Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 GMC Suburban. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SEAT TRACK ANCHORS AND SEATS
- Summary
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (22)
22 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seats is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 | 31.8% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 31.8% |
| Parking brake | 3 | 13.6% |
| Power train | 2 | 9.1% |
| Suspension | 2 | 9.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 9.1% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4.5% |
| Tires | 1 | 4.5% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 4.5% |
| Wheels | 1 | 4.5% |
How 1990 compares with other Suburban years
Best and worst Suburban years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 0 |
| 1988 | 8 | 2 |
| 1989 | 17 | 2 |
| 1990 | 22 | 2 |
| 1991 | 30 | 2 |
| 1992 | 80 | 2 |
| 1993 | 212 | 0 |
| 1994 | 411 | 3 |
| 1995 | 227 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 17 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $5,650
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 599 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 17 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $5,650 | 599 |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 19 / 16 | $6,000 | 636 |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 / 15 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl · 4-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 / 13 / 12 | $5,600 | 741 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 Suburban for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 GMC Suburban FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 GMC Suburban have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 93V187000 (seat), 93V016000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 GMC Suburban problems?
Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Seats (7), Service brakes (7), Parking brake (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 GMC Suburban get?
EPA rates the 6.2 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 15 city, 21 highway and 17 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1990 Suburban compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1995 GMC Suburban model years at least five years old, the 1986 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 1994 the most (411). The 1990 drew 22. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.