IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN A RAIN STORM. THERE IS A RECALL ON MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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 reportsTHEY HAVE RECLLED OTHER 1994 SUBURBAN THE DEALER SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST IT COST M $70.FOR MY REPAIR .
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT STAY WORKING. *AK
THIS SWITCH FAILED WHILE PARKED, THANK GOODNESS. A BURNING ODOR BECAME OVERWHELMING WHILE PUTTING ON SEATBELTS TO DRIVE AWAY. IT WAS NIGHT, SO I COULD NOT TELL FOR SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. MY NEXT INSTINCT WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DOME LIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTE…
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THIS SWITCH FAILED WHILE PARKED, THANK GOODNESS. A BURNING ODOR BECAME OVERWHELMING WHILE PUTTING ON SEATBELTS TO DRIVE AWAY. IT WAS NIGHT, SO I COULD NOT TELL FOR SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. MY NEXT INSTINCT WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DOME LIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT THE SWITCH, BEZEL AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WERE DESTROYED. I HAVE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES ON THIS VEHICLE FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ONE FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AND ONE FOR THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM IS SUSPECT IN THIS VEHICLE. WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES WE NOW HAVE THREE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY PER MY REPORT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES CAUSED BY THE SWITCH BURNING UP. HOWEVER, HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME THAT THE SWITCH MELTED, SHE VERY WELL MAY HAVE ENDED UP WITH A DASH BOARD FIRE ON THE ROAD WITH 5 CHILREN. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WITH OTHER SUBURBANS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. AS AN ENGINEER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, I KNOW DARN WELL THAT THET THERE IS NO SUCH THINK AS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE ON ANY TYPE OF FAILURE AND THIS VEHICLE IS PROVING TO BE A LOSER WHEN IT COMES TO WIRING AND SWITCHES. SORRY FOR BEING SO LONG WINDED. *99V025000. *AK
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURES, MORE THAN ONCE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN A DOWNPOUR. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL, BUT WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY DISCOVERED THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM FIXED BY THE RECALL. WE WERE CHARGED…
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EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURES, MORE THAN ONCE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN A DOWNPOUR. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL, BUT WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY DISCOVERED THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM FIXED BY THE RECALL. WE WERE CHARGED $132.15 FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED WHILE IN USE WHICH, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1994 SUBURBAN, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN # ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN MOTOR WENT OUT. NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. *AK
WIPERS ARE INTERMITENT. I KNOW OF SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SAID IT IS NOT ON RECALL HOWEVER, THEY HAVE RECALLED SOME VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
BRAKES LOCK IN WET WEATHER, CAUSING VIOLENT LURCH, ALSO BRAKES FAIL WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON ROUGH SURFACE, RESULTING IN POOR STEERING CONTROL AND GOING THRU INTERSECTION. WIPERS INTERMITTENT - SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT COME ON. GRINDING NOISE IN REAR-END HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW, DEALER CHECKED ONCE THEN IGNORED IT, THEY WERE A…
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BRAKES LOCK IN WET WEATHER, CAUSING VIOLENT LURCH, ALSO BRAKES FAIL WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON ROUGH SURFACE, RESULTING IN POOR STEERING CONTROL AND GOING THRU INTERSECTION. WIPERS INTERMITTENT - SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT COME ON. GRINDING NOISE IN REAR-END HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW, DEALER CHECKED ONCE THEN IGNORED IT, THEY WERE ALSO NOTIFIED ON THE BRAKES BUT "COULD FIND NO PROBLEM"!!??!!
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