RecallMyCar

GMC Suburban Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 21 safety recalls and 1,820 owner complaints across 26 model years of the GMC Suburban (1966–2004). The most-complained-about year is 1994.

21
safety recalls, all years
1,820
owner complaints, all years
1995
year with most recalls
1994
year with most complaints

Pick your GMC Suburban model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2004 GMC Suburban01
2003 GMC Suburban15
2002 GMC Suburban17
2001 GMC Suburban25
2000 GMC Suburban215
1999 GMC Suburban1285
1998 GMC Suburban2100
1997 GMC Suburban2200
1996 GMC Suburban3172
1995 GMC Suburban6227
1994 GMC Suburban3411
1993 GMC Suburban0212
1992 GMC Suburban280
1991 GMC Suburban230
1990 GMC Suburban222
1989 GMC Suburban217
1988 GMC Suburban28
1987 GMC Suburban08
1986 GMC Suburban04
1985 GMC Suburban03
1984 GMC Suburban05
1983 GMC Suburban02
1982 GMC Suburban10
1981 GMC Suburban10
1974 GMC Suburban01
1966 GMC Suburban10

What GMC Suburban owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1,820 complaints with NHTSA. The 1994 model year has the most, with 411.

All GMC Suburban recalls (21)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a GMC Suburban, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 03V159000 Reported 1,755,876 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on june 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…

    Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997

  2. Exterior (visibility)

    NHTSA 03V093000 Reported 507,171 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain sport utility vehicles, MINI vans, and pickup trucks may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on april 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

    Model years: 1997, 1998

  3. Structure

    NHTSA 03V094000 Reported 3,674 vehicles potentially affected SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS

    Certain pickup truck, van, and MINI van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…

    Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

  4. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 01V159000 Reported 9,196 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: pickup and utility trucks. Some of these vehicles have an internal component in the outboard seat belt retractors for the 2nd and 3rd row of seats that could be cracked. With repeated actuation of the locking mechanism, the crack could spread to the point such that the seat belt would no longer lock.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the outboard seat belts for specific lot numbers and replace the belts if necessary. GM is enclosing an inspection procedure for the owners to use or they can have their dealers do the inspections.…

    Model years: 2001

  5. Vacuum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V222000 Reported 3,758 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with vacuum power, 4-wheel disc brakes. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems." these vehicles were built with a kinked brake booster vacuum supply hose.

    Remedy: Dealers will re-route the brake booster vacuum supply hose.

    Model years: 2000

  6. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 00V122000 Reported 279,132 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."

    Remedy: Dealers will install a tray insert on the top of the passenger side of the instrument panel. The tray insert corrects the noncompliance.

    Model years: 1999

  7. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 99V025000 Reported 988,587 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: pickup trucks, crew cabs, utility trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles were built with the polarity of the wiring for the zero adjust brake switch reversed from what was specified on the switch drawing. With the reversed polarity, the contacts in the brake switch can wear out prematurely. The brake…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake switch and reverse the wiring.

    Model years: 1994

  8. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 98V150001 Reported 1,557,585 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.

    Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996

  9. Rotor (service brakes)

    NHTSA 98V033000 Reported 1,137 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the life of the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.

    Model years: 1998

  10. Seats

    NHTSA 96V226000 Reported 32,596 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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.

    Model years: 1991

  11. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 96V057000 Reported 379,004 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    These vehicles were assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat which could bind the throttle. This does not meet with the maximum return times required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems."

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for adequate throttle cable to dash mat clearance, and if there is insufficient clearance, cut out a portion of the dash mat to provide proper clearance.

    Model years: 1995, 1996

  12. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 95V139000 Reported 36,641 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light may not illuminate.

    Remedy: Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.

    Model years: 1995

  13. Air bags

    NHTSA 95V140000 Reported 3,651 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The vehicles have both the supplemental inflatable restraint (sir) label and an engine start label installed on the same side of the sun visor. This does not comply with FMVSS no.208, "occupant crash protection."

    Remedy: The engine start label will be removed from the stowed side of the sun visor and a new engine start label will be installed on the headliner in the sun visor depression. Owners will receive the new label and can…

    Model years: 1995

  14. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

    NHTSA 95V026000 Reported 13,853 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.

    Model years: 1995

  15. Seats

    NHTSA 93V187000 Reported 604,207 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Model years: 1989, 1990

  16. 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.

    Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

  17. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 92V056000 Reported 177 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The pivot bolt holding the brake pedal to its support bracket may be improperly tightened and may not have engaged the locking material on the bolt. The bolt can disengage from the nut.

    Remedy: Dealers should inspect the hand started brake pedal bolts and torque them to specification.

    Model years: 1992

  18. 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.

    Model years: 1988

  19. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 82V028000 Reported 148 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The platform trailer hitches on the suspect vehicles may not have been assembled with sufficient hitch-to-attachment bolt clamp load. If this condition exists, the trailer hitch attaching parts may loosen and break.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, reposition the hitch and rear bumper, retorque the attachment bolts and replace the existing rear hitch-to-frame bolts at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1982

  20. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 80V150000 Reported 364 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles may have been assembled without the retainer clip for the brake pedal push rod. The absence of this retainer clip could allow the brake pedal to disengage from the master cyclinder push rod.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install the retainer clip on all suspect vehicles without charge.

    Model years: 1981

  21. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 66V011001 Reported 2,157 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Model years: 1966

Other GMC 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.