IllustrationBRAKE FAILURE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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 reportsWHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPRIENCING ABS FAILURE. INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKES WOULD DELAY BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND CONDITION CANNOT BE RESOLVED. *AK
ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE BEFORE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
DRIVING ON A TOLL ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR, THE TRUCK CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT THE TRUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK ROLLED FORWARD, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK…
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DRIVING ON A TOLL ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR, THE TRUCK CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIT THE TRUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK ROLLED FORWARD, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WAS DAMAGED. *AK
ABS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO ENGAGE ON VARYING ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN MINOR COLLISIONS.
ABS BRAKES CAUSE JERKING MOTION OF VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
SINCE OWNER PURCHASED TRUCK THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD IN THE RAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. THE TRUCK DOES NOT STOP WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIES THE BRAKES. THE ABS KICKS IN WHEN THE TRUCK ACTS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR POOR PERFORMANCE EA95- 025. THIS PROBLEM …
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SINCE OWNER PURCHASED TRUCK THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD IN THE RAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. THE TRUCK DOES NOT STOP WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIES THE BRAKES. THE ABS KICKS IN WHEN THE TRUCK ACTS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR POOR PERFORMANCE EA95- 025. THIS PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED DUE TO HIGH IDLE SPEED, 1,000 RPM, OF 427 CUBIC INCH ENGINE. IDLE SPEED CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. *AK
SYSTEM KICKS IN AT THE MOST UNEXPECTED MOMENTS, MOANING LIKE A SICK COW, AND PROPELS THE TRUCK FORWARD IN AN HOPELESSLY UNCONTROLABLE FASHION. WE HAVE PLOWED RIGHT INTO AND THRU INTERSECTIONS, LOST CONTROL IN TURNS, AND BEEN FORTUNATE THAT OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL HAS KEPT OTHERS OUT OF OUR WAY SO FAR.
ABS SYSTEM FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUED TO FAIL.
Official recalls
303V159000 · 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
4EA02006 · 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