IllustrationWHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE ONLY SLOWS DOWN AND WON'T STOP. OWNER HAS CRASHED TWICE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML
1994 GMC Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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: 17 of 411 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 270 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
64 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
270 reportsEA 95026, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
EA95026, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND HITTING ANY KIND OF ROAD SURFACE CHANGE, MAINLY POTHOLES, TRUCK WOULD NOT BRAKE FOR OTHER 6 TO 8 FEET, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED THE THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. PLEASE P…
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EA95026, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND HITTING ANY KIND OF ROAD SURFACE CHANGE, MAINLY POTHOLES, TRUCK WOULD NOT BRAKE FOR OTHER 6 TO 8 FEET, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED THE THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I GROW WARY OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM DAILY. I PLAN TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT THE SYSTEM.
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON MORE THAN 30 OCCASIONS SINCE THE GMC 1500 SURBURBAN WAS PURCHASED NEW. AILURES ARE SPORATIC. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES THE VEHICAL WENT THROUGH INTERSECTIONS DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT ACTIVATING DESPITE APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE NE…
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THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON MORE THAN 30 OCCASIONS SINCE THE GMC 1500 SURBURBAN WAS PURCHASED NEW. AILURES ARE SPORATIC. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES THE VEHICAL WENT THROUGH INTERSECTIONS DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT ACTIVATING DESPITE APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PRESSURE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE BRAKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE NEW AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCOVER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. GMC HAAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT DENYS ANY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED AT WITH APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AN 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICAL RESPECTIVLY. THE SPRING /REEL MECHANISM APPEARED TO BE BROKEN IN BOTH INSTANCES CAUSING THE REEL LOCKING MECHANISM NOT TO ENGAGE AND ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT TO HAVE SLACK DURING ANY DRIVING SITUATION EG SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT TENSION DURING STOPPING OR AT REST.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *AK
EVERY THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED, WOULD HAVE SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT. HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THERE IS A TSB #86-50-20A. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR FOR FREE. THE WIPER MOTOR DO NOT COME ON UNLESS WIRES ARE JIGGLED FIRST. MANUFACTURER #98043. VEHICLE VIN DID NOT FALL UNDER RECALL.
BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHENEVER PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES LOWER TO THE FLOOR THEN NORMAL. VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IS THE WAY IT OPERATES.. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY. THE BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE, DISENGAGE AND THEN ENGAGE AGAIN. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED ON A WET SURFACE CAUSING ME TO SKID INTO A VAN IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTY WAS APPROX. &2,500. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON VEHICLE TEND TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY SURFACE WHICH ONCE CAUSED ME TO SKID INTO A SKID.*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.
99V025000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.
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.
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
3EA02006 · 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.
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
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