1988 Chevrolet Suburban Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 13%of 30 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 118,049miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the seats of the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban, 13% of the 30 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 118,049 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Single bolt that attaches seat back to seat base failed, causing seat back to fall back leaving me looking at the ceiling. I was stopped when this happened. Had I been driving their would certainly been a loss of control and serious injury or deaths could have resulted. The design of this seat is awful. On the adjustment side there are two bolts attaching the seat back to the seat bottom. If either bolt fails the seat back collapses without warning.”
NHTSA complaint #10018570, filed 2003-05, 131,098 miles“Single bolt holding seatback upright suddenly failed,leaving driver flat on his back, looking up at the ceiling. This occurred just after I had travelled 120 miles on the interstate, at the listed speed limit of 75 MPH. Had the vehicle not been stopped when the bolt failed, I most likely would have lost control and crashed.”
NHTSA complaint #707940, filed 1999-06“The contact stated while sitting in the vehicle the driver's seat bolt fractured causing the seat to fall backward. An independent repair shop replaced the bolt.”
NHTSA complaint #10150086, filed 2006-02, 105,000 miles“The bolts that hold the driver's bucket seat in the upright position sheared off, causing the seat to release from the upright position. Please give any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #816964, filed 1997-10Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% |
| 2015 | 6 | 1% |
| 2014 | 3 | 5% |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 4% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 5 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 2% |
| 2001 | 6 | 1% |
| 2000 | 7 | 2% |
| 1999 | 11 | 2% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 87 | 19% |
| 1994 | 18 | 2% |
| 1993 | 8 | 2% |
| 1992 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 12 | 23% |
| 1990 | 15 | 28% |
| 1989 | 27 | 44% |
| 1988 | 4 | 13% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1985 | 2 | 22% |
Other parts of the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban
9 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology