The 1990 GMC Suburban has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,307,087 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the parking brake. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS93V1870001993-11-16604,207 affected
Defect
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
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.
POWER TRAIN93V0160001993-02-011,702,880 affected
Defect
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
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.
Complaints by component
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
4
SEATS
4
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
2crashes1injuries
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
3
1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
1
Total complaints28
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“Consumer states the metal parking brake cable wears into the rubber brake hose, which could cause failure of the brake hose and the rear brakes, the rubber brake hose was almost worn to the point of failure, the metal parking brake cable does have a metal sleeve on it to protect the rubber hose,…”
“Consumer states the metal parking brake cable wears into the rubber brake hose, which could cause failure of the brake hose and the rear brakes, the rubber brake hose was almost worn to the point of failure, the metal parking brake cable does have a metal sleeve on it to protect the rubber hose,…”
“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”
“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”
“Left rear tire fell off while driving, tire rolled at a high speed onto incoming traffic, vehicle was not able to stop right away and drum was dragged 192 feet, once vehicle stopped it was up on sidewalk, possibly related to lug nut failure, repair included new locks for the lug nuts. *jb”
“Frame of seat back snapped when driver entered vehicle and got into seat. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA92022 Opened 1992-06-24 · closed 1993-11-19
SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA94029 Opened 1994-07-29 · closed 1996-07-31
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
InvestigationPE90004 Opened 1989-10-10 · closed 1990-02-02
TRAILER HITCH SEPERATION
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE92026 Opened 1992-03-06 · closed 1992-06-24
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 GMC Suburban as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.