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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 →
360Owner complaints

Model-year median: 118

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

7Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
499
1993858
1994457
1995360
1996414
1997201
1998634
1999
Compare all Suburban years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
129Electrical System
47Visibility
42Power Train
40Tires
39
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
36Fuel System, Gasoline
19Air Bags
16Steering
15Suspension
10Equipment
9Seat Belts
9Exterior Lighting
7Seats
7Service Brakes, Air
7Structure
7Trailer Hitches
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Fuel System, Other
3Unknown Or Other
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Wheels
2Child Seat
1Fuel System, Diesel
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDALTO FADE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES ABS KICKS IN BEFORE IT SHOULD AND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS MUSHY, DEALER REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND FOUND AIR IN SYSTEM…

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THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDALTO FADE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES ABS KICKS IN BEFORE IT SHOULD AND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS MUSHY, DEALER REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND FOUND AIR IN SYSTEM ON ONE OCCASION CAUSING PEDAL TO BE HARD. WIPER BLADES REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #819290

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

GRINDING NOISE DEVELOPS IN BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM. DEALER'S COMMENTS: SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED (TWO REPLACEMENTS). *AK

NHTSA ODI #819277

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL OPERATION. OWNER HAS HAD BRAKE LINES/CA…

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CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL OPERATION. OWNER HAS HAD BRAKE LINES/CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS PUT ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819206

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE BURNING, AND PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP ON TIME, AND KEEPS ROLLING FOR A FEW MORE FEET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818624

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD , THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STILL TRAVEL . CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818567

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STILL TRAVEL. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN TO COME TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818565

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE; TIRES COMPLETELY FLATTENED ( SIX MONTHS ; 4 SETS) DUE TO SYSTEM DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818460

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

WIPER CONTROL UNIT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604962

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #604100

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES; PEDAL FELT HARD; DID NOT GO TO FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT NOT FOR AWHILE. ITS A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819478

Official recalls

3

03V159000 · 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

7

EA02006 · 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