IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD, WHICH RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON BY PRIVATE MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YC
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.
37 crash reports7 fire reports12 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
144 reportsABS SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE RESULTING IN BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING, AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE UNIT. IN PRIOR INCIDENTS TO 2-12-99, VEHICLE HAS BEEN PUT UP ON CURB AND HOMEOWNER'S FRONT LAWN TO AVOID REAR END COLLISIONS. ON 2-12-99 REARENDED A PICKUP TRUCK THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF M…
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ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE RESULTING IN BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING, AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE UNIT. IN PRIOR INCIDENTS TO 2-12-99, VEHICLE HAS BEEN PUT UP ON CURB AND HOMEOWNER'S FRONT LAWN TO AVOID REAR END COLLISIONS. ON 2-12-99 REARENDED A PICKUP TRUCK THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME. HAD AT LEAST 50 FEET OF STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN CHEVROLET DEALER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT SUBURBAN ABS PROBLEM, OWNER WAS TOLD PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE IT DOES AND SQUEAL IS NORMAL. UNLESS ABS LIGHT COMES ON, IT IS NOT VEHICLE ERROR. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED ON VEHICLE, BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION CONTINUES TO PERSIST.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANITLOCK BRAKES. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, VEHICLE SKIDDED. ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND/OR DURING LOW SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML
WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES MAKING A LOUD GROANING SOUND. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER WE START THE ENGINE AND THEN SEEMS TO GO AWAY. IT WILL ALSO OCCUR WHEN WE GO OVER A BUMP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER(S) WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTH…
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WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES MAKING A LOUD GROANING SOUND. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER WE START THE ENGINE AND THEN SEEMS TO GO AWAY. IT WILL ALSO OCCUR WHEN WE GO OVER A BUMP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER(S) WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON JAN 15, 1999 I WAS FOLLOWING A CAR WHO STOPPED AT A YELLOW SIGNAL LIGHT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD "GROAN" AND I BELIEVE THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I HAD ADEQUATE ROOM TO STOP, BUT THE BRAKES SEEMED TO JUST NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN I WENT OUT THIS MORNING TO CHECKTHE BRAKES, THEY FELT SPONGY AND THEN FINALLY GOT A NORMAL FEEL AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATIVELY MINOR; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD FIX BOTH MY VEHICLES BRAKES, AND TAKE CARE OF THE DAMAGE ON THE OTHER CAR. I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN UNTIL THE 26TH OF JANUARY.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED.
ABS MALFUNCTION.
ON WET PAVEMENT, ABS MALFUNCIONED WHILE BRAKING AND STRUCK VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM.
THE ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS ACTIVATE ABOUT EVERY SECOND TIME THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED AND SOMETIMES JUST FROM DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NOT ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO THE TRUCK HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHICAL EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *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.