1993 GMC Suburban Problems
- Complaints
- 212filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 114,000miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 13 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 11 city / 16 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1993 GMC Suburban (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe braking complaints, particularly that the pedal sinks toward the floor or that the antilock system engages when it is not expected, which they link to longer stopping distances. Smaller groups of complaints cover windshield wipers that stop or run on their own, seat belts that no longer retract, and seat frames or mounts that break. Most complaints in the sample do not list mileage; where it is given, it ranges widely, from around 70,000 to over 160,000 miles.
- Brakes
Brake pedal sinks to floor, long stopping distance
- 106 complaints (50%)
- median 70,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2004
Complaints describe the brake pedal traveling to the floor when the brakes are applied, sometimes at low speed and sometimes in a quick stop, with the vehicle continuing to roll or taking much longer to stop than expected. Some owners say the pedal must be released and pressed again before the brakes engage, and several report grinding or chattering noises at the same time. According to the complaints, dealers often could not reproduce the condition or told owners the brakes were working normally, and some owners had the master cylinder or other brake parts replaced without a lasting change. Mileage is mostly not listed in the sample; where given, reports range from about 70,000 to over 140,000 miles, and many describe the problem under normal driving and in stops at moderate speeds.
What to check: Ask whether the master cylinder, brake lines or antilock components have been replaced and request records of brake work. On a test drive, check that the pedal stays firm when held at a stop and that the vehicle stops straight on both dry and wet pavement.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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”
NHTSA complaint #10057086, filed 2004-02, 70,000 miles“Ea95026; poor brake performance; when coming to a stop, driver applied the brakes, there was a loud grinding noise and it felt as though the brakes completely let go, causing the truck to slid forward and hit vehicle in front. The road was a little slick when this happened. The truck is being repaired by the dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #824401, filed 1998-06 - Brakes
ABS engages unexpectedly, wheel lock and skidding
Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe the antilock system activating on uneven, gravel, wet or sandy surfaces, sometimes with a pulsing pedal and a grinding noise, and the vehicle sliding or locking a wheel instead of stopping shorter. Some complaints say the system kicks in on a dry road over a bump and feels as though the vehicle speeds up briefly. Several owners report the dealer found no fault, while others had brake parts replaced and the behavior returned; some owners describe brake fade and skidding on wet pavement after the system was serviced. Mileage is rarely listed; the reports span stops at low speed up to highway speeds, and many involve loose, wet or uneven road surfaces.
What to check: Test the brakes on a loose or wet surface at low speed and note whether the pedal pulses or the wheels lock. Ask whether the antilock system has been diagnosed or serviced recently.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Brake rotor came completely apart. This condition was obviously building up over time resulting in poor brake performance over the years. All rotors should be replaced on these vehicles. It this happened at a faster speed or in an instance where a quick stop was needed an accident could result. You have many complaints of poor brake failure and this is one of the reasons why.”
NHTSA complaint #700275, filed 1998-11“While applying the ABS brakes on dirt or sand like pavement there is pulsation in the brake pedal. Also front end shakes and makes a grinding type of noise. 4 different dealers found no problem with brakes. Consumer states that the slightest pressure on sand or slick road, brakes lock.”
NHTSA complaint #819353, filed 1997-11 - Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Windshield wipers stop or run on their own
- 15 complaints (7%)
- median 80,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 1998–2003
Complaints describe the windshield wipers stopping partway through a drive and starting again a few minutes later, or coming on by themselves with the switch off. Owners say the wiper motor or the pulse module was replaced at their own expense, and some report the wipers failing again after a repair. Several owners note that a recall covered later model years but that this model year was not included. Mileage is mostly not listed; one report ties the failure to around 80,000 miles, and problems are described as intermittent during ordinary driving.
What to check: Run the wipers at each speed setting, including intermittent, and watch for stalls or uncommanded starts. Ask whether the wiper motor or pulse module has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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).”
NHTSA complaint #10010392, filed 2003-03, 80,000 miles“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?”
NHTSA complaint #10023850, filed 2003-06 - Seat belts
Front seat belts will not retract or latch
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners report that the front shoulder belts no longer retract to their stowed position after release, and in some cases the belt does not catch when the brakes are applied. One complaint describes the buckle tongue breaking and leaving the belt unusable while driving, and another says the floor-mounted arm does not extend far enough to connect and release the belt easily. Mileage is not listed in the sampled complaints; the reports come from vehicles in regular use years after delivery.
What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract, and check that it locks with a sharp tug. Inspect the buckle and the floor-mounted arm for cracks or stiff operation.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The male portion of the shoulder belt buckle broke and caused the belt to become inoperable while driving with a passenger in the rear seat. The problem has not been corrected.”
NHTSA complaint #815350, filed 1997-08“The front seat belts fail to retract to original position after being released. The belts fail to catch when brakes are applied. Will be taking vehicle to dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #847666, filed 1999-09
Buying note. Braking behavior is the most common theme in owner complaints for this model year, so a careful brake inspection and a test drive on mixed surfaces are worth doing before purchase. Checking the wipers, seat belts and seat mountings takes only a few minutes and covers most of the remaining reported items.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 212 consumer complaints for the 1993 GMC Suburban. 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 114,000 miles. Of all complaints, 31 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes162 76%
- Transmission and drivetrain10 4.7%
- Seat belts8 3.8%
- Seats7 3.3%
- Engine cooling6 2.8%
- Vehicle speed control4 1.9%
- Other or unknown3 1.4%
- Electrical system2 0.9%
- Equipment2 0.9%
Also reported: Fuel system (2), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “I have made sure I have done preventive maintenance to ensure that nothing major would happen . However, I spent $2,600 to replace the rear differntial in 1997 and now after putting the car in reverse on 3/17/00 the rear differential exploded. Now the mechanics are telling me that it will cost 4,000 because there are no used idfferentials available because they are all broken. I have spent thousands fixing the rotars, even after getting regular brake inspections. …”
NHTSA complaint #720264, filed 2000-03Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Windsheild wipers work intermittently just as the recall for the 1994-1996 Gmc trucks indicates, but this vehicle is not included in the recall. Dealer has been contacted. Replacement part resolved problem.”
NHTSA complaint #836506, filed 1999-04Transmission and drivetrain: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10057104, filed 2004-02, 165,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,000 and 148,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1993 GMC Suburban. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban · sedan | not rated | 4 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1993 GMC Suburban version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban 1500 2WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 16 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Suburban 1500 4WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 12 | $5,600 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1993 GMC Suburban in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1993 GMC Suburban.
Other model years of the GMC Suburban
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 | 30,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 7 | 72,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 15 | 47,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 285 | 78,800 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 100 | 90,196 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 200 | 96,800 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 172 | 83,332 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 227 | 125,000 | 6 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 411 | 113,000 | 3 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 212 | 114,000 | 0 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 80 | 170,118 | 2 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 30 | 206,095 | 2 | — | 12 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 22 | — | 2 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 17 | 13,982 | 2 | — | 12 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 8 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 8 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All GMC Suburban model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1993 GMC Suburban?
Owners of this model year most often describe braking complaints, particularly that the pedal sinks toward the floor or that the antilock system engages when it is not expected, which they link to longer stopping distances. The issues reported most often: Brake pedal sinks to floor, long stopping distance; ABS engages unexpectedly, wheel lock and skidding; Windshield wipers stop or run on their own.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1993 GMC Suburban have?
NHTSA recorded 212 consumer complaints for the 1993 GMC Suburban as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1993 GMC Suburban is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 162 complaints (76% of the total), followed by visibility with 19.
Has the 1993 GMC Suburban been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1993 GMC Suburban get?
The EPA rates the 1993 GMC Suburban (Suburban 1500 2WD, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 11 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1993 GMC Suburban reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 114,000 miles and the middle half falls between 80,000 and 148,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.