1989 GMC Suburban Problems
- Complaints
- 17filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 13,982miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 12 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 11 city / 15 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 GMC Suburban (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 1989 GMC Suburban. The part named most often is seats, with 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by seat belts (3) and brakes (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 13,982 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seats complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seats4 24%
- Seat belts3 18%
- Brakes2 12%
- Engine cooling2 12%
- Steering2 12%
- Tires2 12%
- Electrical system1 5.9%
- Equipment1 5.9%
- Fuel system1 5.9%
- Other or unknown1 5.9%
Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1).
Example complaints
Seat belts: “We purchased a 1989 Gmc Suburban in february 2003. At that time the person we had purchased the vehicle from told us there was a possibility the paint had been recalled, but he had never checked into it. Upon us taking delivery I began to search on the web and came upon your information and took the advice of contacting our local service manager at our chevy dealership. They told me it was too old and the recall had expired. Today 6-31-03 I called the GM service center and was given a service # of 1-1-146-15140, and told to call a different # given the year of the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070498, filed 2004-01Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,982 and 13,982 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 GMC Suburban version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban V1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 12 | $5,600 |
| Suburban V1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed manual | 11 | 13 | 12 | $5,600 |
| Suburban V1500 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl · diesel | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 20 | 16 | $6,000 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 93V187000Nov 16, 1993SeatsCovers: GMC Suburban 1989–1990, Chevrolet Astro 1985–1991, GMC Safari 1985–1991 +1 more
The recliner mechanism and the seat frame may have foam and/or vinyl between 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.
- 93V016000Feb 1, 1993Power train › Automatic transmissionCovers: GMC Suburban 1988–1992, Chevrolet C10 1988–1993, C20 1988–1993 +11 more
Unanticipated heat in the transmission can force the transmission fluid out of the vent tube.
Recall details for the 1989 GMC Suburban → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 GMC Suburban.
Other model years of the GMC Suburban
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 | 30,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 7 | 72,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 15 | 47,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 285 | 78,800 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 100 | 90,196 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 200 | 96,800 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 172 | 83,332 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 227 | 125,000 | 6 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 411 | 113,000 | 3 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 212 | 114,000 | 0 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 80 | 170,118 | 2 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 30 | 206,095 | 2 | — | 12 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 22 | — | 2 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 17 | 13,982 | 2 | — | 12 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 8 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All GMC Suburban model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 GMC Suburban have?
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 1989 GMC Suburban as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 GMC Suburban is reported most often?
Seats is named most often, in 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by seat belts with 3.
Has the 1989 GMC Suburban been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 GMC Suburban get?
The EPA rates the 1989 GMC Suburban (Suburban V1500 4WD, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 12 mpg combined, 11 city and 15 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 GMC Suburban reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 13,982 miles and the middle half falls between 13,982 and 13,982 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.