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1994 Chevrolet Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban years

Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 32 of 858 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 568 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

146 crash reports8 fire reports33 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, AirVisibility

ABS SYSTEM FAILED-IT STARTS TO KICK IN, THEN RELEASES, SENT US INTO INTERSECTION AND NEAR MISSES WITH CARS-PAID TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED, DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM (TOLD IT MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH ABS COMPUTER SYSTEM); WIPERS OCCASIONALLY BEGIN SLOWING AND WORK INTERMITTENTLY; DIFFERENTIAL WAS OUT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WE…

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ABS SYSTEM FAILED-IT STARTS TO KICK IN, THEN RELEASES, SENT US INTO INTERSECTION AND NEAR MISSES WITH CARS-PAID TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED, DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM (TOLD IT MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH ABS COMPUTER SYSTEM); WIPERS OCCASIONALLY BEGIN SLOWING AND WORK INTERMITTENTLY; DIFFERENTIAL WAS OUT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING AGAIN 2 YEARS LATER.

NHTSA ODI #712440

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP AT STOP LIGHTS/STOP SIGNS. DEALERS SAY THAT IS JUST HOW THE BRAKES WORK.

NHTSA ODI #711916

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE ABS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, A WHIRRING SOUND ACCOMPANIED THE LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH LED TO AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #709782

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED FOR EMERGENCY STOP

NHTSA ODI #709759

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

THE BRAKES HAVE "LOCKED UP" NUMEROUS TIMES PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STOPPING WHEN TRAVELING AT RATES OF SPEED LESS THAN 15 MPH. SCARY!! 5 CHILDREN AND THIS NEEDS CORRECTING!!!

NHTSA ODI #709498

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

THESE BRAKES DO NOT ACT PROPERLY - WHEN TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY THE BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN APPLIED AND THEY OFTEN LOCK AND MAKE A YAWNING SOUND.

NHTSA ODI #709119

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS "LOCKED UP" REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASE (ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS). WE'VE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM. "LOCK-UP" OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN, DURING LIGHT BRAKING, THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A BUMP (E.G., ROUGH…

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ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS "LOCKED UP" REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASE (ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS). WE'VE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM. "LOCK-UP" OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN, DURING LIGHT BRAKING, THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A BUMP (E.G., ROUGH PAVEMENT, MANHOLE COVER). "LOCK-UP" ALSO HAS OCCURRED DURING MEDIUM TO HEAVY BRAKING ON WET/SLIPPERY SURFACES. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO "THINK" THAT THE WHEEL IS SLIPPING AND, INSTEAD OF PULSING, JUST STOPS RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS. I READ THAT THE SMALL GM SUV'S ARE BEING RECALLED FOR SIMILAR-SOUNDING PROBLEMS, BUT WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL UNDERWAY FOR SUBURBANS AND FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS.

NHTSA ODI #709050

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Service Brakes, AirVisibility

BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRIED TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT.--- WIPER WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON AND SOMETIME WOULD OT START, DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS ON A G.M. RECALL LIST FOR 1994 SUBURBANS BUT OUR UNIT VIN NO WAS NOT INCLUDED, I CONTACTED G.M. ON THE PHONE AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR, I PURCHASE THE RE…

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BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRIED TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT.--- WIPER WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON AND SOMETIME WOULD OT START, DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS ON A G.M. RECALL LIST FOR 1994 SUBURBANS BUT OUR UNIT VIN NO WAS NOT INCLUDED, I CONTACTED G.M. ON THE PHONE AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR, I PURCHASE THE REPLACEPENT BOARD FROM THE DEALER AND THE WIPER WORKS OK, I BELEIVE G.M. OWES ME FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #709020

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASES AFTER APPLICATION IN PANIC STOP SITUATIONS. FROM THE NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. THE DEALERS IN THE HOUSTON AREA SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTE…

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BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASES AFTER APPLICATION IN PANIC STOP SITUATIONS. FROM THE NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. THE DEALERS IN THE HOUSTON AREA SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THIS IS A POOR EXCUSE. I WOULD RATHER HAVE A NON-ABS BRAKE SYSTEM THAN THE CURRENT SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #702148

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 1997
Service Brakes, Air

BRAKE LINING BROKE AWAY FROM BRAKE SHOES.

NHTSA ODI #526917

Official recalls

3

03V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Apr 28, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

99V025000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.

98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jul 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

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

4

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

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

PE97027 · Drivers Seat Failure

Opened Jun 17, 1997 · Closed Oct 31, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE OR TIP REARWARD INTO A RECLINED POSITION.

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