CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON WET SURFACE THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
144 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…
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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
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, BRAKING SYSTEM WORKS. SO WHEN TRAVELING IN SNOW OR ICE AND MAKING A SUDDEN STOP ABS SYTEM TAKES LONGER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HEARD & FELT A BUMPING AGAINST VEHICLE. STOPPED & CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED TIRES WERE BLISTERED & TREAD WAS PULLING FROM THE CASING. BOTH FRONT & REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD PROBLEMS. NOT POSITIVE IF ORIGINAL TIRES AT TIME OF PURCHASE WERE USED. ALSO, ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. WHEN BRAKING VEH…
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WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HEARD & FELT A BUMPING AGAINST VEHICLE. STOPPED & CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED TIRES WERE BLISTERED & TREAD WAS PULLING FROM THE CASING. BOTH FRONT & REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD PROBLEMS. NOT POSITIVE IF ORIGINAL TIRES AT TIME OF PURCHASE WERE USED. ALSO, ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE WOULD PULL IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABS BRAKES KICKED IN ON DRY PAVEMENT UNEXPECTEDLY, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE 50 PERCENT. CONTACT DEALER.*AK
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE BRAKE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS YET TO FIX IT. *AK *ML
ON ANY SLICK ROAD SURFACES AT SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR , WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOPSIGN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURN ON IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO READJUST ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY IN A FEW SECONDS…
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ON ANY SLICK ROAD SURFACES AT SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR , WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOPSIGN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURN ON IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO READJUST ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY IN A FEW SECONDS AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. BUT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT DO THIS. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS KICKED IN WITHIN A SIX MONTHS PERIOD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO. THE FIRST TIME THE ROADS WERE SLICK AND THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DESPITE THE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE HIT A SLICK SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLIDE COMPLETE ACROSS THE THREE LANE HIGHWAY, INWHICH I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FARTHEST LANE. THERE WERE ABOUT 4 OTHER CARS THAT HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES AND BASICALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SKIDDING THROUGH THE HIGHWAY. MY ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKED IN WITH A LOUD THUG. AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON TOO. BUT IT NEVER READJUSTED ITSELF AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO REPAIR TO RESET THE ABS. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED IN JULY 1999 AND WAS REPAIRED IN EARLY AUGUST. THIS SECOND INCIDENT DID NOT WARRENT THE ABS TO KICK IN. I BELIEVE THAT THE ABS ARE OVERLY SENSITIVE AND NEED TO BE REPROGRAMED. I HEARD ON A NEWS REPORT THAT THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WAS BEING RECALLED FOR ITS FAULTY ABS BRAKES FROM 1999 THROUGH 1992. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE 1992 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IS BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CALLED ABOUT REPAIRS SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR VEHICLES STARTING IN 1994, NOT 1992. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED . PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE RESULTS. THANK YOU.
THIS VEHICLE HAS A TREMENDOUSLY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WET. ONE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG; THE OTHER SAYS TO TRY A NEW ANTILOCK UNIT. THEY SAY IT MIGHT HELP BUT IF IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IT IS NON-RETURNABLE. IT WILL COST @ $1000 JUST TO TRIAL AND ERROR A FIX FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION REAR SEAL LEAKING, DEALER ADIVISED SEAL WAS REPLACED WITH THE WRONG YEAR 95 SEAL. HUSBAND REPLACED WITH RIGHT 92 SEAL. STILL LEAKING. ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER IS KNOCKING LOUD NOISE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING OUT. WHEN I DRIVE 35 MILES OR MORE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILS. AND, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKS TEMPORARILY…
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TRANSMISSION REAR SEAL LEAKING, DEALER ADIVISED SEAL WAS REPLACED WITH THE WRONG YEAR 95 SEAL. HUSBAND REPLACED WITH RIGHT 92 SEAL. STILL LEAKING. ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER IS KNOCKING LOUD NOISE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING OUT. WHEN I DRIVE 35 MILES OR MORE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILS. AND, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKS TEMPORARILY ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW.
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.
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