Model year record

1991 Chevrolet Suburban recalls & problems

The 1991 Chevrolet Suburban has 4 safety recalls and 52 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (14 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints52filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 6reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

SeatsNov 4, 1996

Seats

Recall 96V22600032,596 vehicles

Problem: THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Risk: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.

Service brakes, hydraulicAug 2, 1993

Foundation components › Disc › Rotor

Recall 93V119000341,364 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.

Power trainFeb 1, 1993

Automatic transmission

Recall 93V0160001,702,880 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Risk: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Fix: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Suburban V1500 4WD Diesel

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

6.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $6,000/year to fuel

Suburban V1500 4WD

12mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	14	3	0	3	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	13	0	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)	11	1	2	0	—
TiresTread/belt; Valve	7	1	0	0	94,093 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)	5	0	2	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly	4	0	0	0	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs	2	1	0	1	—
SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion)	2	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; Wiring › Front underhood	2	0	2	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	0	1	0	—
StructureBody	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
I HAVE A SET OF HANKOOK OPTIMO 727 TIRES ON MY FAMILY SUBURBAN, AND ONE OF THEM BLEW OUT SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT ONLY HAD 14,596 MILES ON IT. THE SIZE IS P235-75-15. ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN FEBRUARY 2016, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS KEPT IN MY GARAGE. THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SUN OZONE DEPLETION, AND AGAIN, IT NEVER SAT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT HAD ALOT OF TREAD DEPTH LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERLOADED, AS I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN IT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING ABOUT 72 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 65, JUST SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE, KY, I FELT SOME VIBRATION FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, THEN…
Aug 15, 2020 · 159,929 miles
Unknown or other
FRAME WHERE STEERING BOX IS ATTACHED FAILED. FLEXING FROM NORMAL USE CAUSED THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO CRACK AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEPARATE THE STEERING BOX FROM THE FRAME IF LEFT UNREPAIRED. REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES ON 4X4 VERSIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING FOR SOME YEARS DUE TO THE HIGHER STRESS CAUSED BY THE FRONT AXLE AND THE USE OF OVERSIZED TIRES. IN THIS CASE THE SUBURBAN IS A 1/2 TON 2WD UNIT AND HAS ALWAYS RUN ON FACTORY SIZED TIRES. CRACKS WERE FIRST NOTICED JANUARY 2005 WITH 106744 MI DURING A REPAIR JOB FOR A LOOSE FRAME RIVET. CURRENTLY, DECEMBER 2010 AND 206000 MI., CRACKS HAVE FORMED ON ALL MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND REQUIRES A FRAME REPAIR KIT. REPAIR INCLUDES GRINDING…
Jan 25, 2005 · 106,744 miles
Tires
TREAD SEPARATION AROUND 9/10 OF TIRE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. RUBBER SEPARATING FROM SAME. *TR
Apr 30, 2010 · 137,186 miles
Tires
PEP BOYS FUTURA SCRAMBLER A/P TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. *TR
Jun 25, 2008 · 11,976 miles
Tires › Valve
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VALVE STEM FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THE TIRE FLATTENED AND WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE VALVE STEM FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VARIOUS RECALLS PERTAINING TO VALVE STEM FAILURES AND CRACKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
Jul 3, 2008 · 51,000 miles
Service brakes, air › Disc › Rotor
THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD SEPARATED. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. THE SAME PART FOR THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR THE RECALL BRAKE PART AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS CLOSED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED DUE TO NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER RECALL 93V119000. *CM *SCC
May 7, 2003
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
Apr 24, 2003
Tires › Tread/beltCrash
BRIDGESTONE LT 23585R16 DOTEP9JHND205 WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND DEFLATED, WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Oct 1, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosed
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
EA94029 · opened Jul 29, 1994 · closed Jul 31, 1996