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1988 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD

All Chevrolet Suburban trims (1981–1991) → All Chevrolet Suburban generations →
1988 Chevrolet Suburban – front Unverified
Photo: 1989 Chevrolet R2500 Suburban Scottsdale in Summit White & Grey Metallic, front left, 2026-07-21 by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photos show the seventh generation (1981-1991) (1981–1991); trim, color, and model year may differ.
All photo credits
  1. Photo: 1989 Chevrolet R2500 Suburban Scottsdale in Summit White & Grey Metallic, front left, 2026-07-21 by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Photo: Chevrolet - Suburban - 1980s (M.A.R.C.) by Croquant, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Photo: Chevrolet Suburban Silverado 20 - Flickr - Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden by Joost J. Bakker, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photo: 1981 Chevrolet Suburban pic1 by Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photo: 1981 Chevrolet Suburban pic2 by AlfvanBeem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 1988 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD is a 5.7-liter with an automatic 4-spd and four-wheel drive. It starts at $15,503 MSRP and is rated at 13 mpg combined.

EPA fuel-economy estimates are 11 mpg city and 17 mpg highway (13 mpg combined).

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSUV
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$15,503 ($42,591 *)
Engine
Engine Type5.7L V-8
Displacement5.7 L
Drivetrain
Drive Type4WD
Transmission
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Fuel Economy
City11 MPG
Highway17 MPG
Combined13 MPG
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars

Similar cars

Rivals to the 1988 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD with similar size, power and price from around the same years.

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Not crash-tested by NHTSA for this model year.

Recalls

4 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 1988 Chevrolet SUBURBAN. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

May 19, 2006 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

NHTSA campaign 06E043000

Aug 2, 1993 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

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.

NHTSA campaign 93V119000

Feb 1, 1993 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA campaign 93V016000

Jan 30, 1989 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

DRIVERS SEAT AND/OR SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT OPERATE.

Consequence: IN A CRASH, AFFECTED BELTS WOULD NOT LOCK, THEREBYINCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW DRIVERS SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA campaign 89V010000

30 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 1988 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Owner Complaints

30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1988 Chevrolet SUBURBAN (2 mention a crash, 1 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Tires9
Seats4
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Fuel System2
Gasoline2
Hydraulic2
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
May 6, 2017 · Tires
“BRIDGESTONE TIRE RUPTURE: PLY SEPARATION, ON FREEWAY, NO WARNING, AT 35000 MILES WITH LOTS OF TREADLIFE REMAINING. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS OF DAMAGED TIRE ON REQUEST. ALL PLIES OF TIRE COMPLETELY…”
Apr 1, 2014 · Steering
“IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE P/S GEARBOX WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS MOUNT ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. THE STEERING BECAME LOOSER. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE U-CHANNEL FRAME WAS…”
Jul 8, 2008 · Tires
“I PURCHASED FOUR PREMIUM BRIDGESTONE TIRES ($168 EACH). TWO OF THESE HAVE NOW FAILED PREMATURELY DUE TO CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION. THE FIRST WAS AT 29,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT 32,000 MILES. BOTH…”
Nov 9, 2007 · Tires
“PURCHASED FOUR BRIDGESTONE R273 SWP PREMIUM TIRES IN 2001 ($168 EACH) FROM BRIDGESTONE DEALER. VEHICLE IS 1988 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, USED FOR ON-ROAD USE ONLY. VEHICLE IS GARAGED DAILY, ONLY DRIVEN…”
Feb 13, 2006 · Seats
“DT*: 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.”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 1988 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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