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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 →

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

What owners actually said

360 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

UPON EXITING FREEWAY I NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. PARKED THE SURBURBAN AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT AREA OF ENGINE ON FIRE. I EXTINGUISHED THE FLAME AND THE RESULTING DAMAGE EXHIBITED SPARK PLUG WIRES 1 AND 3 TOTALLY BURNT TO ASH. WIRE HARNESS TO AIR CONDITIONING AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR INSULATION WAS BUR…

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UPON EXITING FREEWAY I NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. PARKED THE SURBURBAN AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT AREA OF ENGINE ON FIRE. I EXTINGUISHED THE FLAME AND THE RESULTING DAMAGE EXHIBITED SPARK PLUG WIRES 1 AND 3 TOTALLY BURNT TO ASH. WIRE HARNESS TO AIR CONDITIONING AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR INSULATION WAS BURNT AWAY. OIL FILLER NECK IS COMPLETLY MELTED AWAY AS ARE THE SPARKPLUG WIRE MOUNTING BRACKETS. PLASTIC VACCUUM HOSE FOR EMMISSION DEVICE WAS ALSO MELTED IN HALF. UPPER RADIATOR HOSE IS BADLY BURNT. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SINCE THE BATTERY SPLIT OPEN 1 YEAR PRIOR SPILLING ACID ALL OVER BRAKE LINES AND AIR CONDITIONER PLUMBING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718662

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP. BUT, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856523

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILURE RESULTING IN POSITIVE TERMINAL PULLING OUT OF BATTERY AND ACID SPILLING ON AIR CONDITIONING AND BRAKE LINES. REPLACED BATERY AND CONNECTIONS CAME LOOSE AND TRUCK SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE TERMINALS HAVE BEEN CLEANED EACH TIME AND TRUCK WILL RUN FINE. INITIAL FAILURE RESULTE…

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BATTERY FAILURE RESULTING IN POSITIVE TERMINAL PULLING OUT OF BATTERY AND ACID SPILLING ON AIR CONDITIONING AND BRAKE LINES. REPLACED BATERY AND CONNECTIONS CAME LOOSE AND TRUCK SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE TERMINALS HAVE BEEN CLEANED EACH TIME AND TRUCK WILL RUN FINE. INITIAL FAILURE RESULTED IN BATERY ACID SPILLING ON INNER FENDER AND BRAKE LINES. PROBLEM WAS FOUND BEFORE ACID ATE THROUGH BRAKE LINES AND AIR CONDITIONING LINES. DURING OTHER FAILURES BATTERY TERMINAL HAS NOT PULLED OUT OF BATERRY BUT POSITIVE TERMINALS HAVE HAD CORROSIVE BUILD UP CAUSING TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETLY. AFTER PULLING CONNECTIONS LOOSE AND CLEANING THEN TRUCK FUNCTIONS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS POSES A SERIUOS CONDITION DUE TO LACK OF WARNING .*AK

NHTSA ODI #718449

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2000
Electrical System

AC DELCO BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID. DUE TO A SPILLAGE, ACID HAS EATEN THROUGH RIGHT WHEEL BRAKING SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856282

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING ALL POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL POWER TO GO OUT. ALSO. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 5 TIMES, AND HAS CHANGED FUEL PUMP NUMEROUS TIMES. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856128

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Electrical System

BATTERY LEKAED ACID ONTO THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855554

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE MAKING A STOP VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #855421

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES DON'T STOP VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER TRIES TO STOP. IT ONLY HAPPENS ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, MAKES A METAL-AGAINST-METAL SOUND. CONSUMER SAYS THE DEALER IS WAITING FOR WORD ON THE INVESTIGATION WITH US, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #855229

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
Seat Belts

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER'S SON WENT TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT WHEN HE PULLED THE SEAT BELT FROM THE FLOOR, THE INERTIA REALED IT, AND LOCKED IT 6 INCHES WITHIN THE SEAT BELT. PASSENGER WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK SEAT BELT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. NOT UNDER WARRANTY, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT.…

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VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER'S SON WENT TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT WHEN HE PULLED THE SEAT BELT FROM THE FLOOR, THE INERTIA REALED IT, AND LOCKED IT 6 INCHES WITHIN THE SEAT BELT. PASSENGER WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK SEAT BELT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. NOT UNDER WARRANTY, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. IT IS A SEALED UNIT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #854963

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

DROVE 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

NHTSA ODI #854844

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