1990 GMC Suburban
Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
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.
Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 22
- Recalls
- 2
- Investigations
- 4
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
Campaigns on file for 1990
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1990: 22 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 3 |
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1988 | 8 |
| 1989 | 17 |
| 1990 | 22 |
| 1991 | 31 |
| 1992 | 80 |
| 1993 | 213 |
| 1994 | 419 |
| 1995 | 227 |
| 1996 | 172 |
| 1997 | 200 |
| 1998 | 100 |
| 1999 | 285 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Only 22 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Service brakes
7 of 22 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.
Seats
7 of 22 total reports mention: seats, most commonly citing recliner.
Show complaint excerpts
Driver's seat bolts failed after recall repair, causing seat back to collapse.
NHTSA ODI report, 1998-07-13
Parking brake
3 of 22 total reports mention: parking brake, most commonly citing linkage and cable.
Vehicle speed control
2 of 22 total reports mention: vehicle speed control.
Suspension
2 of 22 total reports mention: suspension, most commonly citing shock absorber and upper ball joint.
Safety timeline
2 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
I
1989-10-10Preliminary evaluationClosed 1990-02-02 Trailer hitch seperation
-
I
1992-03-06Preliminary evaluationClosed 1992-06-24 Seat back failures
-
I
1992-06-24Engineering analysisClosed 1993-11-19 Seat back bolt breakage
-
R
1993-03-13Power train93V016000 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.
-
R
1994-01-20Seats93V187000 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…
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.
-
I
1994-07-29Engineering analysisClosed 1996-07-31 Engine compartment fires
Buy-smart checklist
1990 GMC Suburban — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 7 reports on file for this year.
- Seats: 7 reports on file for this year.
- Parking brake: 3 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 93V016000 · Power train
- Recall 93V187000 · Seats
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1990 GMC Suburban reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1990 GMC Suburban?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 32% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1990 GMC Suburban have?
- 2 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.