VehicleVerdict

1990 GMC Suburban problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 28 complaints on file for the 1990 GMC Suburban — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 2 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

28

NHTSA complaints

2

Recalls

4

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1990 compare to other Suburban years?

Suburban NHTSA complaints by model year, 1990 highlighted490 complaints1966: 0 complaints1974: 1 complaints1981: 0 complaints1982: 0 complaints1983: 2 complaints1984: 5 complaints1985: 6 complaints1986: 4 complaints1987: 8 complaints1988: 8 complaints1989: 24 complaints1990: 28 complaints1991: 33 complaints1992: 105 complaints1993: 254 complaints1994: 490 complaints1995: 294 complaints1996: 220 complaints1997: 268 complaints1998: 137 complaints1999: 393 complaints2000: 20 complaints2001: 5 complaints2002: 9 complaints2003: 8 complaints2004: 1 complaints
Suburban NHTSA complaints by model year, 1990 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Suburban years to avoid →

What are the most common 1990 GMC Suburban problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes1139%
Seats725%
Transmission27%
Suspension27%
Tires & Wheels27%
Speed Control27%
Other14%
Electrical System14%

Does the 1990 GMC Suburban have recalls?

2 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

93V187000SeatsNovember 16, 1993 · 604,207 units

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.

93V016000TransmissionFebruary 1, 1993 · 1,702,880 units

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“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”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 23, 1997 · crash

“I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHERE L WAS SITTING STILL AND WAS THEN REARENDED AND CONSEQUENTLY FLEW THROUGH THE AIR AND HIT A FULL SIZE FORD PICKUP. WHEN L WAS HIT THE THIRD SEAT IN THE SUBURBAN WAS KNOCKED OFF THE BOLTS AND PUSHED INTO THE SECOND SEAT. MORE SEVERELY, THE DRIVERS SEAT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seats · October 12, 1998 · crash

“WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY FIRST GMC PURCHASE SO FAR. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF BUYING THIS CAR, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE. NOW, TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 1, 1999

“UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED 9/25/99 BY SUSPENSION PLUS IN SAN DIEGO USING MCQUAY NORRIS PARTS.. ON OR ABOUT 11/04/2000 THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING AT LOW SPEED LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE FRONT END. SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION DETERMINED THAT THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · November 4, 2000

“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”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · January 30, 2001

1990 GMC Suburban — common questions

Is the 1990 GMC Suburban reliable?

The record is thin — 28 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 2 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 1990 Suburban problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (11 complaints), seats (7 complaints), tires & wheels (2 complaints).

Does the 1990 GMC Suburban have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns affecting the 1990 GMC Suburban. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1990 GMC Suburban under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 4 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Suburban years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Suburban years to avoid are 1994, 1999, 1995, 1997, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1992, 1991. The cleanest record among Suburban years belongs to 1982.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.