The Chevrolet Suburban, a large sport utility vehicle, was introduced in 1936. Although Edmunds contends that the Suburban is the go-to choice for large families, it is not exempt from problems. In particular, 2004 models suffer from spare tire carrier problems.
Auto Recalls For Consumers indicates that the Suburban's spare tire carrier, which is located underneath the vehicle, is difficult to release due to a faulty tire hoist. The tire hoist fails to lower, prohibiting access to the spare tire. The spare tire hoist is supposed to be easily released with the use of a wrench.
Aside from the annoyance factor, the inability to access your spare tire will result in having to call for a tow truck, whereas otherwise you would not. Additionally, the tire hoist must be replaced in order to prevent the failure from happening in the future.
Owners will incur out-of-pocket expense for the malfunction, because Chevrolet does not warranty the tire hoist.
