The 1991 GMC Suburban has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,735,476 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS96V2260001996-11-0432,596 affected
Defect
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN 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 WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL 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
SEATS
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
1crashes
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
3
1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
TIRES
2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2
2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
Total complaints33
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Recall for collapse of driver seat,recall done, seat collapsed after recall repair???*ak”
“I was driving on the 405 in los angeles at 65 mph last thursday night at 10 pm. My left rear tire suddenly began to come apart as if the skin was coming off of it. I did not crash but was able to pull over safely onto an exit. The tire appears to be shredding like the ones I have seen on…”
“I was driving on the 405 in los angeles at 65 mph last thursday night at 10 pm. My left rear tire suddenly began to come apart as if the skin was coming off of it. I did not crash but was able to pull over safely onto an exit. The tire appears to be shredding like the ones I have seen on…”
“The problem: the speedometer works intermittently, the brake light would come on, and the brakes would lose power. I took it to the dealer to get fixed. The brake light doesn't come on anymore. The dealer has changed all the components on the front and rear brakes. Now the brakes are really mushy…”
“The problem: the speedometer works intermittently, the brake light would come on, and the brakes would lose power. I took it to the dealer to get fixed. The brake light doesn't come on anymore. The dealer has changed all the components on the front and rear brakes. Now the brakes are really mushy…”
“Engine failed.”
“The bolt holding seat recliner broke prior to/after service recall. *ak *slc”
“When driving vehicle at various speeds, would hear noises; then lost steering control due to frame attached to gear box was cracked. Took to dealer & refused to repair cracks; said it shouldn't be driven because it would come loose & someone could be injured. *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.
InvestigationPE92005 Opened 1992-01-16 · closed 1992-05-28
BRAKE LINE ABRASION
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 1991 GMC Suburban as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.