The 1991 Chevrolet Suburban has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,076,840 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS96V2260001996-11-0432,596 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC93V1190001993-08-02341,364 affected
Defect
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence
SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
POWER TRAIN93V0160001993-02-011,702,880 affected
Defect
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.
Complaints by component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
10
1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
1crashes1injuries
TIRES
5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
SEATS
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
2
1crashes1injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
2
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints65
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I have a set of hankook optimo 727 tires on my family suburban, and one of them blew out suddenly, and unexpectedly. The tire that blew out only had 14,596 miles on it. The size is p235-75-15. All four of these tires were installed in february 2016, and the vehicle was always kept in my garage.…”
“Tread separation around 9/10 of tire steel belts showing. Rubber separating from same. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1991 chevrolet suburban. While driving 60 mph, the contact experienced valve stem failure, which caused it to crack. The tire flattened and was ruined as a result. The dealer stated that they never heard of the valve stem failure. Through online research, the contact…”
“Pep boys futura scrambler a/p truck tire blowout due to belt separation. *tr”
“Frame where steering box is attached failed. Flexing from normal use caused the area around the mounting bolts to crack and would ultimately separate the steering box from the frame if left unrepaired. Reports of frame failures on 4x4 versions have been circulating for some years due to the higher…”
“Frame where steering box is attached failed. Flexing from normal use caused the area around the mounting bolts to crack and would ultimately separate the steering box from the frame if left unrepaired. Reports of frame failures on 4x4 versions have been circulating for some years due to the higher…”
“Bridgestone lt 23585r16 dotep9jhnd205 while driving at normal speeds the left rear tire seperated and deflated, which resulted in a vehicle crash. Please provide any further information. Mr”
“While driving 60-65 mph and towing a trailer, 2 lug bolts snapped off the hub and one other bolt was loose causing vehicle to jackknife and drove off the road. The trailer separated from the vehicle and turned in a ditch. The remaining lug botls were missing threads. There were no injuries.(ohio…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94029 Opened 1994-07-29 · closed 1996-07-31
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Chevrolet Suburban as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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