IllustrationCONSUMER REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING GM TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED IN HER 1988 SUBURBAN.*MR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. *NM
1988 GMC Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reportsI JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT HAD TWO ATX TIRES ON IT UNTIL ONE WENT FLAT AND I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE TIRE DEALER SAID THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. HOW CAN A RECALL EXPIRE? I DON'T KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER…
Read full complaint
I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT HAD TWO ATX TIRES ON IT UNTIL ONE WENT FLAT AND I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE TIRE DEALER SAID THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. HOW CAN A RECALL EXPIRE? I DON'T KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL OR NOT. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? DT
SHOULDER BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ASPECT OF PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER COULD ONLY SAY THAT IT WAS VERY POORLY PRODUCED. THEY COULD ONLY SAY IT WAS DISCONTINUED. CONSUMER WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION & EQUIPMENT. *AK
DURING COLLISION CONSUMERS WERE EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMERS)
WHEN JACKING THE TRUCK UP THE GEARS, THE JACK LOCKS UP AND THE JACK WILL NOT LET THE TRUCK DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
FOUR SEAT BELTS IN VEHICLE, NONE OF THE BUCKLES WILL LOCK. *DSH
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK ANCHOR BOLT SHEARED OFF PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-187), CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 480470). *SKD
Official recalls
293V016000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 1, 1993
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence & remedy
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.
89V010000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Jan 30, 1989
DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN A CRASH, AFFECTED BELTS WOULD NOT LOCK, THEREBYINCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW DRIVERS SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage
Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE92026 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Mar 6, 1992 · Closed Jun 24, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
DP90017 · Inadequate Exhaust Heat Shield
Opened Aug 24, 1990 · Closed Dec 21, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
INADEQUATE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD
PE90026 · Improper Speed Control
Opened Dec 12, 1989 · Closed Apr 9, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
PE89097 · Cruise Control
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jun 5, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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