RoadVitals

1990 Chevrolet Suburban

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
54
Latest Aug 8, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
7 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 54 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban, most frequently naming the interior & seats, brakes and tires & wheels categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
93V187000

SEATS

Nov 16, 1993
604,207 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
93V119000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Aug 2, 1993
341,364 units potentially affected
The defect: SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
The risk: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA94029ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jul 29, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1996

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 54
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 8, 2002

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED DUE TO VIBRATION AND WAS ADVISED TIRES WERE SEPARATING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT PART OF ANY RECALL, SO CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, 2 WEEKS LATER CONSUMER REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE ON RECALL, SO CONSUMER FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT IN, HOWEVER HAS HEARD NO RESPONSE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY407. *SLC

NHTSA ID
566915
Incident
Dec 5, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SHOP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATING, WHICH WERE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER EXPENSE AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT APART OF ANY RECALL, THE TIRES THAT CONSUMER PURCHASED, HOWEVER WERE ON RECALL, CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET A REPSONSE FROM FIRESTONE. (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/75R15)*YH

NHTSA ID
565100
Incident
Dec 5, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 31, 2001

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TREAD WAS FLAPPING UP AGAINST INNER FENDER WELL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER , AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, LT23585R16, DOT VN0RTXK127. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
898599
Incident
Oct 4, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed May 23, 2001

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON I 95 WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 70 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH FROM THE LEFT LANE THEN BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOBODY WAS BESIDE ME AT THE TIME. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE ROAD I SAW THAT THE WHOLE TREAD WAS GONE OFF THE TIRE. IT BENT UP THE QUARTER PANEL AND RIPPED THE TAILPIPE OUT OF THE MUFFLER. THE TREAD HAD HIT SOME OTHER CARS AND WAS ABOUT 1/4-1/2 A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE TIRES ALL HAVE LARGE BULGES OF UNEVEN TREADS. I CALLED GOODYEAR AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AND ANY WEAR PROBLEMS ARE PROBABLY THE FAULT OF MY VEHICLE. THEY DID SAY THEY WANT THE BLOWN TIRE AND WILL REPLACE IT, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE OTHERS. SO THEY ARE ALL IN MY GARAGE WAITING FOR A RECALL. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL ME AT MY WORK #. THANK YOU. *AK (TIRESIZE: 31/10.5/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 31/10.5/15 )

NHTSA ID
745734
Incident
Nov 11, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jan 23, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS SAME DEFECT AS RECALL 98V150001, BUT MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
878841
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 11, 2000

ABOUT 1 MILE AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, I WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A WELL PAVED SURFACE STREET WHEN LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND VEER TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND SLOWLY SLOW DOWN BEFORE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT IT DID NOT COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE TIRE. ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TREAD STAYED ATTACHED TO THE STEEL BELTS AND THIS CAUSING A SLAPPING OF THE DETACHED PORTION OF THE TREAD AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN ABOUT 300 FEET WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED WHEN THE TOW TRUCL DRIVER CMAME TO PUT ON MY SPARE TIRE. THE FIRESTONE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY ADJUSTMENT OR ALLOWANCE TOWARD REPLACING THE TIRE OR THE REMAINING 3 OTHER TIRES. SINCE I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THE FIRESTONE DEALER'S ANSWER AND FELT THAT THE OTHER 3 TIRES COULD ALSO BE HAZARDOUS, I BOUGHT FOUR TIRES FROM GOODYEAR TO BE SAFE. THE ONLY REASON I AM WRITING IS SO THAT THE NHTSA WILL BE AWARE THAT THE TIRE SEPARATION PROBLEM ON FIRESTONE TIRES IS ALSO PRESENT IN THE 16 INCH SIZES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ISSUE A WARNING TO OWNERS OF THIS SIZE TIRE ALSO SO AT LEAST THOSE DRIVERS CAN BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TIRES THAT COULD KILL THEM OR THEIR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IF A TREAD SEPARATION SHOULD OCCUR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I KNOW THAT IF THE SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE JUST ONE MILE EARLIER WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH, I COULD EASILY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY TO MYSELY, MY OCCUPANTS, OR PERHAPS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT DAY. AGAIN, PLEASE NOTIFY THE DRIVERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE 16 FIRESTONE TIRES THAT THEY ARE ALSO AT EXTREME RISK, NOT ONLY THE 15 INCH TIRES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235-85-R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-85-R16 )

NHTSA ID
737639
Incident
Aug 20, 1998
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 30, 2000

TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2M2 JBA TIRE SIZE: 255/70R15 )

NHTSA ID
737097
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2000

AFTER BRAKING 2 TO 3 TIMES THE BRAKES STAGGER, SHUDDER GRABBING AND STICKING, SEEMS LIKE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM IS HAPPENING EACH AND EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA ID
9000907
Incident
Nov 1, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

020730024A

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

990730016A

POWER TRAIN

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT

376105

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

COLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TW

376602A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

NEW CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STAINLESS STEEL GASKET TO CORRECT ENGINE NOISE CONDITION. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Suburban by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024371358.1
20231143364.8
20221064365.9
202118412468.5
2020424060.2
2019763058.4
2018814055.0
20171415058.2
20162176159.1
201542811159.8
2014593151.2
20131184151.9
20121014151.9
20111483152.3
20101173150.1
20091065149.6
20082134150.9
20072914157.5
2006231034.1
20051297046.7
20042046158.1
20033017663.8
20022864862.9
200144081163.3
2000282111063.5
19996342660.4
19982013153.3
19974143559.7
19963604762.6
19954577865.9
19948586469.4
19934992367.2
19921895269.6
1991524160.8
1990Viewing544162.0
1989624162.9
1988304049.0
1987181050.7
1986701—
1985901—
1984601—
1983300—
1982110—
1981110—
1979100—
1978300—
1977200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.