GMC Suburban recalls and complaints by year
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the GMC Suburban, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)
At a Glance
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the GMC Suburban. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the GMC Suburban, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
- Coverage spans model years 1966–2004 with 36 recall campaigns and 2323 complaints in NHTSA data.
- Years with the most recall activity: 1995 (6), 1996 (3), and 1994 (3).
- Years with the most complaint volume: 1994 (490), 1999 (393), and 1995 (294).
- Top recall themes: Seats and restraints, Brakes, and Powertrain.
- Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Seats.
- Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
- Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Seats and restraints
6 campaigns · Years: 1966, 1988–1991, 1999, 2001These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.
Brakes
5 campaigns · Years: 1981, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Powertrain
3 campaigns · Years: 1988–1992, 1995These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.
Visibility and lighting
3 campaigns · Years: 1994–1998These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).
Other
2 campaigns · Years: 1982, 1995–1996These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.
Airbags
1 campaign · Years: 1995These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.
- 95V140000 · Air bags
Structure
1 campaign · Years: 2000–2003These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.
- 03V094000 · Structure
Most Reported Issues
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the GMC Suburban in NHTSA complaint data are Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Seats.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.
| Model Year | Recalls | Complaints | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Suspension:front. |
| 2003 | 1 | 8 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Tires:sidewall, Engine and engine cooling:engine. |
| 2002 | 1 | 9 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires:tread/belt, Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump, Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire. |
| 2001 | 2 | 5 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seats, Seat belts:front:anchorage, Air bags:frontal. |
| 2000 | 2 | 20 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Suspension:front, Tires. |
| 1999 | 1 | 393 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Tires, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc. |
| 1998 | 2 | 137 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Power train:automatic transmission, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. |
| 1997 | 2 | 268 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Power train:automatic transmission, Steering. |
| 1996 | 3 | 220 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. |
| 1995 | 6 | 294 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Seats, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. |
| 1994 | 3 | 490 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer. |
| 1993 | 0 | 254 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. |
| 1992 | 2 | 105 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer. |
| 1991 | 2 | 33 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Seats:front assembly:recliner. |
| 1990 | 2 | 28 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Parking brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage and cable, Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. |
| 1989 | 2 | 24 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seats:front assembly:recliner, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control, Steering: steering wheel/handle bar. |
| 1988 | 2 | 8 |
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly. |
| 1987 | 0 | 8 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly. |
| 1986 | 0 | 4 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:retractor, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Tires:tread/belt. |
| 1985 | 0 | 6 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:differential proportional valve, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc. |
| 1984 | 0 | 5 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Tires, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:differential proportional valve, Wheels. |
| 1983 | 0 | 2 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly. |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 |
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary. |
What to Do Next
- Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
- If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
- If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
Recall Evidence by Year
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved: Visibility , Power train and Structure
Other GMC Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other GMC models.
- Acadia 2007–2027
- B7 1991–2002
- C/K Pickup 1981–1986
- C6 1981–2009
- C7 1981–2009
- Caballero 1981–1987
- Canyon 2004–2027
- Envoy 2002–2009
- Hummer EV Pickup 2022–2027
- Hummer EV SUV 2024–2027
- Jimmy 1987–1991
- Rally 1981–1996
- Safari 1985–2005
- Savana 1996–2027
- Sierra 1989–2027
- Sierra HD 2019–2027
- Sonoma 1991–2004
- T-Series 1997–2009
- Terrain 2009–2027
- Typhoon 1992–1993
- Vandura 1981–1996
- W4 1981–2009
- Yukon 1992–2027
- Yukon XL 1995–2027
⚠️ Important Safety Information
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.