IllustrationIN LOW SPEEDS THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR , CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
129 reportsNON- COMPLETION OF STOP DUE TO PEDAL DRIFTING TO FLOOR. DRIVER WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN, RESULTING IN POOR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. THIS OCCURS MOSTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE ABS BRAKES WERE SUBJECTED TO AN INTERMITTENT BRAKING FAILURE. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP FOR AN EXTENDED DISTANCE. *AK
BRAKES AND MASTER CYLINDER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OWNER NOTES THAT PADS/ROTORS/DRUMS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK *SLC
WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, RESULTING IN BRAKES FADING AWAY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *JB
DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND COMING TO AN INTERSECTION, APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JUST WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. *AK *NLM
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A REST AGAINST A PARKING STUMP. THIS WAS DUE TO A COLLAPSED VACUUM IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 10/16/97, FOR THE SAME REASON W…
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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A REST AGAINST A PARKING STUMP. THIS WAS DUE TO A COLLAPSED VACUUM IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 10/16/97, FOR THE SAME REASON WITH 28,000 MILES. *AK
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE ROTORS REPLACED AT 40K MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
PASSENGER'S FRONT/MIDDLE SEATS BELTS FAILED.
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