IllustrationCONSUMNER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH WHEN HE ATEMPTED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE NEVER STOPPED. CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE . *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
What owners actually said
360 reportsI CONTACTED CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER SEVERAL TIME BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SATISFACTION. I CONTEND THAT A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT SUCH AS THE BREAK BOOSTER SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING THE NORMAL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WERE MADE ABOUT THE PEDAL BEING SOFT. I WAS TOLD THIS B…
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I CONTACTED CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER SEVERAL TIME BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SATISFACTION. I CONTEND THAT A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT SUCH AS THE BREAK BOOSTER SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING THE NORMAL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WERE MADE ABOUT THE PEDAL BEING SOFT. I WAS TOLD THIS BREAKS WERE OK. I KEPT THE PART AND OFFERED TO SEND TO CHEVROLET TO DETERMINE IF WAS DEFECTIVE. MY CONTENTION IS THAT IF A PART IS DEFECTIVE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF THE WARRANTY. IF IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE THE PART SHOULD BE REENGINEERED TO PROVIDED A FAILURE RATE LESS THAN 10-6. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF THE SPEED HAD BEEN GREATER.
MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED.
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
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID UNTIL 50,000. (AND THEN, ONLY IF YOU PULL LOADS OR DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS.) WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 50,000. THE DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAVY ENGINE WERE COVERED TO 100,000. BOY, WERE WE GU…
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THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID UNTIL 50,000. (AND THEN, ONLY IF YOU PULL LOADS OR DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS.) WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 50,000. THE DEALER LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAVY ENGINE WERE COVERED TO 100,000. BOY, WERE WE GULLIBLE.
ABS BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG UPON IMPACT. *AK
THE ALTERNATOR HAD BURNED OUT. GAVE NO POWER TO BATTERY. COULD NOT START VEHICLE. HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED TWICE BY MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED THAT ALTERNATORS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR VEHICLE. REPLACED A LOT OF ALTERNATORS IN SUBURBAN VEHICLES. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS.
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL BECAME HARD OR WENT TO THE FLOOR, ,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE VACUUM BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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