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1985 Chevrolet Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

9 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2000
Tires

GOODYEAR DEALER OVERINFLATED TIRES (G159 UNISTEEL P235/85R16), THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED TIRES WITH A DEFECTED BENT RIM AND ANOTHER TIRE APPEARS TO BE A RECAP, THE JOINT WHERE THE TREAD CAP CONNECTS TO THE SIDEWALL, WHEN THE TIRES ARE OVERINFLATED IT CAUSES TIRES TO FEEL HARD AND ALSO CAUSES STEERING PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #558307

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
TiresCrashInjury

PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR TIRE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE SPRUNG AROUND AND WENT INTO FOUR LANE TRAFFIC, AND A GASOLINE TRUCK RAN INTO IT. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE #AT STEEL MS/RADIAL R4S .*AK TIRE SIZE IS (P235 85 R16), AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE DRIVER AND THE PA…

Read full complaint

PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR TIRE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE SPRUNG AROUND AND WENT INTO FOUR LANE TRAFFIC, AND A GASOLINE TRUCK RAN INTO IT. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE #AT STEEL MS/RADIAL R4S .*AK TIRE SIZE IS (P235 85 R16), AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS CLAIMED NO INJURIES, HOWEVER SINCE THEN THE DRIVER HAS HAD SEVERE SHOULDER PAIN DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #868962

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1997
Seats

SEAT ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE. RECALL ON MODELS 1987-1991 (#93V187000), HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY.

NHTSA ODI #525687

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1997
Steering

LOOSE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ODI #523661

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

STRUT ROD LOOSE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #505180

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

EA95-026 ACTIVE, BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AFTER IN FOR REPAIR LEFT FRONT LOCKED UP IN WET CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982223

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503369

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1995
Power TrainFire

FIRE STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #975298

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1995
Seats

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. TT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT SHEARED IN HALF. *YH

NHTSA ODI #973777

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP88003 · Poor Braking On Panic Stop

Opened Oct 23, 1987 · Closed Feb 20, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POOR BRAKING ON PANIC STOP