100 of the 2,323 complaints filed about the GMC Suburban are about the engine — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
100
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
ENGINE
You'll be driving down the road the brakes will be working just fine then they'll just all sudden go out and then it backfires and blows it blows up a big cloud of fire out of the motor and that's the GMC 1999 Suburban four-wheel drive 7.4 l
NHTSA complaint #11496977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10199419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ON THE GMC 6.5 THE PMD, OR PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER FAILS DUE TO HEAT FAILURE, ALSO FAILING FOR NO REASON IN 8 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. WHEN IT FAILS THERE ARE NO SIGNS, WARNINGS JUST STALLING THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES GONE. NOW PUT YOURSELF ON A 2 MILE HILL OF AN INSANE DESCENT, AND YOURSELF BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THIS IS INSANITY THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY HELP YOU IF THERE IS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON YOUR CAR, AND THEN ALL THEY DO IS REPLACE THE PUMP, WHEN THE PUMP ISN'T THE PROBLEM ITS THE PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPOKEN TO AND BEEN TO THE MANUFACTURERS AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, THIS IS THE MANUFACTURER! BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW AFTER 11 YEARS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ONLY A RIP AND REPLACE, AND IF THERE'S TO MANY MILES TO BAD FOR YOU. I HAVE TRIED ALMOST EVERY AFTER MARKET SOLUTION OUT THERE AND THESE MANUFACTURERS TOO ARE BAFFLED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. SO WHY IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM ARE THERE A DOZEN BUSINESS MAKING MONEY OFF OF TRYING TO FIX THE MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM? IF THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE BLAME THAN WHO DOES? THE FAMILY OF 7 THAT WROTE IN? WHEN THEY DIE IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE , BECAUSE ITS NOT A MATTER OF IF, ITS A MATTER OF WHEN, AND I HOPE THAT DAY NEVER HAPPENS. BUT I HOPE THAT MORE THAN THE FAMILY HAS TROUBLE SLEEPING BECAUSE I FEEL BETTER FOR TRYING TO AVOID THIS CATASTROPHE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. SINCERELY CONCERNED, JON LAMB
NHTSA complaint #10182187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1999 GMC SUBURBAN. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. THIS OCCURRED AFTER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP WHICH FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS EPIDEMIC WITH THE GM VEHICLES WHICH USE THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE. MY EXPERIENCE BEARS THIS OUT: MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 1999 CHEVY SUBURBAN, WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF ALL THESE VEHICLES!
NHTSA complaint #10170571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1999 GMC SUBURBAN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE ON 5.7L ENGINE RESULTING IN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND EXPENSIVE FIX. THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR FAILURES, THERE SHOULD BE A (FORCED) RECALL BASED ON MAGNUSON-MOSS !
NHTSA complaint #10165925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2000 SUBURBAN'S MALFUNCTIONING COMPUTER WARNING LIGHTS WERE REPLACED PER RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE COMPUTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 2005. IN NOVEMBER 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE.. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2006 AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER AGREED TO THE REPAIR BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM BEING REPAIRED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10155189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 52073 MILES CONSUMERS SUBURBAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS THE FUEL PUMP FAILED THREE TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE TIRES HAD WORN OUT AND WAS SEPARATING, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO THE AIR INJECTOR AND THE REAR PARKING BRAKES HAD WORN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10142128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1999 GMC SUBURBAN SUV: LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD SPILLING COOLANT TO ENVIRONMENT. ENGINE DAMAGED AS COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL AND/OR FUEL. 50K MILES, DRIVEN BY SOCCER MOM TO SCHOOL, PRACTICE, CHURCH. EPIDEMIC PROBLEM PER FAMILY MECHANIC PERFORMS DOZENS OF THESE REPAIRS PER MONTH. HIGH EXPENSE FOR THIS PREMATURE FAILRE: REPAIR $780.
NHTSA complaint #10112785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL OR CUT OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH UNDER VARIED DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, BUT IT WILL TURN OFF AFTER 20-30 MILES OF DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE GM DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT MY EXPENSE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO INDEPENDENT SHOPS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALSO NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR OFFER A SOLUTION, OTHER THAN REPLACING THE BASIC COMPONENTS (SPARK PLUGS , PLUG WIRES, FULE FILTER ETC), WHICH I HAVE HAD DONE.. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO FAIL. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF VIRGINIA AND HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING MOUNTAIN SWITCHBACKS. THIS VEHICLE WEIGHS ALMOST SIX THOUSAND POUNDS, AND A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WHILE DESCENDING STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADES WITH SHARP CURVES CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10098249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10090113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ROTORS ON 4WD SUBUBAN RUSTED OUT AT THE WELD BETWEEN THE CAST RIM AND THE STAMPED STEEL INTERWHEEL. THE STAMPED PART HAS THE LUG HOLES, THE CAST RIM IS THE WHAT THE BRAKE PADS GRIP.
NHTSA complaint #10069595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE TWO GMC VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE, A GAS 5.7L V8, THAT REQUIRED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACEMENT WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST VEHICLE IS A 1996 1500 SUBURBAN WITH 90,000 MILES. THE OTHER IS A 1998 K1500 PICKUP WITH 80,000 MILES. BOTH LEAKS OCCURRED AT THE REAR OF THE BOTTOM INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC PERFORMING THE REPAIR STATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HIS SHOP PERFORMING APPROXIMATELY 5-6 A MONTH IN A TOWN OF ONLY 30,000. THE DEALER DENIES ANY GENERIC PROBLEM. INSPECTION OF THE GASKET IMPLIES A TEMPERATURE RELATED PROBLEM OF THE GASKET BODY THAT UNDERMINES THE SEAL RIDGE.
NHTSA complaint #10060514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10059332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF ENGINE TROUBLE.*MR CONSUMER MERGED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, FLAMES THEM ENGULFED THE VEHICLE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10053309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
WE HAVE A 1996 6.5 TURBO DIESEL GMC SUBURBAN. WE HAD SEVERE STALLING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT THEIR COST AND INSTALLED AT OUR COST, NEW GLOW PLUGS, GLOW PLUG SENSOR, BATTERY, AND BATTERY CABLES SUSPECTED TO BE THE PROBLEM. IT CONTINUED TO STALL. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AGAIN AT THEIR COST, BUT WE HAD TO PAY TO DROP THE TANK TO CHECK FOR CONTAMINATION. THERE WAS A DETERIORATED SCREEN WE PAID TO REPLACE. IT STILL STALLED. ONLY THIS TIME IT STALLED WHEN I WAS GOING 50 MPH AND APPROACHING CURVES ALONG THE RIVER. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. ME AND MY FIVE YOUNG KIDS ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE RIVER. HAD IT BEEN NORMAL WINTER ROADS, WE WOULD HAVE. ALL ALONG WE'VE DONE RESEARCH AND HAD IT REDIAGNOSED BY A PROFESSIONAL DIESEL MECHANIC, SO WE KNEW TO TELL OUR DEALER (AUTOMALL IN BRATTLEBORO VERMONT) TO REPLACE THE PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) SOMETIMES CALLED A FUEL SOLENOID DRIVER (FSD). AFTER PROBLEMS WHERE AUTOMALL TRIED TO RIP US OFF FOR A FAKE $100 DEDUCTIBLE, THEY WILL INSTALL IT AT NO CHARGE TOMORROW (1/7/04). WE HAVE DRIVEN JUST OVER 1000 MILES TOTAL. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FROM ALL THE RESEARCH WE'VE DONE, WEVE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME DANGEROUS ACCOUNTS OF STALLING. SEVERAL REPORT HAVING ALMOST HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENTS LIKE I HAD TWO DAYS AGO. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, PMD FAILURES ARE THE MOST COMMON PART TO FAIL ON GM 6.5 DIESELS. THE PMD OVERHEATS BECAUSE OF PLACEMENT NEAR THE ENGINE. THERE IS A SIMPLE, YET COSTLY FIX THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO BE SAFE. A PUMP DRIVER COOLER (PDC) CAN MOUNT ON THE FIREWALL (NOT THE ENGINE) TO MOVE THE PMD AWAY FROM THE HEAT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE A RECALL TO INSTALL PDC'S ON THESE ENGINES SO WE CAN ONCE AGAIN BE SAFE IN OUR VEHICLES. MY FAMILY OF 7 CANT AFFORD ANOTHER STALL, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE WINTER MONTHS, AND NEW PDCS ALONE CANT GUARANTEE SAFETY. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10052489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. CONSUMER CONTACTED WITH DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #10050166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.