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1990 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 R1500 Suburban.

The 1990 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban is defined in part by a 7-quart 3W-30 engine-oil specification, a practical maintenance marker that researchers should keep in hand when evaluating this model year. Reliability data shows a comparatively quiet record: just 22 owner complaints and three recalls, with Service Brakes, Hydraulic standing out as the single most reported problem area. That low overall complaint count, paired with a clearly identified top concern, makes the 1990 R1500 Suburban a useful reference point for anyone tracing the model's long-term dependability arc.

Model year1990 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type3W-30OEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7 qt of 3W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.9 qt
Engine Oil	3W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	7 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0-6.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi.

At 5,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 10,000 mi	Air Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Clutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Crankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1990 Chevrolet R1500 Suburban dominate in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 7 of 22 reports (32%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic7

Seat Belts3

Steering2

Power Train2

Seats2

Equipment1

Fuel System, Gasoline,Structure,Tires1

Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

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… 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…

07E088000EquipmentReported 24/10/2007

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
020864016	2002-07-01	Structure	SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific R1500 Suburban. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 7 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 R1500 Suburban take?

7 qt of 3W-30 CG-4, CH-4, CI-4, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 R1500 Suburban have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.