RecallMyCar

1988 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban, and owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
30
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
11–17
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Rotor (service brakes)

    NHTSA 93V119000 Reported 341,364 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

  2. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 93V016000 Reported 1,702,880 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  3. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 89V010000 Reported 277 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Drivers seat and/or shoulder belt locking mechanism may not operate.

    Remedy: Install a new drivers seat belt assembly.

30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 124,695 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 5 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Bridgestone tire rupture: ply separation, on freeway, no warning, at 35000 miles with lots of treadlife remaining. I can provide photos of damaged tire on request. All plies of tire completely separat”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 6, 2017 · Tires

“It was noticed that the p/s gearbox was separating from its mount on the vehicle frame as the steering wheel was moved. The steering became looser. It was discovered that the u-channel frame was crack”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 1, 2014 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban (R10 Suburban 2WD, V10 Suburban 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined11–17 mpg
City / Highway11–15 / 13–21
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicles
Engine8 cyl, 5.7/6.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd

Compare Chevrolet Suburban model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Suburban model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Chevrolet Suburban02
1978 Chevrolet Suburban03
1979 Chevrolet Suburban01
1981 Chevrolet Suburban11
1982 Chevrolet Suburban11
1983 Chevrolet Suburban03
1984 Chevrolet Suburban06
1985 Chevrolet Suburban09
1986 Chevrolet Suburban07
1987 Chevrolet Suburban018
1988 Chevrolet Suburban330
1989 Chevrolet Suburban362
1990 Chevrolet Suburban354
1991 Chevrolet Suburban352
1992 Chevrolet Suburban3189
1993 Chevrolet Suburban0499
1994 Chevrolet Suburban3858
1995 Chevrolet Suburban6457
1996 Chevrolet Suburban3360
1997 Chevrolet Suburban2414
1998 Chevrolet Suburban2201
1999 Chevrolet Suburban1634
2000 Chevrolet Suburban8282
2001 Chevrolet Suburban6440
2002 Chevrolet Suburban2286
2003 Chevrolet Suburban5301
2004 Chevrolet Suburban4204
2005 Chevrolet Suburban6129
2006 Chevrolet Suburban123
2007 Chevrolet Suburban4292
2008 Chevrolet Suburban4213
2009 Chevrolet Suburban5106
2010 Chevrolet Suburban3117
2011 Chevrolet Suburban3148
2012 Chevrolet Suburban4101
2013 Chevrolet Suburban4118
2014 Chevrolet Suburban359
2015 Chevrolet Suburban11429
2016 Chevrolet Suburban6220
2017 Chevrolet Suburban5141
2018 Chevrolet Suburban481
2019 Chevrolet Suburban378
2020 Chevrolet Suburban444
2021 Chevrolet Suburban12199
2022 Chevrolet Suburban4124
2023 Chevrolet Suburban3126
2024 Chevrolet Suburban142

Checking a specific 1988 Chevrolet Suburban

How do I know if my 1988 Chevrolet Suburban has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 89V010000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.