90 of the
2,323 complaints filed about the GMC Suburban
are about the fuel system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
The original fuel tank in this vehicle way rusty and leaking. I replaced the original tank with a Dorman model 576-372 fuel tank. This tank included a new fuel pump lock ring, which was used to secure a new fuel pump in the tank prior to installation in the vehicle. The lock rung failed approximately one week after installation allowing the fuel pump to raise up out of the tank. At the next fuel up a large volume of gasoline escaped form the fuel pump opening and spilled. The defective lock ring was replaced with a OEM part and was subsequently discarded.
NHTSA complaint #11467918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The original fuel tank in this vehicle way rusty and leaking. I replaced the original tank with a Dorman model 576-372 fuel tank. The tank was installed in September 2021. The tank began leaking in February 2022. A repair shop discovered that the tank was defective and had failed. The Tank was discarded and replaced with a new unit. As no OEM parts are available the replacement was also and aftermarket part. That tank also was defective and began leaking within 90 days. A third aftermarket tank was installed and it also began leaking recently. When these leaks occur the tank fails in such a way that a large volume of fuel is spilled collects under the vehicle. As there seems to be only one company manufacturing these parts there seems be be a large potential that the issue will affect many vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11467921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE RPM INCREASES WHEN FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE STARTED APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO AND IS ON GOING, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THIS IS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10381328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPRING OF 2008 WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THEN IN NOVEMBER 2008 THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE BOTH BRAND NEW FUEL PUMPS BUT HE WAS UNSURE OF WHY THEY BOTH FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK IN MARCH 2009. 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS ALL WITHIN ONE YEAR SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM TO US. THE MECHANIC ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. EACH TIME WHEN THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD DRIVE FINE AND THEN JUST NOT RESTART ONCE TURNED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10265471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10258477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKED TRUCK NEAR DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING TROUBLE STARTING IT, TRIED TO RESTART, IT DIDN'T. DEALER TOOK IT IN AND CALLED TO SAY THAT FUEL PUMP IS SHOT AND THEY HAD ONE IN STOCK TO REPLACE IT. THEN FOUR HOURS LATER THEY SAID THE WIRES TO IT WERE MELTED AND THE SENDING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP FOR THIS TRUCK IN 264,000 MILES. FIRST WAS AT 50,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10226086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WIRES WERE ROTTED OUT, WHICH BURNED OUT THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 151,000.
NHTSA complaint #10219285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10202340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL PUMP FAILED MORE THAN THREE TIMES, ONLY IN THE SUMMER. REASON UNKNOWN, MANY SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DONE NOTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10198746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS GAUGES ARE DEFECTIVE,FUEL SYSTEM AND GASOLINE SYSTEM ARE NOT WORKING PROPOPERLY.ALL DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN,OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SUV HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS,I'M A SINGLE FEMALE,AND I AM GETTING RIPPED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10187084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS GAUGES ARE DEFECTIVE,FUEL SYSTEM AND GASOLINE SYSTEM ARE NOT WORKING PROPOPERLY.ALL DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN,OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SUV HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS,I'M A SINGLE FEMALE,AND I AM GETTING RIPPED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10187084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/18/2006 - THE INJECTOR PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL FAILED AGAIN. *NM THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTED TO RECALL FIXED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. RECALL NUMBERS 96V057000 AND 03V159000. UPDATED 03/21/07.
NHTSA complaint #10174069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
FUEL PUMP/CONNECTOR FAILURE. INITIALLY ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. ON LAST OCCASION, VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT DOWN RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC. WOULD NOT RESTART. FORMER GM MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE WITNESSED THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND FOUND MOST CASES INVOLVED FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OR GROUND CONNECTION AT FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10156865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FUEL GAUGE WORKED IMPROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 05/23/06.
NHTSA complaint #10141786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH A QUARTER TANK OF GAS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING. THEN, IT COMPLETELY DIED. THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY HE INSPECTED THE CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP. HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS LOW VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY AREA. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V155000 WAS ISSUED INVOLVING THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, BUT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED GM ,WHO SUGGESTED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIRS. *AK (11/22/05) *SC UPDATED 01/10/07.
NHTSA complaint #10140579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM FAILURE. INSIDE CANNON PLUG CHARRED AND WIRES ARE MELTED. CANNON PLUG IS CRACKED. THIS WAS ALL DISCOVERED WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS BEING REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10138051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOISY FUEL PUMP IN GAS TANK, NON FUNCTIONING FUEL GUAGE. SPOKE WITH SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO OWN FULL SIZE GM PICKUPS, SUV'S AND VANS FROM SAME ERA. FUEL GUAGE, FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURED IN 5 OUT OF 6 VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10119450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.