1990 CHEVROLET Suburban Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

SEATS

17 complaints

SEATBACK RECLINING MECHANISM BROKE WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. SEATBACK IS CURRENTLY RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS IT WAS AGE AND FATIGUE. *AK

Jan 13, 2000

THE DRIVER SEAT SNAPPED (BACKREST). *ET

Jan 10, 2000

THE DRIVER SEAT SNAPPED (BACKREST). *ET

Jan 10, 2000

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE OVER 2YRS AGO (#93V187000). THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED. THE BOLTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATS FAILED TO HOLD THE SEAT.

Sep 23, 1998

RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED, REPAIRS FAILED (SEAT BACK COLLAPSED) RESULTING IN ACCIDENT/INJURY.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) (93V187)

May 29, 1998

Injuries: 1

+ 12 more complaints for this component

TIRES

12 complaints

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED DUE TO VIBRATION AND WAS ADVISED TIRES WERE SEPARATING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT PART OF ANY RECALL, SO CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, 2 WEEKS LATER CONSUMER REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WERE ON RECALL, SO CONSUMER FILLED OUT A FORM AND SENT IT IN, HOWEVER HAS HEARD NO RESPONSE, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15, DOT W2HL1PY407. *SLC

Aug 08, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SHOP AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATING, WHICH WERE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER EXPENSE AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT APART OF ANY RECALL, THE TIRES THAT CONSUMER PURCHASED, HOWEVER WERE ON RECALL, CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET A REPSONSE FROM FIRESTONE. (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/75R15)*YH

Apr 15, 2002

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TREAD WAS FLAPPING UP AGAINST INNER FENDER WELL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER , AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, LT23585R16, DOT VN0RTXK127. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Oct 31, 2001

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON I 95 WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 70 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH FROM THE LEFT LANE THEN BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOBODY WAS BESIDE ME AT THE TIME. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE ROAD I SAW THAT THE WHOLE TREAD WAS GONE OFF THE TIRE. IT BENT UP THE QUARTER PANEL AND RIPPED THE TAILPIPE OUT OF THE MUFFLER. THE TREAD HAD HIT SOME OTHER CARS AND WAS ABOUT 1/4-1/2 A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE TIRES ALL HAVE LARGE BULGES OF UNEVEN TREADS. I CALLED GOODYEAR AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AND ANY WEAR PROBLEMS ARE PROBABLY THE FAULT OF MY VEHICLE. THEY DID SAY THEY WANT THE BLOWN TIRE AND WILL REPLACE IT, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE OTHERS. SO THEY ARE ALL IN MY GARAGE WAITING FOR A RECALL. THEY ARE DANGEROUS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL ME AT MY WORK #. THANK YOU. *AK (TIRESIZE: 31/10.5/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 31/10.5/15 )

May 23, 2001

+ 7 more complaints for this component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

11 complaints

AFTER BRAKING 2 TO 3 TIMES THE BRAKES STAGGER, SHUDDER GRABBING AND STICKING, SEEMS LIKE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM IS HAPPENING EACH AND EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Oct 03, 2000

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Aug 25, 1999

I WAS ENTERING THE I-205 SOUTHBOUND ON RAMP OFF OF MILL PLAIN BLVD IN VANCOUVER, WA WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY APPLIED HER BRAKES. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT LIMP ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDDLE STAYED LIMP AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I DIDN'T PANIC BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM ON HER BRAKES--THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF HER AND THERE WAS NO ONE PULLING IN FRONT OF HER, AND WE WERE ENTERING THE I-205 ON-RAMP. THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN OUR VEHICLES. I FIGURED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WOULD MOVE ON AS WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP. SHE THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE FREEWAY ON RAMP. AT THIS POINT THE SPEED WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 20 MPH. AS I WAS REACHING FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, MY SUBURBAN BUMPED INTO THE BACK OF HER 1987 ACURA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES ON MY SUBURBAN WORKED FINE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDDLE AFTER BOTH VEHICLES CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM THE IMPACT MOTION. I THEN PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND IT WAS GOOD. I BACKED UP A BIT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. I DROVE FORWARD A BIT AND UNTO THE SHOULDER AND THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE SKY WAS SUNNY. I COULDN'T EVEN FATHOM THE BRAKES FAILING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT SINCE THEY FAIULED ONCE THEY COULD FAIL AGAIN ABD POSSIBLY WITH MORE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. I TOOK THE SUBURBAN TO VANCOUVER CHEVROLET FOR A BRAKE CHECK AND EXPLAINED TO THE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING DOWN AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING DOWN MEANS. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AFTER I GOT HOME AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND IT WAS GOOD. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH A LIMP BRAKE PEDDLE ON THE SUBURBAN BEFORE. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THERE NEVER WAS ANY SPONGINESS OR ANY ANY INDICATION OF A BRAKE PEDDLE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDE

Oct 26, 1998

Crash: 1

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE LIGHT COMES ON , THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Feb 24, 1998

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

Feb 24, 1998

+ 6 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN

8 complaints

DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. NLM

Jan 10, 2000

DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. NLM

Jan 10, 2000

LAST WEEK NOTICED VIBRATION (SHDDER) COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES OR BALANCING. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES (EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT WORN OUT). STILL HAD SHUDDER, SO NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER IN LIVERMORE. TOLD HIM THE SYMPTOMS AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 6/29/99 TO HAVE IT CHECKED. SERVICE MANAGER ASKED IF THE VEHICLE HAD OVERDIVE, REPLIED YES, HE RESPONDED IT MAYBE SOMETHING IN YOUR TORQUE CONVERTOR. NO DOUBT WILL FIND OUT. THEN CHECKED WITH A FRIEND IN MN WHO ALSO HAS A 1990 SUBURBAN. HE ASKED IF IT WAS HAPPENING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED. I SAID I NOTICED IT WHEN ACCELLERATING UP FROM 45 MILES PER HOUR. HE THEN ASKED IF I HAD OVERDRIVE AND I SAID YES. THEN HE ASKED IF IT HAPPENS IN THE DRIVE SETTING, SAID I DID NOT KNOW. CHECKED THIS OUT AND THEIR WAS NO SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH FULL WARRANTY IN NOV/DEC 1991, IT WAS A GM EXECUTIVE VEHICLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES THE ENGINE LITERALY BLEW UP AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTRY. AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND AGAIN FORTUNATELY IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY FRIEND IN MN ADVISED THAT HE ALSO LOST HIS TRANSMISSION UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF AND WARRANTY AND HAD IT REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET TRANSMISSION UNIT FOR THIS MODEL THAT DOES NOT USE / HAVE THE OVERDRIVE FEATURE. ACCORDING TO HIM THERE WERE MANY FAILURES OF THIS O/D TRANSMISSION UNIT AND HENCE THE AVAILABILITY OF AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AS DESCRIBED. HE SAID THE O/D FEATURE WAS DESIGNED IN TO MEET GOVERNMENT MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS AND CLEARLY HAD PROBLEMS. I WILL KNOW TOMORROW WHAT THE DIAGNOSIS IS, AND IF IT TURNS OUT TO WHAT MAYBE A DESIGN THAT DOES NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED (DEFECTIVE)AND THERE IS DATA TO SUPPORT THIS THEN I WOULD LIKE YOUR GUIDANCE AND OR SUGGESTIONS ON AN APPROPIATE WAY TO APPROACH GM TO CORRECT THIS AT THIER EXPENSE. PERHAPS ALL THIS NOTE IS REDUNDANT AS THEY (GM) MAY ALREADY HAVE A POLICY ON REPLACING THESE UNDER WARRANTY. THANKS FOR YOU HELP.

Jun 28, 1999

TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Feb 22, 1999

Fire: 1

DRIVE TRAIN/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Aug 10, 1998

+ 3 more complaints for this component

SEAT BELTS

7 complaints

MIDDLE SEAT SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES, LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE USED. REPLACED 3 TIMES, 1ST UNDER WARRANTY, HAVE SINCE PAYED FOR IT TWICE, AND THEY LAST LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WE CURRENTLY USE THE CAR WITHOUT PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEAT USING THE SEATBELTS, CAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THEM. TONY'S CHEVROLET IN WASILLA AK. HAS BEEN THE SERVICER THAT REFUSES TO FIX THE SEATBELTS FOR FREE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE ONES THAT INSTALLED THE ONES THAT DON'T WORK. *AK

Jan 24, 2000

RETRACTABLE SEATBELTS REPEATEDLY FAIL. BELTS TWIST AND GET JAMMED IN RETRACTING PART ATTACHED TO FLOOR OF VEHICLE. CAN'T ALWAYS UNJAM, THEREBY LEAVING PASSENGERS UNBELTED. HAVE BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTACTED GM IN TROY, MICHIGAN. SEATBELTS CONTINUE TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP, O'DONNELL CHEVROLET IN SAN GABRIEL, CA SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX PROBLEM AND TO TAKE ELSEWHERE. *AK

Jun 06, 1999

RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT FAILURE.

Sep 18, 1998

SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK DUE TO JAMMING.

Jul 24, 1998

MIDDLE SEAT LAP BELT IN CENTER WILL NOT TIGHTEN IF A CSS IS PLACED IN IT OR AN INDIVIDUAL. WOULD LOOSEN UP AFTER VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WHEN CSS IS IN SEAT, WOULD TILT OVER. *AK

Sep 02, 1997

+ 2 more complaints for this component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaints

ELECTRICAL WIRING IGNITED IN STEERING COLUMN.

Jul 01, 1998

EA94-029 ACTIVE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 55MPH, WHILE TOWING A VEHICLE. TT

Jan 03, 1996

Fire: 1

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT

Dec 19, 1995

Fire: 1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 complaints

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND PULLING A TRAILOR, VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, AND THEN FIRE STARTED NEAR FIREWALL OF RIGHT HAND SIDE OF ENGINE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. CAUSE OF FIRE UNDETERMINED. *AK *ML

Jun 30, 1999

Fire: 1

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

Oct 15, 1998

Fire: 1

EQUIPMENT

2 complaints

TIRE JACK FAILED TO LIFT VEHICLE TO CHANGE TIRE.

Feb 24, 1998

JACK INCLUDED WITH VEHICLE FAILS TO LIFT FRONT END.

Dec 04, 1997

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS SAME DEFECT AS RECALL 98V150001, BUT MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Jan 23, 2001

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

TRUCK ACCERERATED SOUNDED LIKE OVER 100 MPH BUT WAS GOING SLOW SPEEDCOULD NOT STOPR TRUCK TURNED OFF IN STREET AND JUMPED OUT CAR REAR END BROKE AND U-JOINT. VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

Feb 28, 2000

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL OFF VEHICLE. *AK

Jun 02, 1997

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4.4/5.0

87 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban have?

The 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban currently has 65 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban?

The most common problems reported for the 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1990 CHEVROLET Suburban comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.