IllustrationMileage unknown · Dec 7, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #715730
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
What owners actually said
411 reportsNO SUMMARY
THE BRAKES FAILED ON A WET ROUGH SURFACE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED TO MY SON IN 1994 AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE OK. THIS LAST TIME WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I WAS ADVISED THAT GMC KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT GMC DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALE…
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THE BRAKES FAILED ON A WET ROUGH SURFACE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES AT ALL. THIS HAPPENED TO MY SON IN 1994 AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE OK. THIS LAST TIME WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I WAS ADVISED THAT GMC KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT GMC DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER'S HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED GMC AT 1-800-462-8782 AND SPOKE TO AUDREY PRESSLEY AND KEVIN, FILE #99289962 TO KNOW SATISFACTION ABOUT REPAIRING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL GMC DEALER. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED I WAS VERY LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES FAIL ON A WET BUMPY SURFACE. THE REST OF THE TIME THEY ARE OK.
NON-REPEATABLE, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ABS REDUCES BRAKING PERFORMANCE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE POINT OF LOSS OF CONTROL
WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES FAILE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED BEFRORE ANY ONE DOES GET HURT. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS BRAKE MODULE. *AK
WNIDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. AFTER PUSHING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MANUALLY THEY CONTINUE TO WORK AGAIN. DRIVER ALMOST HAD ONE CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V15001, WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING DUE …
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WNIDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. AFTER PUSHING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MANUALLY THEY CONTINUE TO WORK AGAIN. DRIVER ALMOST HAD ONE CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V15001, WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE PROBLEM WAS OCASSIONAL, NOW IT IS COMPLETE FAILURE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 1994 CHEVORLET SUBURBAN- FOR WINSHIELD MOTOR FAILURE, HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED GMC, THEY TOLD ME IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE.
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY CUT OFF WHILE WORKIING,AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN COME ON.DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 98V1500000 DUE TO VIN. *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