MYRModel Year Report

1989 Chevrolet Suburban

▲ Better than typical
1989 Chevrolet Suburban
RENDERED 2026-09-17T04:43:20.524Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Suburban Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1989 highlighted. 1981: 1 complaints 1981 1982: 1 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1989 1990: 54 complaints 1991: 52 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1996: 360 complaints 1997: 414 complaints 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2002: 286 complaints 2003: 301 complaints 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2011 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2014: 59 complaints 2015: 428 complaints 2016: 218 complaints 2017: 141 complaints 2017 2018: 81 complaints 2019: 76 complaints 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 192 complaints 2022: 117 complaints 2023: 121 complaints 2023 2024: 41 complaints 2024
1989: 62 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19821
19833
19846
19859
19867
198718
198830
198962
199054
199152
1992189
1993500
1994876
1995457
1996360
1997414
1998201
1999634
2000282
2001440
2002286
2003301
2004204
2005129
200623
2007292
2008213
2009106
2010117
2011148
2012101
2013118
201459
2015428
2016218
2017141
201881
201976
202044
2021192
2022117
2023121
202441

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

SEATS 44%

44% of complaints: seats — 27 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing recliner.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

SEAT BACK RECLINES UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURY. *DSH

NHTSA ODI report, 19960601

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BOLT SHEARED, CAUSING SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARDS/INJURY. *AW

NHTSA ODI report, 19950601

TIRES 11%

11% of complaints: tires — 7 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tread/belt.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DH

NHTSA ODI report, 19960815

SEAT BELTS 10%

10% of complaints: seat belts — 6 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing retractor and buckle assembly.

Show complaint excerpts

I HAVE 1989 SUBURBAN AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND SOME OF THE PIN STRIPING IS PEELING OFF AND I WAS READING SOME OF THE RECALLS AND I WAS WONDERING HOW COULD I FIND OUT IF I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAINTING AND ALSO TWO OF MY SEAT BELTS HAVE FROZE...

NHTSA ODI report, 20030319

Also filed under STRUCTURE

POWER TRAIN 8%

8% of complaints: power train — 5 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cooling unit and lines and manual transmission.

FIRE INJURY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 4 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing engine and manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE. NAR 07/02/2003.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

NHTSA ODI report, 20041122

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19930313 — power train

UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.

Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

Campaign 93V016000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19931108 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Remedy: 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 N

Campaign 93V119000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19940120 — seats

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.

Campaign 93V187000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19940729 — EA (closed 19960731)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

R 20061018 — fuel system, gasoline

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 MANUFACTURE

Remedy: 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).

Campaign 06E043000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1989 Chevrolet Suburban — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for seats issues (27 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for tires issues (7 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for seat belts issues (6 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 93V016000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 93V119000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 93V187000 (seats) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E043000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1988 ▲ 2024 ▲ 2020

WORST YEARS

■ 1994 ■ 1999 ■ 1993

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban is rated "better than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban?

The most-reported component is seats, accounting for 44% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1989 Chevrolet Suburban have?

4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.