Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the GMC Suburban, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1994 GMC Suburban - 385 complaints in its first 8 years (411 to date)
- 1999 GMC Suburban - 264 complaints in its first 8 years (285 to date)
- 1995 GMC Suburban - 217 complaints in its first 8 years (227 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 1992 GMC Suburban - 73 complaints in its first 8 years (80 to date)
- 1998 GMC Suburban - 98 complaints in its first 8 years (100 to date)
- 1996 GMC Suburban - 164 complaints in its first 8 years (172 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 GMC Suburban | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 GMC Suburban | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 GMC Suburban | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 2001 GMC Suburban | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 2000 GMC Suburban | 15 | 15 | 2 |
| 1999 GMC Suburban | 285 | 264 | 1 |
| 1998 GMC Suburban | 100 | 98 | 2 |
| 1997 GMC Suburban | 200 | 187 | 2 |
| 1996 GMC Suburban | 172 | 164 | 3 |
| 1995 GMC Suburban | 227 | 217 | 6 |
| 1994 GMC Suburban | 411 | 385 | 3 |
| 1993 GMC Suburban | 212 | 199 | 0 |
| 1992 GMC Suburban | 80 | 73 | 2 |
| 1991 GMC Suburban | 30 | 24 | 2 |
| 1990 GMC Suburban | 22 | 10 | 2 |
| 1989 GMC Suburban | 17 | 11 | 2 |
| 1988 GMC Suburban | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1987 GMC Suburban | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 GMC Suburban | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 GMC Suburban | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 GMC Suburban | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 GMC Suburban | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03V159000 | 1994-1997 | Visibility | 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... |
| 03V094000 | 2000-2003 | Structure | CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY... |
| 03V093000 | 1997-1998 | Visibility | CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. |
| 01V159000 | 2001 | Seat Belts | 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... |
| 00V222000 | 2000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VACUUM POWER, 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. |
| 00V122000 | 1999 | Seat Belts | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. |
| 99V025000 | 1994 | Exterior Lighting | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. |
| 98V150001 | 1994-1996 | Visibility | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. |
| 98V033000 | 1998 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. |
| 96V226000 | 1991 | Seats | THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. |
| 96V057000 | 1995-1996 | Vehicle Speed Control | THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. |
| 95V139000 | 1995 | Power Train | THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT-CABLE LOCK CLIP CAN BACK OUT OF ITS INSTALLED POSITION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CABLE ADJUSTMENT. |
| 95V140000 | 1995 | Air Bags | THE VEHICLES HAVE BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) LABEL AND AN ENGINE START LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. |
| 95V026000 | 1995 | Power Train | DUE TO A THIN CASE CASTING, AN EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION LEAK CAN OCCUR. |
| 93V187000 | 1989-1990 | Seats | THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. |
| 93V016000 | 1988-1992 | Power Train | UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE. |
| 92V056000 | 1992 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 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. |
| 89V010000 | 1988 | Seat Belts | DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE. |
| 82V028000 | 1982 | Trailer Hitches | THE PLATFORM TRAILER HITCHES ON THE SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH SUFFICIENT HITCH-TO-ATTACHMENT BOLT CLAMP LOAD. |
| 80V150000 | 1981 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT THE RETAINER CLIP FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD. |