLIDE. THIS CONDITION HAS LED TO TWO REAR END CRASHES. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL RATTLED, THE DEALER FOUND THE BEZEL TO BE CRACKED AND BROKEN. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE GETS BAD GAS MILEAGE. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSES AND LINE SEALING WERE LEAKING. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #865008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Suburban Clovis, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND GO OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DOORS ARE WARPED/ENGINE RUNS ROUGH/REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL/BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP.

NHTSA complaint #859969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Suburban Guaynabo, PR

STRUCTURE:BODY

THERE IS A VISIBLE WATER LEAK FROM THE ROOF TO THE INSIDE OF THE REAR PART OF THE TRUCK, THIS MAKE A POOL INSIDE THE CAR OF ALMOST 1/2 AN INCH OF WATER. IT KEEPS THE CAR WITH A HUMID ATMOSPHERE AND VERY STRONG BAD ODORS DUE TO HUMIDITY, THIS AFFECTS ME MY WIFE AND MY THREE BABIES OF 2 YEAS AND 10 MONTHS OLD. WE ARE ALL THE TIME SUFFERING WITH ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA SINCE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. WE KNOW OF TWO OTHER SUBURBANS HERE IN PUERTO RICO THAT HAS SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER COVERS UP THESE, AND SAYS THEY NO NOTHING OBOUT IT. WHAT SHOULD I DO, HOW CAN I HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED... ???

NHTSA complaint #714488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 GMC Suburban Ellensburg, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR HINGES ON BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOORS WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT, TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN TO OPEN THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE DOOR HINGES ARE NON-ADJUSTABLE, AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS WAY TO RE-CENTER THE DOOR IN THE FRAME. LIKEWISE, THE REAR PANEL DOOR HINGES HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER, RESULTING IN THE DOORS ALLOWING AIR FLOW AND LIKEWISE CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN. AGAIN, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO ADJUST THE HINGES. THIS VEHICLE HAS SEEN VERY LITTLE "ROUGH ROAD" USEAGE, SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT, AND THE HINGES WERE FINE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH 66K MILES ON IT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER THE HINGES ARE OF A BAD DESIGN, OR SOME BUSHINGS HAVE WORN OUT WHICH ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS THAT HAD MANY MORE MILES AND NEVER HAD ANY HINT OF DOOR PROBLEM. I CAN FORSEE THE TOP HINGE PINS ON BOTH FRONT DOORS EVENTUALLY FAILING, ALLOWING THE DOORS TO PARTIALLY POP OPEN FROM THE FRONT EDGE.

NHTSA complaint #713748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 GMC Suburban Ellensburg, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

DOOR HINGES ON BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOORS WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT, TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHILDREN TO OPEN THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE DOOR HINGES ARE NON-ADJUSTABLE, AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS WAY TO RE-CENTER THE DOOR IN THE FRAME. LIKEWISE, THE REAR PANEL DOOR HINGES HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER, RESULTING IN THE DOORS ALLOWING AIR FLOW AND LIKEWISE CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN. AGAIN, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO ADJUST THE HINGES. THIS VEHICLE HAS SEEN VERY LITTLE "ROUGH ROAD" USEAGE, SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT, AND THE HINGES WERE FINE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH 66K MILES ON IT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER THE HINGES ARE OF A BAD DESIGN, OR SOME BUSHINGS HAVE WORN OUT WHICH ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS THAT HAD MANY MORE MILES AND NEVER HAD ANY HINT OF DOOR PROBLEM. I CAN FORSEE THE TOP HINGE PINS ON BOTH FRONT DOORS EVENTUALLY FAILING, ALLOWING THE DOORS TO PARTIALLY POP OPEN FROM THE FRONT EDGE.

NHTSA complaint #713748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other GMC Suburban problems