1990 Gmc SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 38.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 |
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable: 3; Seats: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
1995: 3; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 5; 2002: 3
Pattern summary
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 560749 · 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)
LEFT REAR TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE ROLLED AT A HIGH SPEED ONTO INCOMING TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP RIGHT AWAY AND DRUM WAS DRAGGED 192 FEET, ONCE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WAS UP ON SIDEWALK, POSSIBLY RELATED TO LUG NUT FAILURE, REPAIR INCLUDED NEW LOCKS FOR THE LUG NUTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741357 · 2001-02-22 (February 22, 2001)
FRAME OF SEAT BACK SNAPPED WHEN DRIVER ENTERED VEHICLE AND GOT INTO SEAT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745247 · 2001-05-12 (May 12, 2001)
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED RACING. COULD NOT STOP. PUT IN NUETRAL,ENGINE RACING. SHUT ENGINE . LATER FOUND THAT THE HOOK FROM SERVO HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF AND THE BAR ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE THROTTLE. THIS HOOK SHOULD NOT BE OF A MATERIAL THAT CAN RUST & BREAK OFF LIKE THAT. ALSO I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE SERVICE MANUAL & THERE IS NO MENTION OF SERVICE TO THAT PART ATALL.WHY WILL THE MECHANIC EVEN LOOK AT THAT PART IF THERE IS NO MENTION FOR MAINTENANCE TO THAT PART. THAT JUST MEANS THAT GM FELT THAT THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745305 · 2001-05-14 (May 14, 2001)
UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED 9/25/99 BY SUSPENSION PLUS IN SAN DIEGO USING MCQUAY NORRIS PARTS.. ON OR ABOUT 11/04/2000 THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING AT LOW SPEED LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE FRONT END. SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACED UPPER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED BY SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT RETAINER ASSEMBLY FROM THE BALL JOINT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER 9,000 MILES OF OPERATION. WE HAVE THE FAILED PART.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758997 · 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
I BELIEVE THE SUBURBAN SERIES VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKE HOSE(FROM THE BODY TO A CONNECTOR ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL) IS USED AS A SUPPORT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE STRONGER, HEAVIER PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUBS ON THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING THE RUBBER HOSE TO FAIL. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE DOES HAVE A 2INCH METAL SLEEVE OVER IT NEAR WHERE THE HOSE AND CABLE RUB. HOWEVER, THIS SLEEVE IS NOT LOCATED WHERE THE NATURAL LAY OF THE HOSE/CABLE IS. IN FACT, THE SLEEVE HAS A ROUGH EDGE ON IT, WHICH C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785902 · 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THE METAL PARKING BRAKE CABLE WEARS INTO THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES, THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSE WAS ALMOST WORN TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, THE METAL PARKING BRAKE CABLE DOES HAVE A METAL SLEEVE ON IT TO PROTECT THE RUBBER HOSE, BUT THE NATURAL POSITION OF THE HOSE AND CABLE CAUSES THE SLEEVE TO NOT LINE UP IN THE DESIRED POSITION. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8005467 · 2002-03-12 (March 12, 2002)
CONSUMER RAISED HOOD; ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, AFTER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DOUGLAS BATTERY SUDDENLY BLEW UP, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 800814 · 1996-08-13 (August 13, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800814 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V016000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1993-02-01 (February 1, 1993)
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V187000 · Seats
Reported: 1993-11-16 (November 16, 1993)
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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗