NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1992 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from 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: 1 of 189 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 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsWHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED (85000 MLS)IT HAD A BAD FRONT END IDLER LINK AND A BAD A/C CLUTCH BEARING. NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE LIKE THEY SHOULD AND I WAS SCARED TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE SPONGY BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TI…
Read full complaint
WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED (85000 MLS)IT HAD A BAD FRONT END IDLER LINK AND A BAD A/C CLUTCH BEARING. NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE LIKE THEY SHOULD AND I WAS SCARED TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE SPONGY BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALSO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKES AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS MODEL WERE JUST THAT WAY. I PUT NEW ROTORS AND PADS ON THE FRONT AND NEW REAR DRUMS AND SHOES AND REPEATEDLY BLED THE SYSTEM WITH SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. IT ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS A RESTRICTION IN THE BRAKE LINE TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR. IT ACTS AS THOUGH THEY DESIGNED THE THING NOT TO STOP QUICKLY. I UNPLUGGED THE MOTOR TO THE ABS SO THAT AT LEAST IT WOULD SQUEAL A TIRE. THE LACK OF SURE LOW SPEED STOPS HAS CAUSED 2 NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS AND 1 T BONE WHICH HAS RAISED OUR INSURANCE RATES. I HAVE LEARNED TO DRIVE THE THING ANTICIPATING STOPS AND PREBRAKING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND JUST LIKE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD THAT SHORTED OUT WHEN IT GETS WET THEY TOLD ME THAT FOR MY SPECIFIC MODEL THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY LAST WEEK THEY SENT US A MAILER SAYING THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE MY BRAKE PEDAL WITH A DIFFERENT ONE TO GIVE ME A "BETTER FEEL". THAT WON'T DO ME MUCH GOOD IF I'M STUCK UNDER A BUS!!!!! I HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH HAS SUBSTANDARD BRAKES, WHICH WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND THEY WON'T DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT THEM. I LIKE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE TRUCK BUT THE BRAKES SUCK BIG TIME.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MUSHY. I UNDERSTSAND THAT ABS WILL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO EMERGENCY BRAKEING THAN "NORMAL" BRAKES BUT THIS THING IS A REAL ADVENTURE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE PANIC STOPS.IT SEEMS TO RESIST YOUR FOOT THE HARDER YOU PUSH THE LESS BRAKING YOU FEEL.THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING MODULE WENT OUT WHIC…
Read full complaint
THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MUSHY. I UNDERSTSAND THAT ABS WILL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO EMERGENCY BRAKEING THAN "NORMAL" BRAKES BUT THIS THING IS A REAL ADVENTURE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE PANIC STOPS.IT SEEMS TO RESIST YOUR FOOT THE HARDER YOU PUSH THE LESS BRAKING YOU FEEL.THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING MODULE WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE DISK BRAKE TO GRAB AND BOTH FRONT TIRES TO WEAR VERY BADLY. THE ELECTRIC WIPER CONTROL WENT OUT BECAUSET THE CONTROL BOX IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GOT WET. DAH! THE DRAG LINK BUSHING RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THE GREASE FITTING WAS APPARENTLY INACCESSABLE TO SERVICE AND NEVER GOT ANY GREASE. THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING AT 90000 MLS. AT WHICH TIME I RAN A STOP LEAK PRODUCT IN IT WHICH STOPPED IT SO FAR. THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT AT 110,000 MLS AND THE ALTERNATOR AT 95000 MLS. BRAKES ARE BIGGEST CONCERN!!!!!
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, ALSO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT LOW TO THE FLOOR, REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ALTERNATOR, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE EA94-029A. *AK
BATTERY FLUID LEAKED FROM THE SIDE POSITIVE POST, DOWN THE BATTERY CABLE, CAUSING CABLE TO CORRODE AND SEPARATE, RESULTING IN A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. TT
VEHICLE SURGES BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH LITTLE RESPONSE FROM BRAKES. DIAGNOSIS DEFECTIVE PIECE IN STARTER MOTOR. TT
ENGINE IS RATTLING, EXCESSIVE NOISE, REPLACED ENGINE THREE TIMES. TT
ALTERNATOR SEIZED AND CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO INADEQUATE SIZE BEARING AND FRICTION FROM BELT THAT IGNITED THE INTERNAL WIRING. *AK
Official recalls
393V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 2, 1993
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
93V016000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 1, 1993
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
92V056000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Apr 14, 1992
THE PIVOT BOLT HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ITS SUPPORT BRACKET MAY BE IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED AND MAY NOT HAVE ENGAGED THE LOCKING MATERIAL ON THE BOLT. THE BOLT CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE NUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PIVOT BOLT DISENGAGES FROM THE NUT WHILE THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF BRAKE CONTROL AND COULD RESULT INA VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS SHOULD INSPECT THE HAND STARTED BRAKE PEDAL BOLTS AND TORQUE THEM TO SPECIFICATION.
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
2EA95026 · 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
EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
Illustration