IllustrationDRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELTS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO SHOULDER BELT NOT TIGHTENING. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE TIGHT. *AK BOTHE FRONT BUCKET SEAT 3 POINT RETRACTER'S ARE INOPERATIVE. SHOULDER HARNESS WILL NOT TIGHTEN. *YH
1994 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Suburban years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Suburban are substantially higher than 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: 32 of 858 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 568 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 167 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
146 crash reports8 fire reports33 injury reports
What owners actually said
858 reportsAIR CONDITIONER HAS FAILED 3 YEARS IN A ROW, REPLACED BY THE SUGGESTED MANUFACTURER PART. PART IS ONLY GUARNTEED FOR 1 YEAR AND SEEMS TO BREAK SHORTLY AFTER GUARNTEE EXPIRES.
APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCASS. IT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TREAD WHICH WAS STILL ATTCHED TO THE CARCASS AND DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR FENDER AND DOOR (APPROXIMATELY $800 IN DAMAGE + $125 COST OF THE TIRE, SEE LATER). THE CARCASS BLEW OUT IMMEDIATELY. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOST. I SENT THE…
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APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCASS. IT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TREAD WHICH WAS STILL ATTCHED TO THE CARCASS AND DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR FENDER AND DOOR (APPROXIMATELY $800 IN DAMAGE + $125 COST OF THE TIRE, SEE LATER). THE CARCASS BLEW OUT IMMEDIATELY. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOST. I SENT THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR ANALYSIS AND POSSIBLE COVERAGE OF MY DAMAGE DUE TO A PRODUCT DEFECT. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY A ROAD HAZARD AND THEY WERE THEREFORE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES. IN ANY EVENT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEIR TIRE SHOULD CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE MUCH SUCCESS FIGHTING THEIR DECISION. THE TIRE ITSELF WAS COVERED BY A ROAD HAZARD WARRENTEE AND WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE TIRES WERE NEARING THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE BUT STILL HAD A DEPTH OF TREAD WITHIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH THOSE OF ANOTHER MANUFACTURER. I SEND YOU THIS INFORMATION FOR USE IN YOUR CURRENT ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE SIZE TIRES. ULTIMATELY, I WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH REINBURSEMENT FO THE BODY REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE. THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF NORMAL (AND ACCEPTABLE) WEAR. (TIRESIZE: 245-75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245-75R16 )
ABS ON CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN IS UNRELIABLE AND FAULTY - NEED A SOLUTION BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS.*AK
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A NEW DEMO WITH 3210 MILES. IN FEB 1995 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65+ MILES PER HOUR ON THE FWY THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED ( TREAD SEPARATION) . ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER!( NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURED). WHEN I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF FWY THE LEFT REAR TIRE …
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A NEW DEMO WITH 3210 MILES. IN FEB 1995 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65+ MILES PER HOUR ON THE FWY THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED ( TREAD SEPARATION) . ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT AND ROLL OVER!( NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURED). WHEN I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF FWY THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED TO SHREDS. I CHANGED THE TIRE INSTALLING THE SPARE. I TOOK FAILED TIRE TO LOCAL FIRESTONE TIRE DEALER ( KENNEDY FIRESTONE) FOR WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT. THEY SAID I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING ON THE FWY. I EXPLAINED I NEVER HIT ANYTHING THE TIRE JUST BLEW APART AT HIGH SPEED WITH NO WARING. THEY DID NOT ADJUST TIRE FOR WARRANTY WHAT SO EVER @ 8000MILE. I HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH BFG ALL TERRIAN TIRES AND HAVE NEVER PURCHASED FIRESTONE PRODUCTS SINCE THIS INCIDENT.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )
DD (TIRESIZE: LT245/7516)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/7516 )
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES(255 70 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
ON ROAD LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. SPEED 5 TO 8 MPH. FIST SIZED BLOWOUT IN CENTER OF TREAD. *AK (DOT NUMBER: DON'T SEE TIRESIZE: LT245/7R16)
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
4EA02006 · 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
PE97027 · Drivers Seat Failure
Opened Jun 17, 1997 · Closed Oct 31, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THE DRIVERS SEAT MOUNTING FAILS, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE OR TIP REARWARD INTO A RECLINED POSITION.
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