IllustrationABS BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. SENSE OF NOT STOPPING. PEDAL WENT THROUGH MUCH MORE TRAVEL THAN NORMAL; TO FLOOR OR ALMOST TO FLOOR, WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL VEHICLE SLOWING.*AK
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 reportsABS WILL CAUSE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK UP PREMATURELY, AND PULL A LITTLE TO RIGHT DURING HARD BRAKING OR WET CONDITIONS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT LOCKS UP ON SLIPPERY SURFACE OR ON GRAVEL ROAD, DURING LIGHT BRAKING, VEHICLE PUL…
Read full complaint
ABS WILL CAUSE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK UP PREMATURELY, AND PULL A LITTLE TO RIGHT DURING HARD BRAKING OR WET CONDITIONS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT LOCKS UP ON SLIPPERY SURFACE OR ON GRAVEL ROAD, DURING LIGHT BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. *SLC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK GREAT, AS LONG AS IT IS NOT RAINING. DURING HARD BRAKING BRAKES FADE TO FLOOR, I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED NO PROBLEM FOUND. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRES DURING HARD BRAKING. (EMERGENCY SITUATIONS). *AK
PROBLEM: BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR-NO PRESSURE, NO BRAKING. NEAR MISS COLLISIONS. MASTER CYLINDER, ABS COMPUTER, HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS REQURIED---THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFINATE BRAKE HISTORY PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, BASED ON INTERNET ARTICLES I'VE RESEARCHED I'M NOT ALONE. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFE…
Read full complaint
PROBLEM: BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR-NO PRESSURE, NO BRAKING. NEAR MISS COLLISIONS. MASTER CYLINDER, ABS COMPUTER, HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS REQURIED---THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFINATE BRAKE HISTORY PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, BASED ON INTERNET ARTICLES I'VE RESEARCHED I'M NOT ALONE. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN. WE'RE BASICALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.! WHEN THE BRAKES GO DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM---------EVEN THE GUY AT THE CAR WASH WAS SCARED! *AK
EA95-026, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN GENERAL TRAFFIC ABOUT 20 MPH ,GOING FROM STOP TO STOP. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AS NORMAL WITH ENOUGH SPACE , BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING FAST ENOUGH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN HARDER, BUT BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE WAS STILL SLOWING DOWN AT SAME RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING A REAREND CRASH…
Read full complaint
EA95-026, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN GENERAL TRAFFIC ABOUT 20 MPH ,GOING FROM STOP TO STOP. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AS NORMAL WITH ENOUGH SPACE , BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING FAST ENOUGH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN HARDER, BUT BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE WAS STILL SLOWING DOWN AT SAME RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING A REAREND CRASH. PRIOR TO INCIDENT, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IT TOOK LONGER TO STOP, ABOUT 5 FEET FURTHER IN A NORMAL STOPPING CONDITION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL FELT HARD AND WENT TO FLOOR, BUT NO BRAKING ACTION. CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED, CALIPERS ARE'T BEING RELEASED PROPERLY. *AK
CARRIER GEAR ON LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL CRACKED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES ABS DO NOT STOP VEHICLE AND CONSUMER HAS HAD TO RUN OFF THE ROAD MAY TIMES IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. *SLC
WHEN USING BRAKES THE CAR WILL STOP FOR BRIEF MOMENT THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL PULSATE AND THE BRAKE STOP WORKING,THEN I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKES AND HIT IT AGAIN./ ON THE SET BELT WHEN THEY ARE BUCKLED AND YOU MOVE FORWARD THEY WILL NOT RETRACT.*AK
THESE 3 CASES OF AN ABS FAILURE OCCURRED ON DAMP ROADS. TWO CASES INVOLVED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES BEING OVER LEAVES ON THE ROAD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALL THE CASES INVOLVED TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. NORMAL PRESSURE(NOT A PANIC STOP) WAS APPLIED TOBRAKES, AND ALL 3 CASES WERE AT A SPEED OF 5MPH OR LESS. WHEN THE ABS SYST…
Read full complaint
THESE 3 CASES OF AN ABS FAILURE OCCURRED ON DAMP ROADS. TWO CASES INVOLVED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES BEING OVER LEAVES ON THE ROAD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALL THE CASES INVOLVED TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. NORMAL PRESSURE(NOT A PANIC STOP) WAS APPLIED TOBRAKES, AND ALL 3 CASES WERE AT A SPEED OF 5MPH OR LESS. WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN, THE CAR BASICALLY WOULD NOT STOP WITHIN ANY REASONABLE DISTANCE. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM(KELSEY-HAYES) EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 1994. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK!!!! IF THE ABS EVER KICKS IN, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. WE HAVE HAD ONLY 1 ACCIDENT SINCE 1994(CAUSED BY THE ABS), BUT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR-MISSES. I HAVE EVEN LOOKED INTO DISCONNECTING THE ABS, BUT THERE IS SIOME INTERLOCKING OF THE ABS TO THE TRANSMISSION OR OTHER SYSTEMS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM DOING THAT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALERS, MANUFATURER, AND THE NTHSA. THE DEALERS AND THE MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WOULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE WHOLE KELSEY-HAYES SYSTEM NOT JUST A MODIFICATION.*AK
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