GMC Suburban complaints by model year
1,819 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | 285 | 25 | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 | 100 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| 1997 | 200 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| 1996 | 172 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| 1995 | 227 | 18 | 2 | 6 |
| 1994 | 411 | 66 | 4 | 3 |
| 1993 | 212 | 31 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 80 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1988 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1987 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1995–2004. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 101 | 62 | 58 | 29 | 123 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 18 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 11 | 13 | 24 | 15 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 20 | 26 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 8 | 39 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 14 | 23 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
GMC Suburban recalls (20)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Suburban model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03V159000 | Apr 28, 2003 | GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR | 1994–1997 | — |
| 03V093000 | Mar 7, 2003 | GM/REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH | 1997, 1998 | — |
| 03V094000 | Mar 7, 2003 | SOUTHERN COMFORT/RUNNING BOARDS | 2000–2003 | — |
| 01V159000 | May 17, 2001 | GM/SEAT BELT RETRACTOR | 2001 | — |
| 00V222000 | Aug 8, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 105/BRAKE HOSE | 2000 | — |
| 00V122000 | Apr 27, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 208/NECK EXTENSION | 1999 | — |
| 99V025000 | Feb 5, 1999 | GM/BRAKE SWITCH | 1994 | — |
| 98V150001 | Jul 1, 1998 | GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING | 1994, 1995, 1996 | — |
| 98V033000 | Feb 17, 1998 | GM/BRAKE ROTORS/HUBS | 1998 | — |
| 96V226000 | Nov 4, 1996 | GM/BUCKET SEATS | 1991 | — |
| 96V057000 | Apr 4, 1996 | GM/FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL | 1995, 1996 | — |
| 95V139000 | Jul 26, 1995 | POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC | 1995 | — |
| 95V140000 | Jul 25, 1995 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG | 1995 | — |
| 95V026000 | Feb 16, 1995 | POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:COOLING UNIT AN | 1995 | — |
| 93V187000 | Nov 16, 1993 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SEAT TRACK ANCHORS AND SEATS | 1989, 1990 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
GMC Suburban FAQ
How many recalls has the GMC Suburban had?
NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns that cover at least one GMC Suburban model year from 1983 to 2004. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which GMC Suburban year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1994 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (411) and the 2004 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common GMC Suburban problems?
Across the 1995–2004 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, tires, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the GMC Suburban get?
EPA rates the 1999 GMC Suburban at 14 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.