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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, Hydraulic complaints

568 reports
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150,000 miles · Dec 11, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK THAN STOP. I WIGGLE WIRE CONNECTOR TO MOTOR THAN THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD. IF I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEY WILL STOP WORKING AND SOMETIMES START WORKING AGAIN. I FOUND OUT THAT 1994 SUBURBAN 4X4 ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE CARD THAT HAS A FAULTY SOLDER. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED MY DRIVERS …

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK THAN STOP. I WIGGLE WIRE CONNECTOR TO MOTOR THAN THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD. IF I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEY WILL STOP WORKING AND SOMETIMES START WORKING AGAIN. I FOUND OUT THAT 1994 SUBURBAN 4X4 ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE CARD THAT HAS A FAULTY SOLDER. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED MY DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2003. I ALSO REPLACED THE BRAKE HOSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CALIPERS SEEMED TO GET STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10102721

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

I HAVE HAD TWO ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1. WINDSHEILD WIPER INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. I WAS INFORMED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER THAT THE RECALL(S) ISSUED THAT MATCH THIS BEHAVIOR EXACTLY DO NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE MY 1994 CHEV. SUBURBAN C-…

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I HAVE HAD TWO ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1. WINDSHEILD WIPER INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. I WAS INFORMED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER THAT THE RECALL(S) ISSUED THAT MATCH THIS BEHAVIOR EXACTLY DO NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE MY 1994 CHEV. SUBURBAN C-1500 VEHICLE, AS IT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THIS EXACT INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR. BEYOND INQUIRING RECENTLY WITH MY LOCAL DEALER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. 2. POOR ABS BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THIS SYMPTOM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AT THE TIME OF COMPLAINTS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYMPTOM, BUT I HAVE NOT YET INQUIRED WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THE ISSUE CAN BE CORRECTED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL "NEAR MISSES" WHEN HAVING TO STOP SUDDENLY AND ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO POOR ABS PERFORMANCE AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093499

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. HAD DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED DEALER, AND WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION IN A WEEK. CONSUMER CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON ABS BRAKES ON THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065045

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS DURING PANIC STOPS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OVER BUMPS AT A SLOW SPEED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10049187

180,140 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ABS FAILURE, WET WEATHER, TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN, TRAFFIC FLOW BEGAN THEN STOPPED FOR AMBULANCE ON CROSS STREET, BRAKES LOCKED, MY VEH. SLID FORWARD, CUT WHEELS AND RELEASED BRAKES TO MOVE INTO TURN ONLY LANE, CLIPPED CORNER BUMPER OF VEHICLE AHEAD, I AND MY TWO CHILDREN (5 & 8 YRS) IN BACK SEAT WEARING SEATBELTS, FORTUNATEL…

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ABS FAILURE, WET WEATHER, TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN, TRAFFIC FLOW BEGAN THEN STOPPED FOR AMBULANCE ON CROSS STREET, BRAKES LOCKED, MY VEH. SLID FORWARD, CUT WHEELS AND RELEASED BRAKES TO MOVE INTO TURN ONLY LANE, CLIPPED CORNER BUMPER OF VEHICLE AHEAD, I AND MY TWO CHILDREN (5 & 8 YRS) IN BACK SEAT WEARING SEATBELTS, FORTUNATELY NO ONE INJURED, BRAKE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, THIS WAS THE FIRST COLLISION, MFR. DEFECT, DEALER SHOULD REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10005643

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

MR

NHTSA ODI #768421

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I AM EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. TODAY I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A YELLOW LIGHT AND THE BRAKES STOP ABOUT HALF WAY, MAKE A STRANGE NOISE AND I FAIL TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS FRIGHTENS ME EVERY TIME IT OCCURS. I AM SCARED OF REAR ENDING SOM…

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I AM EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. TODAY I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A YELLOW LIGHT AND THE BRAKES STOP ABOUT HALF WAY, MAKE A STRANGE NOISE AND I FAIL TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS FRIGHTENS ME EVERY TIME IT OCCURS. I AM SCARED OF REAR ENDING SOMEONE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR, WET OR DRY WEATHER MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. IF I AM ATTEMPTING TO STOP ON GRAVEL THE SAME THING HAPPENS, THE CAR JUST SLIDES OUT INTO THE ROAD. BRAKESWORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ONLY COSMETIC AND DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE WOMAN SAID HER BRAKES LOCK UP AND GROAN ALSO. ANOTHER ,MAN REAR ENDED SOMEONE. THESE BRAKES ARE DEADLY AND I NEED HELP. I PAID MY LAST BANK PAYMENT TODAY AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE. I COULD NEVER SELL IT TO SOMEONE WITH FAULTY BRAKES. THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY REPORT. SHARON PENDARVIS SLP39@YAHOO.COM SORRY ABOUT SOME OF THE SPELLING THE PROGRAM WOULD YOU ARE USING WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #763619

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES SYSTEM PERFORM ERRATICLY WITH WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATING. MODULE HAS FAILED, WITH BRAKES OPERATING MANUALLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8011696

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. WHENEVER THE BRAKES GET WET THEY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO TOUCH THE BRAKES LIGHTLY ENOUGH WITHOUT LOCKING THEM UP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761287

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE IN RESULT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8008061

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