125 of the 2,323 complaints filed about the GMC Suburban are about the electrical system — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
125
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
12
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAULTY LEAVING ME STRANDED FAR FROM HOME.THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT IN THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT.
NHTSA complaint #11325961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. FIRST THE HEATER FAN WOULD QUIT AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD INSTANTLY TURN ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD BE ON THE ABS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. THEN SUDDENLY ALL OPERATIONS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WOULD BE UNPREDICTABLE WHEN THE HEATER FAN AND THE ABS WOULD FAIL AND COME BACK. THEN YESTERDAY, THE SUBURBAN STARTED AND DIED 3 SECONDS AFTER STARTING. I RESTARTED THE SUBURBAN AND ALL SEEMED GOOD. I PUT THE SUBURBAN IN DRIVE AND ROLLED AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THE TRUCK DIED. I STOPPED AND PUT THE SUBURBAN IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. PLACED IT INTO DRIVE AND MADE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED OFF THE SUBURBAN AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE THE ENGINE. THE RADIO AND HEATER AND ALL OTHER ELECTRONICS WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL, BUT THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON I.E. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON", "BRAKE", "AIR BAG", "ABS". THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON IT AND NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10593726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
95 GMC SURBURBAN.
NHTSA complaint #10394224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 GMC SUBURBAN, CAUGHT ON FIRE. BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0580-91 UPDATED 05/03/10
NHTSA complaint #10321947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SUBURBAN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES FAILED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR BARN DOORS FAILED TWICE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE ELECTRIC DOORS WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY, BUT ALSO WOULD NOT WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURES. THE OCCUPANTS SEATED IN THE THIRD ROW AND REAR SEATS ARE TRAPPED WHEN THE FAILURES OCCUR. THE DOORS ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE OCCUPANTS MUST CLIMB OUT OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER OR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS. CURRENTLY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPERATES RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CYLINOID LOCKS ON THE DOOR, WHICH TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. UPDATED 06/16/09
NHTSA complaint #10269127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING UP THE INTERSTATE, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. MOVED THE TILT STEERING WHEEL A NOTCH OR TWO AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WE DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THEY WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING SMELL. TOOK IT TO GM GARAGE (WHO WANTED $90 AN HOUR) TO LOOK AT IT. I CHECKED IT OUT MYSELF AND FOUND WIRES CORRODED IN THE HARNESS (LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN) AND TWO BURNED THROUGH. CLEANED THE WIRES AND SOLDERED THEM BACK. CONTACTED GM ABOUT PROBLEM, RECEIVED NO HELP. CHECKED WITH INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A STATEMENT WITH THEM. WIRING HARNESS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10182947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10166751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GAS GAUGE LOCATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. ALSO, WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A LIQUID OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10163520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP CAN OVER HEAT (AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE) WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILS. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE FUEL PUMP IS IN A FAILED (LOCKED) CONDITION WHILE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE PUMP. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS HIGHER THAN THE RATING OF THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10142512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN. WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT. HE WAS PULLING A TRAILER, WITH THE TRAILER AND THE TRUCK IT WEIGHS FROM ANY WHERE 10-15,000 POUNDS. THERE IS A BOLT THAT 3 QUARTERS INCH LONG . PUT THE TWO CABLES TOGETHER AND BOLTED IT INTO THE SIDE BATTERY. THE BOLT BECAME LOOSE. HAD ALL THE POWER NECESSARY TO STEER OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING THIS TRAILER IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE INSERT IN THE BATTERY, WHERE THE THREAD SECTION WAS PUT THE BOLT INTO. IF TIGHTEN EDIT IT PUTS A HOLE IN THE BATTERY AND STARTS TO LEAK BATTERY ACID. EVERY MORNING HE TIGHTENS THE BOLT A LITTLE BIT. CONSUMER SPOKEN WITH GM , AND THEY IGNORED IT. ALSO SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP . THEY DID NOT EVEN BELIEVE HIM. ONE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE CABLE BECAUSE IT DETERIORATED. HE HAS REPLACED FOR FOUR BATTERIES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE .
NHTSA complaint #10129182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FUEL GAGE WAS ACTING ERRATIC WENT FULL THEN EMPTY WITH FULL TANK . A FEW DAYS LATER THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. FOUND FUSE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT BLOWN FOR FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP WIRING WAS MELTED IN FUEL TANK CAUSING SHORT. HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND HARNESS WHICH WAS PART OF THE PUMP HOUSING. ALSO REPLACED FUEL FILTER DUE TO LACK OF FUEL FLOW (NO POWER) A WEEK LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10116159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NAR 04/28/2003. MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL, ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY, COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKED, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOME LIGHT, STEERING, THE REAR AXLE, THE LEFT REAR GLASS RATTLED, THE AIR CONDITION, BATTERY, SUSPENSION WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL FILTER, MIRROR TRANSMISSION SEAT, SEAT BELTS, WIPERS, ALTERNATOR, BRAKES, FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10017745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FIRE THEN SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10080650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED PASSENGER NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10073723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD.CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10063240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1994 GMC SUBURBAN. WHEN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT BE SHUTOFF BY HITTING BRAKES. IF SWITCH FAILS, HITTING BRAKES WILL SLOW VECHILE, BUT CRUISE CONTROL WILL GIVE IT MORE GAS. DATE OF INITIAL ACCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE SINCE I DO NOT HAVE PAPERS WITH ME. SWITCH HAS FAILED TWICE SINCE THAT AND WAS FAILED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10057147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1997 GMC SUBURBAN- MULTIPLE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION FAILURES. AT 60,000 MILES, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD. RETURNED TO SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES FOR WORK. FINALLY, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPELETLY. REQUIRED VALVE COVER AND TRANSMISSION REBUILD @ COST OF $2,000. ON DECEMBER 27 '03, HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. ON JAN 17 '04, DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO ANTIFREEZE IN NEW RADIATOR. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SAID THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST: ~$600. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION. SAME DIAGNOSIS. BOTH STATE THAT GM IS AWARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. ADDITIONALLY- REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWO TIMES; REPLACED WATER PUMP TWO TIMES; REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN FALL 2003.
NHTSA complaint #10054576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE FROM ITS MOUNTING AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR ALSO SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY NOT LONGER COVERED THE BELT. THE BRAKES SHUTTERED WHILE BRAKING FROM 60 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
DOOR ACUATORS FAULTY. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. FUEL GUAGE FAULTY. SECURITY SYSTEM OVERRIDES STARTER WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE STARTED. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE "SERVICED" THREE TIMES FOR "DOOR ACTUATORS" AS WE WERE TOLD THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING SECURITY SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. GMC NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT HELPFUL. THEY DID NOT RETURN CALLS OR SET-UP SPECIAL SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL DEALER AS THEY PROMISED. THERE ARE SEVERAL INCIDENT DATES OF WHEN WE COULD NOT START OUR VEHICLE. WILL USE JULY 29TH AS ONE DATE, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE WHILE ON SUMMER VACATION IN LAKE TAHOE AREA. IF THIS HAPPENS DURING REAL EMERGENCY IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE.
NHTSA complaint #10039378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE CIRCUIT BOARD LOCATED IN LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WHICH CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL.
NHTSA complaint #10039303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.