IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN 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
Visibility complaints
42 reportsMAJOR FAILURES AT 2 YEARS A/C, BATT, ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP & DIFFERENTIAL,
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TH ARE GRABBING. ABS SYSTEM IS KICKING IN, AND KICKING THE CONSUMER'S FOOT OFF THE PEDAL ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. TRANSMISSION IS JERKING, AND VEHICLE IS IDLING REAL FAST. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE DESCRIBED IN RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER PULSE BOARD AND SAID IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING THE PULSE BOARDS DID THAT WERE RECALLED. BUT THE RECALL WAS FOR CARS 94 TO 5-96, MY CAR WAS MADE IN 8-96 AND WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I SPOKE WITH CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 CLAIM # 990317773 AND WAS TOLD DUE…
Read full complaint
WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER PULSE BOARD AND SAID IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING THE PULSE BOARDS DID THAT WERE RECALLED. BUT THE RECALL WAS FOR CARS 94 TO 5-96, MY CAR WAS MADE IN 8-96 AND WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I SPOKE WITH CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 CLAIM # 990317773 AND WAS TOLD DUE TO THE AGE AND MILAGE OF MY CAR THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THIS CAR IS NEWER THAN THE CARS THEY RECALLED AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONAL RECALLS NEED TO BE MADE ON THIS PART. *AK
WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD/WIPER DELAY MODULE.
OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FLUTTERS/SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
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…
Read full complaint
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
WIPER CONTROL UNIT 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