GMC SUBURBAN · model year

1993 GMC SUBURBAN

254 NHTSA complaints, 38 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993GMCSUBURBAN carries 254 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 38 crashes, 10 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 SUBURBAN is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 142 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (10) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1993 SUBURBAN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

254
Complaints
38
Crashes
10
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

254 filings

Crashes Reported

38 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP142
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS10
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR10
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY6
SEATS6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY3

Recent Complaints

20070910FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

Mileage: 148,000

20040324SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT TIGHTEN UP. *NM

20040212CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

REAR ENDED SOMEONE DUE TO THE INABILITY TO STOP IN TIME DUE TO THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE 1993 GMC SUBURBAN BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES ARE A VERY BIG PROBLEM ON THIS TRUCK

Mileage: 70,000

20040212POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER ON MY 1993 SUBURBAN K1500 BROKE AND LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS, FORM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE ON THESE TRUCKS AND GM SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW OFTEN THESE THINSG BREAK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED.

Mileage: 165,000

20030924VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO OPERATE. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK

20030913SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER. SEAT NOW ROCKS BACK 8-10 INCHES. UPON INVESTIGATION, CAUSE WAS DUE TO VERY THIN MATERIAL. *JB

20030825VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

20030626VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT COMING ON WHEN TURNED ON. RECALL WAS FOR LATER YEAR MODELS, BUT THIS YEAR MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT WHEN SOMEONE WHO BOUGHT THEIR VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DOES NOT? *AK

20030313VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING DURING OPERATION. ** INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW INDICATES APPROXIMATELY DATE OF ONSET. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THIS DATE (TIME WE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE). *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20020927VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER STATES WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

20020709SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP.*AK

20020620SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020409SEATS

WHILE PARKED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, AND CONSUMER FELL BACKWARDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

20010913SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DUE TO SEVERAL PAST ABS INCIDENTS, ONE RESULTING IN A COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I006000. SUBSEQUENTLY, PANIC STOP MAXIMUM BRAKING IS DELAYED. THERE IS EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE TO INITIAL BRAKE PEDDLE MOVEMENT AS IF THERE IS NO BOOST. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1/2 SECOND, WITH HEAVY PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE PEDDLE, ACTUAL WHEEL BRAKING CAN BE FELT TO PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE AND RESISTANCE TO PEDDLE MOVEMENT REDUCES. AT THIS POINT BRAKING FEELS ABOUT NORMAL. DEALER TECHNICIAN ON TEST DRIVE CONFIRMED THIS DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS.*AK

20010816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

MY SUBURBAN HAS HAD 4 RADIATOR FAILURES SINCE NEW. ALL HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECTRALISIS. GMC PAID FOR THE 1ST FAILURE (PART ONLY I PAID LABOR) EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK WAS OVER 10000 MILES OUT OF WARENTY. THE 4 RADIATOR HAS NOW FAILED AND A 5TH IS REQUIRED. GMC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT INSISTS THIERS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. AS A SIDE NOTE THE HEATER CORE HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, AL GREENFIELD. *AK

20010813ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

MY SUBURBAN HAS HAD 4 RADIATOR FAILURES SINCE NEW. ALL HAVE BEEN DUE TO ELECTRALISIS. GMC PAID FOR THE 1ST FAILURE (PART ONLY I PAID LABOR) EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK WAS OVER 10000 MILES OUT OF WARENTY. THE 4 RADIATOR HAS NOW FAILED AND A 5TH IS REQUIRED. GMC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT INSISTS THIERS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. AS A SIDE NOTE THE HEATER CORE HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, AL GREENFIELD. *AK

20010716SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SAILED THROUGH A RED LIGHT WITH BRAKES APPLIED, BOTH ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*AK

20010425VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TROTTLE TO CRUISE CONTROL CONNECTING ROD WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE PLATE AND FELL DOWN INTO THROTTLE CABLE BRACKET. THE HOOK ON THE ROD GOT STUCK IN THE BRACKET, HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH

20010425TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. THEN, CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. BRIDGESTONE, P-265/75R16. *AK CONSUMER STATES TIRES HAD 65 PERCENT TREAD WEAR LEFT, THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED TO MANUFACTURER SPEC OF 50 PSI NO EXCESSIVE EDGE WEAR DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THEY WOULD PRORATE THE BLOW OUT, CONSUMER DECLINED AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND.*JB

20010320SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Compare 1993GMCSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 GMC SUBURBAN have?
The 1993 GMC SUBURBAN has 254 NHTSA complaints, 38 crashes, 10 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 GMC SUBURBAN?
The most-complained component for the 1993 GMC SUBURBAN is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 142 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.
Is the 1993 GMC SUBURBAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.