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GMC SuburbanYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,820 NHTSA owner complaints across 26 model years, no GMC Suburban year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1998. The Suburban has 21 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1994, 1999Best years'91 '92 '96 '98Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,820Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls211966–2004 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

GMC Suburban years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Suburban median. Tap a year for its full report.

'66'74'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2004Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2003Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall2002Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls2000Not rated–/10015 complaints · 2 recalls1999Caution41/100285 complaints · 1 recall1998Solid66/100100 complaints · 2 recalls1997Solid50/100200 complaints · 2 recalls1996Solid54/100172 complaints · 3 recalls1995Solid48/100227 complaints · 6 recalls1994Caution30/100411 complaints · 3 recalls1993Solid46/100212 complaints · 0 recalls1992Solid65/10080 complaints · 2 recalls1991Best86/10030 complaints · 2 recalls1990Not rated–/10022 complaints · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/1008 complaints · 2 recalls1987Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common GMC Suburban problems

All model years combined: 1,820 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic889166
Visibility1905
Tires12821
Power train11412
Electrical system11414
Seats10311
Steering896
Engine and engine cooling883
Fuel system, gasoline755
18 other systems28646
21 recalls

GMC Suburban recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Visibility: windshield wiper/washer03V-159 · 1994–1997 · Apr 28, 2003 · 1,755,876 vehicles–Rearview mirrors/devices: exterior03V-093 · 1997–1998 · Mar 7, 2003 · 507,171 vehicles–Structure03V-094 · 2000–2003 · Mar 7, 2003 · 3,674 vehicles–Front: retractor01V-159 · 2001 · May 17, 2001 · 9,196 vehicles–Power assist: vacuum00V-222 · 2000 · Aug 8, 2000 · 3,758 vehicles–Front: webbing00V-122 · 1999 · Apr 27, 2000 · 279,132 vehicles–Brake lights: switch99V-025 · 1994 · Feb 5, 1999 · 988,587 vehicles–Visibility: windshield wiper/washer98V-150 · 1994–1996 · Jul 1, 1998 · 1,557,585 vehicles–Disc: rotor98V-033 · 1998 · Feb 17, 1998 · 1,137 vehicles–Seats96V-226 · 1991 · Nov 4, 1996 · 32,596 vehicles–Vehicle speed control96V-057 · 1995–1996 · Apr 4, 1996 · 379,004 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission95V-139 · 1995 · Jul 26, 1995 · 36,641 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 21 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

20 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Suburban

  1. CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALLEA06016 · 2001 · closed Nov 9, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-521
  2. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREDP05009 · 2000–2003 · closed May 31, 2006
    No recall
  3. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · 2003 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  4. WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILUREEA02006 · 1994–1997 · closed Jul 23, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-159
  5. HEADLIGHTPE00017 · 1995–1996 · closed Sep 26, 2000
    No recall
  6. LOSS OF POWER ASSISTEA00008 · 1995 · closed Aug 31, 2001
    No recall
  7. OEM HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM CRACKINGDP00001 · 1993–1997 · still open
    Open
  8. BATTERY LEAKS ACIDPE99073 · 1995–1997 · closed May 2, 2000
    No recall
  9. ERRATIC STEERING BOOST WHILE DRIVINGPE98060 · 1997 · closed May 12, 1999
    No recall
  10. STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONSPE95052 · 1995 · closed Mar 22, 1996
    No recall