WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING RAINY CONDITIONS, ON ONE INCIDENT NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD,THEN WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED. *YC
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.
What owners actually said
858 reportsWHEN TRAVELING IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NEEDED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERATIVE REDUCING DRIVERS'S VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. RECALL 98V15000 CONCERNS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE …
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WHEN TRAVELING IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NEEDED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERATIVE REDUCING DRIVERS'S VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. RECALL 98V15000 CONCERNS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO FAIL ON BUMPY AND WET CONDITIONS. BRAKES A UNDERPOWERED FOR THE WEIGHT OF VEHICLE AND OVERHEAT WHILE TOWING. REPLACED MASTER CYL TWICE DUE TO LEAKS. I AM TOLD AT A CAR SHOW CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FAILURES I HAVE FOUND ON THIS SIGHT AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT …
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BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMS TO FAIL ON BUMPY AND WET CONDITIONS. BRAKES A UNDERPOWERED FOR THE WEIGHT OF VEHICLE AND OVERHEAT WHILE TOWING. REPLACED MASTER CYL TWICE DUE TO LEAKS. I AM TOLD AT A CAR SHOW CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FAILURES I HAVE FOUND ON THIS SIGHT AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. LIVES ARE AT STAKES AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT, NOT THE CONSUMER. DEALER TOLD ME TO UPGRADE BRAKES TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM 96 AND UP WOULD COST ME 1400.00. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE EVEN THE DEALERSHIP. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN. THE BRAKES SYSTEMS IN THESE 94 SHOULD BE RECALLED. ASK ANY MECHANIC WHO HAS WORKED ON THESE BRAKE SYSTEMS.
RECALL FOR INTERMITTENT WIPER FAILURE NOT PERFORMED DUE TO VIN., RECALL 98V150000.
RECALL 98V150000; WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION,CAUSING VISUAL DIFFICULTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR HAD BEEN REPLACED AND LINES CHECKED, BUT STILL IS LEAKING . HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, WINDSHIELD FLUID WILL BE SEEN LEAKING ONTO FLOOR AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND ENGINE IS OFF, FLOWING NOT JUST DRIPPING A 1/4 OF RESERVOIR WILL EMPTY SOMETIMES. POSSIBLY , THIS IS CONNECTED TO RECENT RECALL FOR …
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THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR HAD BEEN REPLACED AND LINES CHECKED, BUT STILL IS LEAKING . HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, WINDSHIELD FLUID WILL BE SEEN LEAKING ONTO FLOOR AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND ENGINE IS OFF, FLOWING NOT JUST DRIPPING A 1/4 OF RESERVOIR WILL EMPTY SOMETIMES. POSSIBLY , THIS IS CONNECTED TO RECENT RECALL FOR "CRACKED WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR" WHICH CAUSES WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED WIPERS TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES ONE TIME 1/10/99. *AK
GM HAS A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM (98V150000) BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK DOES NOT FALL IN THE S/N RANGE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE PROBLEM
DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION BROKE FROM ITS ANCHOR, MAKING CONTROL OF VEHICLE DIFFICULT. *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
Illustration