IllustrationBATTERY LEKAED ACID ONTO THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
1996 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Suburban years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 26 of 360 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 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports12 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
47 reportsDROVE VEHICLE & MADE A STOP. RETURNED TO VEHICLE WITH CHILDREN & STARTED VEHICLE. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RETRIEVED CHILDREN OUT OF VEHICLE & LEFT. VEHICLE EXPLODED. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED TO PUT FLAMES OUT. GAVE NO INDICATION OF CAUSE OF FIRE. *AK
THE MOST BE SOME PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL PARTS, ITS BEEN HAPPENIG SINCE NEW
DELCO BATTERY CASE CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID. ORIGINAL BATTERY AND REPLACEMENT BOTH FAILED IN SIMILAR FASHION. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED EARLIER AND I WAS CONTACTED BY NHTSA INVESTIGATOR. HE ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES OR AIR BAG WIRING. I DID NOT KNOW. HAVE NOW CHECKED AND FOUND CORROSION ON A BRAKE LINE …
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DELCO BATTERY CASE CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID. ORIGINAL BATTERY AND REPLACEMENT BOTH FAILED IN SIMILAR FASHION. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED EARLIER AND I WAS CONTACTED BY NHTSA INVESTIGATOR. HE ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES OR AIR BAG WIRING. I DID NOT KNOW. HAVE NOW CHECKED AND FOUND CORROSION ON A BRAKE LINE AND AIR BAG WIRING WHICH RUNS DIRECTLY UNDER BATTERY TRAY.
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF OR STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN TRYING TO PASS TRUCKS OR VEHICLES, VEHICLE STALLED. WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY 18-WHEELER. WHEN IT HAPPENED, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC REPLACED THE DRIVER (5), INJECTOR PUMP(4), LIFTER PUMP…
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WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF OR STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN TRYING TO PASS TRUCKS OR VEHICLES, VEHICLE STALLED. WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY 18-WHEELER. WHEN IT HAPPENED, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC REPLACED THE DRIVER (5), INJECTOR PUMP(4), LIFTER PUMP(2), MAIN BRAIN(5) & THE RECEIVER SENSORS(5). THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD SOMETIMES ALLOW VEHICLE TO RESTART. PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. OWNER VERY UPSET. DEALERSHIP WORKING WITH OWNER. WARREN ROOSEVELT DEALERSHIP IN CANAJOHARIE NY. *AK
ORIGINAL BATTERY (DELCO) CRACKED AND SPILLED BATTERY ACID ON HOSES AND WIRING. REPLACEMENT BATTERY (DELCO) FAILED IN SIMILAR FASHION AFTER 65,000 MILES.
MAJOR FAILURES AT 2 YEARS A/C, BATT, ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP & DIFFERENTIAL,
THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, EACH TIME WITH A NEW BATTERY. THREE WEEKS AGO, A NEW BATTERY WAS PUT IN THE TRUCK AGAIN. ALSO, ALTERNATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR THIS TRUCK, WHICH KILLS THE BATTERY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST HERE ON YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY SERVICE OR HELP TO US. WE HAVE OBTAINED AN ATTORNEY AND WE WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT YOUR SERVICE AND TRY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. IF YOU CAN BE OF ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME. …
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WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST HERE ON YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY SERVICE OR HELP TO US. WE HAVE OBTAINED AN ATTORNEY AND WE WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT YOUR SERVICE AND TRY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. IF YOU CAN BE OF ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU.
THE ALTERNATOR HAD BURNED OUT. BATTERY WAS NOT CHARGING. VEHICLE DID NOT START. HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE. WAS TOLD ALTERNATOR WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR VEHICLE. *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.
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.
96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Apr 4, 1996
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.
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
7EA02006 · 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.
EA00024 · Headlight
Opened Sep 26, 2000 · Closed Dec 21, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
No summary supplied.
EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid
Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
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
EA97007 · Steering Shaft Separations
Opened Apr 17, 1997 · Closed Mar 12, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
COUPLING BOLTS, JOINING THE STEERING SHAFT, MAY SEPARATE.IN SOME CASES, TOTAL UNFORESEEN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY RESULT.
PE96076 · Steering Shaft Separations
Opened Dec 18, 1996 · Closed Apr 17, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
BOLT IN THE COUPLING, JOINING THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE AND STEERING COLUMN SHAFTS, FALLS OUT.TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING OCCURS WHEN THE SHAFTS THEN SEPARATE.
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