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1990 GMC 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 22 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.

  • Seats. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2002
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

I BELIEVE THE SUBURBAN SERIES VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKE HOSE(FROM THE BODY TO A CONNECTOR ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL) IS USED AS A SUPPORT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE STRONGER, HEAVIER PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUBS ON THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING THE RUBBER HOSE TO FAIL. THE PARKING…

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I BELIEVE THE SUBURBAN SERIES VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKE HOSE(FROM THE BODY TO A CONNECTOR ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL) IS USED AS A SUPPORT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE STRONGER, HEAVIER PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUBS ON THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING THE RUBBER HOSE TO FAIL. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE DOES HAVE A 2INCH METAL SLEEVE OVER IT NEAR WHERE THE HOSE AND CABLE RUB. HOWEVER, THIS SLEEVE IS NOT LOCATED WHERE THE NATURAL LAY OF THE HOSE/CABLE IS. IN FACT, THE SLEEVE HAS A ROUGH EDGE ON IT, WHICH CAUSES ADDITIONAL WEAR ON THE RUBBER HOSE. THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE IS ALSO BENT WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRUCK BODY BECAUSE THE HOSE MUST SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE ON MY SUBURBAN WAS ALMOST WORN THROUGH WHEN I NOTICED IT. I BELIEVE THE FIX COULD BE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE BE ROUTED BELOW THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE WITH A RUBBER DOUGHNUT BETWEEN THE HOSE/CABLE.O. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758997

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionWheels

CONSUMER WAS HEARING NOISE FROM BRAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WAS INSPECTED, AND WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT BRAKES WERE NEEDED, AND REAR SHOCKS WERE LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #560749

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN EMERGENCY STOPPING PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847164

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS LEAVING A STOP LIGHT UP TO 15 MPH. WHEN SHE HIT BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE RESISTING WITH A MUSHY FEELING. THERE WAS NO SUPPORT OF GRABBING, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING FORWARD, RESULTING IN A CRASH, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817910

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER CAN BE RELEASING BRAKE, STARTING OUT AT APPROX 5-10 MPH WHEN CONSUMER NEEDS TO MAKE SUDDEN STOP BRAKES WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY, PUSHES BRAKE TO FLOOR, , TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE VEHICLE WILLSTRT TO BRAKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817243

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #800814

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE TRUCK HAS ABS. THE BRAKES RELEASE ON A BUMPY ROAD AND DO NOT WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #974354

Official recalls

2

93V187000 · Seats

Nov 16, 1993

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

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.

93V016000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Feb 1, 1993

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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

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

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

4

EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage

Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

PE92026 · Seat Back Failures

Opened Mar 6, 1992 · Closed Jun 24, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

PE90004 · Trailer Hitch Seperation

Opened Oct 10, 1989 · Closed Feb 2, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

There is no summary currently available