1990 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban, and owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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3 safety recalls for the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
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.
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.
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Rotor (service brakes)
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…
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Automatic transmission (power train)
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.
54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 12 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 n”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 8, 2002 · Tires
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 15, 2002 · Tires
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Chevrolet Suburban (R1500 Suburban 2WD, Suburban V1500 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 12–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–15 / 13–21 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 5.7/6.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Suburban model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Suburban model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
How do I know if my 1990 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 1990 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 93V016000).
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
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Cobalt7,681 complaints
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.