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: 7 of 9 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reports
500 miles · Oct 14, 2018
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other
IT KEEPS STALLING ON US. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL THE CENSORS, THE CONTROL MODULE AND WE EVEN REPLACED THE REAR END WE HAVE SPENT WELL OVERA THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THIS VEHICLE STILL WONT STAY RUNNING IT STALLS WON'T START WE HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING THE CODES ARE READING. THIS CONTINUES TO STALL IT SHUTS DOWN BY ITS SELF IT ALMOST KILLE…
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IT KEEPS STALLING ON US. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL THE CENSORS, THE CONTROL MODULE AND WE EVEN REPLACED THE REAR END WE HAVE SPENT WELL OVERA THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THIS VEHICLE STILL WONT STAY RUNNING IT STALLS WON'T START WE HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING THE CODES ARE READING. THIS CONTINUES TO STALL IT SHUTS DOWN BY ITS SELF IT ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE AND KIDS A FEW TIMES I WANT THIS VEHICLE FULLY REPAIRED FOR FREE. I HABE ONE INCOME AND I CANT EVEN CATCH UP ON MY BILLS AS WE HAVE SPENT MORE ON HER VEHICLE TO STILL CAUSE PROBLEMS AND ME ALMOST LOOKING MY FAMILY MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STALLED IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11140221
261,000 miles · Nov 22, 2015
Suspension
DISCOVERED WHILE REPLACING THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, THE U BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING TO THE LEAF SPRINGS HAD ALMOST RUSTED THRU. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS THE CONFIGURATION OF LOWER PLATE THAT THE U BOLTS GO THRU CONCEALS THE RUSTED PORTIONS OF THE U BOLT. ALSO, THE CONFIGURATION OF THE ABOVE-MENTIO…
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DISCOVERED WHILE REPLACING THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, THE U BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING TO THE LEAF SPRINGS HAD ALMOST RUSTED THRU. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS THE CONFIGURATION OF LOWER PLATE THAT THE U BOLTS GO THRU CONCEALS THE RUSTED PORTIONS OF THE U BOLT. ALSO, THE CONFIGURATION OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PLATE CAPTURES ROAD SALT, CORRODING THE U BOLTS. IF THESE BOLTS FAILED, THE REAR AXLE WOULD DISLODGE FROM THE VEHICLE WITH DISASTROUS RESULTS.
NHTSA ODI #10795331
180,000 miles · Sep 24, 2010
Fuel System, Diesel
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 DIESEL 6.5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST FIFTEEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 DIESEL 6.5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST FIFTEEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE INJECTION PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, FUEL FILTER AND THE TURBO CHARGER WASTE GATE SOLENOID TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
NHTSA ODI #10357314
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2009
Visibility
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FLUID WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ON. CALLED CHEVY AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE THIS HAS STARTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280452
150,000 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY POOR SINCE IT WAS BUILT. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS AND COLLISION SHOPS WHO SAY THAT THE FAILURE OF THE ABS TO WORK PROPERLY HAS CAUSED THEIR ACCIDENTS. I MYSELF HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE AS I WAS STOPPING, ONE WHEEL HIT A WET SPOT AND ALL FOUR WHEELS S…
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THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY POOR SINCE IT WAS BUILT. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS AND COLLISION SHOPS WHO SAY THAT THE FAILURE OF THE ABS TO WORK PROPERLY HAS CAUSED THEIR ACCIDENTS. I MYSELF HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE AS I WAS STOPPING, ONE WHEEL HIT A WET SPOT AND ALL FOUR WHEELS STOPPED THEIR BRAKING ACTION AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOVER THE BRAKING FUNCTION FOR OVER 3 SECONDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT/PROBLEM. AND, ALTHOUGH HE COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM, HE SAID THERE NOTHING WAS WRONG. HE SAID THAT SOME 96 SUBURBANS HAD A RUST PROBLEM WITH SOME BRAKE COMPONENTS BUT THAT MINE WAS NOT RUSTY. THIS IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED SOME SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENTS!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249184
149,500 miles · Aug 3, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 - MILEAGE 149,000 - PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED & CLEANED. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER ALL EXCEPT VERY LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATIONS. ABS WILL ACTIVATE AT VEHICLE SPEEDS OF LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH DURING BRAKING. THIS UNNECESSARY ACTIVATION CAUSES VEHICLE STOPPING…
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1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 - MILEAGE 149,000 - PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAINED & CLEANED. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER ALL EXCEPT VERY LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATIONS. ABS WILL ACTIVATE AT VEHICLE SPEEDS OF LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH DURING BRAKING. THIS UNNECESSARY ACTIVATION CAUSES VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES TO INCREASE AND HAS CAUSED ONE "NEAR MISS" AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES RELEASED DUE TO THE ABS APPLICATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS AND THAT GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON NEWER VEHICLES. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS ABS ISSUE IS OCCURRING IN VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF THE GM RECALL (PRE 1998 VEHICLES) AND CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE ABS SYSTEM UNTIL TOMORROW. AT THAT TIME I WILL HAVE MY MECHANIC ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND RECTIFY IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236761
65,000 miles · Sep 8, 2007
EquipmentSuspension
AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE IT DEVELOPS A VERY SEVER SHAKING. IT IS TO THE POINT IT KNOCKS STUFF OFF THE DASH AND OUT OF THE CUP HOLDERS. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES CHANGED, ROTATED, BALANCED. THIS DOES NOTHING TO HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10202242
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT ROTOR (SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES) CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING TO ALL WHEELS AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH INTO REAR OF TRACTOR TRAILER ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA ODI #10177055
119,000 miles · Jun 12, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
WHILE BRAKING TO STOP IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ON CLEAR DRY DAY, ABS MOMENTARILY ACTIVATED THEN RELEASED ALL BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAR-END TRACTOR TRAILER. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF RIGHT FRONT ROTOR INTO TWO PIECES WITH FULL HUB SEPARATION. PEDAL REMAINED HARD BUT ABS PREVENTED ANY BRAKING. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10159662
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year