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1993 Chevrolet Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Chevrolet Suburban are substantially higher than the model-year median of 118.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 499 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 370 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

90 crash reports2 fire reports21 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2000
Service Brakes, AirCrash

DURING SLOW SPEED STOP, BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH NO EFFECT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. REPORTED TO DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A DRIVER MISTAKE.

NHTSA ODI #733686

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2000
Service Brakes, AirCrash

THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING A RAPID STOP. THE ABS SYSTEM CYCLED REPEATEDLY DURING THE RAPID STOP, BUT FAILED TO QUICKLY STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, A MINOR ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #730001

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FREE WHEEL WHEN TRYING TO STOP GOING FROM PAVEMENT TO SLICK OR WASHBOARD ROAD SURFACE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT RELIABLE. I DISCONNECTED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T RELIABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND NEARLY CAUSED SEV…

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ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FREE WHEEL WHEN TRYING TO STOP GOING FROM PAVEMENT TO SLICK OR WASHBOARD ROAD SURFACE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOT RELIABLE. I DISCONNECTED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T RELIABLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BEFORE I PULLED THE ABS FUSE. CHEVROLET SENT ME A VIDEO ON ABS WHEN I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM IMPLYING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW ABS WORKED. I KNOW WHEN ABS DOESN'T WORK AND THE CAR FREEWHEELS NEARLY INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU. CHEVROLET SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT FUTURE CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #712343

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

HAS FAILED THREE TIMES, ON PANIC STOPS

NHTSA ODI #709761

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrashInjury

IWAS DRIVING MY SON TO AN ORTHODONIC APPOINTMENT MID MORNING, GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE WAS RED LIGHT AHEAD WITH TWO CARS STOPPED. WHEN I BRAKED, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, WHICH THEN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. IT FELT LIKE I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES THAT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. IT WAS CONFU…

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IWAS DRIVING MY SON TO AN ORTHODONIC APPOINTMENT MID MORNING, GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE WAS RED LIGHT AHEAD WITH TWO CARS STOPPED. WHEN I BRAKED, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, WHICH THEN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. IT FELT LIKE I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES THAT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. IT WAS CONFUSING TO ME AND I GUESS I BLAMED IT ON THE PAVEMENT. NOW THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO ME HUSBAND AND I NOW KNOW THERE IS DEFINATLY A BRAKE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND HAD UNPLUGGED THE ABS SYSTEM, ON THE ADVICE OF THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. WE'RE BOTH CONCERNED ABOUT OUR INSURANCE AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IF THEY TRY TO RAISE OUR RATES. WE'RE ALSO OUT INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE NIGHTS I COULD NOT SLEEP THINKING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. MARIBEL KUEHL

NHTSA ODI #709645

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrashInjury

THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY SUBURBAN FAILED TO STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GREAT. I ALSO HAD PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN BOTH VEHICLES. I BRAKED, THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER, AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I SIMPLY RAN…

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THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY SUBURBAN FAILED TO STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GREAT. I ALSO HAD PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN BOTH VEHICLES. I BRAKED, THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER, AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I SIMPLY RAN RIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS AWARE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. I DID NOT OCCUR TO ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE GOVENMENT UNTIL NOW. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY INSURANCE COVERAGE GOING UP OR EVEN BEING CANCELLED. MY WIFE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER 12/1/98. EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WILL FILE ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON HER ACCIDENT. PLEASE SEND ME ANY DOCUMENTATION I'LL NEED TO PROVE MY CASE. ALSO, WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED IN JUNE, EVEN THE CHEVY PEOPLE ADVISED ME TO UNPLUG THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY ALL TOLD ME THAT EVEN THEY HAD UNPLUGGED THEIRS. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING RIGHT THERE ABOUT THEIR ABS SYSTEM. AND I'M OUT $1000.00 IN INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES TOO. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, SCOTT A. KUEHL

NHTSA ODI #709644

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED(30 MPH), ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND WAS CONFRONTED WITH A LINE OF VEHICLES THAT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I ENGAGED THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEN ON MY 1993 SUBURBAN ONLY TO CONTINUE FORWARD AND CONTACT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, IS MARGINAL TO POOR AT BEST …

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I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED(30 MPH), ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND WAS CONFRONTED WITH A LINE OF VEHICLES THAT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I ENGAGED THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEN ON MY 1993 SUBURBAN ONLY TO CONTINUE FORWARD AND CONTACT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, IS MARGINAL TO POOR AT BEST RELATIVE TO RESPONSE AND PEDEAL FEEL. REGARDS, PAUL J. LEESER

NHTSA ODI #709535

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ON DRY ROADWAY, RESULTING IN NO BRAKES ON VEHICLE AND CAUSING COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE.

NHTSA ODI #709312

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, AirCrash

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THE FIRST TIME ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DRY DAY , I WAS UNABLE TO BRING MY SUBURBAN TO A STOP WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CITED FOR UNASSURED CLEAR DISTANCE SINCE NO SKID MARKS OR OTHER EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AT THE TIME. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS AND CL…

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THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THE FIRST TIME ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DRY DAY , I WAS UNABLE TO BRING MY SUBURBAN TO A STOP WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CITED FOR UNASSURED CLEAR DISTANCE SINCE NO SKID MARKS OR OTHER EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AT THE TIME. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS AND CLOSE CALLS SINCE THE FIRST ACCIDENT. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM REPLACED AND WERE UNAWARE THAT THE UNIT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS UNTIL WE RECENTLY SAW THE RECALL WHICH EXPLAINS PERFECTLY THE TYPE OF INCIDENTS WE HAVE HAD TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WE DEFINATELY WANT THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PURSUE THE ANTI-LOCK RECALL ON THE 1993 SUBURBANS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. I COMPLAINED BITTERLY TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL BUT $350 WAS COVERED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE GEARSHIFT IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT MAINTAIN A LOCK IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION AND WOULD CONSTANTLY SHIFT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 3RD AND OVERDRIVE GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #709295

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

BRAKES APPLIED, ABS SEEMED TO START WORKING, THEN A 'RELEASE' SEEMED TO HAPPEN THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO REQUIRE MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THEY SEEMED TO 'RELEASE' AND EVEN THOUGH STANDING ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE TOOK MUCH TOO LONG TO STOP. ABS WAS DISCONNECTED 1.5 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THIS BEING VERY UNSAFE. DEALER HAD NO I…

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BRAKES APPLIED, ABS SEEMED TO START WORKING, THEN A 'RELEASE' SEEMED TO HAPPEN THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO REQUIRE MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THEY SEEMED TO 'RELEASE' AND EVEN THOUGH STANDING ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE TOOK MUCH TOO LONG TO STOP. ABS WAS DISCONNECTED 1.5 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THIS BEING VERY UNSAFE. DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG AND NO FIX. WE FELT VERY UNSAFE AS IT WAS AND IT HAPPENED MANY TIMES. COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN TO SHOW DEALER. THEY SEEMED UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #709094

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

DP00001 · Oem Hitch Receiver Platform Cracking

Opened Jan 31, 2000 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT CRACKS IN THE HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM MAY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE TRAILER AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

EA95026 · Poor Brake Performance

Opened Sep 20, 1995 · Closed Sep 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POOR PERFORMANCE OF ABS BRAKES

EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.