IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLDUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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
What owners actually said
858 reportsWHEN GOING ABOUT LESS 30 MPH ON UNLEVELED ROAD, THE BRAKES WILL RELEASE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON THEY WILL BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL DUE VIN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS AND HAD THE NEED TO STOP QUICKLY DUE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT WORKING AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO PULSING OF THE BRAKES, JUST A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A …
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BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS AND HAD THE NEED TO STOP QUICKLY DUE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT WORKING AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO PULSING OF THE BRAKES, JUST A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD GROAN. I DID NOT PUMP THE PEDAL, I JUST APPLIED HARDER AND HARDER PRESSURE UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS ON THE FLOOR, AND THE SUBURBAN CONTINUED TO ALMOST FREEWHEEL INTO THE BACK OF VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED YET. BUT IF A REMEDY IS NOT FOUND I AM SURE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A CHILD RUNS OUT FROM BEHIND A PARKED CAR, AND IT WON'T JUST BE PROPERTY DAMAGE. I TOOK MY SUBURBAN TO GREY CHEVROLET TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES, AND THEY SAID ALL THAT ALL THEY COULD FIND WAS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS OVERFULL, AND BROUGHT THE LEVEL DOWN TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THE BRAKES DO NOT FAIL ALL THE TIME, IT IS INTERMITTENT. DUE TO THAT A PROBLEM IS HARD TO DEFINE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE MAKE/ MODEL AND YEAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN#. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND WASHER SELDOM WORKS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE IS STALLING AND JERKING. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK
WHENEVER IT'S RAINING OR SNOWING & THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO BE USED, THEY WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. WOULD STOP VEHICLE & GET OUT TO JIGGLE THEM IN HOPE THAT THEY WOULD WORK. *AK
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR WITH OUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING FOR NO REASON. I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 1998, AND HAVE BEEN TRYING WITH NO LUCK TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX IT. BUT THEY SAY OUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS VERY FUSTRATING TO NOT BE LISTENED TO. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE D…
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WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR WITH OUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING FOR NO REASON. I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 1998, AND HAVE BEEN TRYING WITH NO LUCK TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX IT. BUT THEY SAY OUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS VERY FUSTRATING TO NOT BE LISTENED TO. I FEEL THAT THEY ARE DELIBERATELY PUTTING CUSTOMERS AT RISK BY NOT LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE DIE FROM A DEFECTIVE WIPER THAT WASN'T ON THE VIN LIST???*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. (98V-150000) NLM
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