Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1994. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1998.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 Suburban | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 Suburban | 7 | 1 |
| 2001 Suburban | 5 | 2 |
| 2000 Suburban | 15 | 2 |
| 1999 SuburbanMost complaints | 285 | 1 |
| 1998 Suburban | 100 | 2 |
| 1997 Suburban | 200 | 2 |
| 1996 Suburban | 172 | 3 |
| 1995 Suburban | 227 | 6 |
| 1994 SuburbanMost complaints | 411 | 3 |
| 1993 Suburban | 212 | 0 |
| 1992 Suburban | 80 | 2 |
| 1991 Suburban | 30 | 2 |
| 1990 Suburban | 22 | 2 |
| 1989 Suburban | 17 | 2 |
| 1988 Suburban | 8 | 2 |
| 1987 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic888
- Visibility190
- Tires128
- Power train114
- Electrical system114
- Seats103
- Steering89
- Engine and engine cooling88
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 57 Suburban vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 37 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 12 | 11 |
| 1998 | 6 | 3 |
| 1997 | 12 | 5 |
| 1996 | 4 | 1 |
| 1995 | 7 | 4 |
| 1994 | 7 | 5 |
| 1993 | 4 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
In New Zealand
28 Suburban cars are on the New Zealand register; 89% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1952 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
20 campaigns cover the Suburban; the latest 12 are below.
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 CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
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 BE CRACKED. WITH REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM, THE CRACK COULD SPREAD TO THE POINT SUCH THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NO LONGER LOCK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VACUUM POWER, 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A KINKED BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM SUPPLY HOSE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTOR/HUBS WERE BUILT WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION GRAY IRON THAT CAN FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN 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.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT-CABLE LOCK CLIP CAN BACK OUT OF ITS INSTALLED POSITION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CABLE ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, THE "PARK" INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT ILLUMINATE.
NHTSA recalls