1996 Chevrolet Suburban

1) MAJOR COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE/CYL HEAD GASKET (LEFT REAR OF MOTOR) (2) ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATES TC 1870 CODE PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY (3)WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITENTLY SAFETY HAZARD (4) A/C DASH LIGHTS CYCLE ON AND OFF WHEN A/C BUTTON IS PUSHED ON BUT FAN MOTOR IS SHUT OFF. ALL PROBLEMS ARE "COMMON" PER DEALERSHIP SERVICE WRITER

OUR ASE MECHANIC STATES THEY HAVE REPLACED ~35-40 SIMILAR CHEV SUBURBAN RADIATOR FAILURES IN PAST 24 MONTHS IN THEIR SHOP (DOCUMENTATION ON REQUEST). THESE HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH WATER PUMP FAILURES, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS AND OCC. HEAD GASKET FAILURES WHEN COOLANT HAS LEAKED OVER ENGINE. AMONG ASE MECHANICS IN OUR AREA THIS IS A WELL-KNOW, "LEMON" DESIGN FAILURE WHICH WILL COST ME $900 TO REPAIR. *AK

CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN 1996, LS 1500, 4 X 4 I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 2YRS, I HAD TO PUT ON 5 SETS OF BRAKES, 2 SETS OF ROTORS, DRUMS, STEER KNUCKLES, ALTERNATOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, BATTERY, DIFFERENTIAL/AXLES REPLACED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS FOWL SMELL AND THE BACK PASSAGER DOOR STICKS AND WON'T OPEN MOST OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT IT AS A LEASE RETURN WITH 34,900 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHY THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD. I ONLY DRIVE THIS SUBURBAN IN EMERGENCY.*AK

THE INITIAL SYMPTOM HAS BEEN UPON STARTING THE ENGINE THE CLOCK RESETS TO 1:00 AND THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHTS GLOW ON AND OFF(BUT THE A/C SWITCH IS OFF). THE NEXT SYMTOM IS WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JUST DIE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MID-1996. THE BATTERY HAS LEAKED SO BADLY THAT PARTS UNDER THE AREA WHERE THE BATTERY SITS HAD TO BE REPLACED. BESIDES WHAT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES IN THE FRONT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THIS LAST TIME THE ROTERS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE OUT OF MFG. SPECIFICATIONS. BRAKES AND BATTERY REPAIR ARE NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. EACH TRIP TO THE DEALER IS MORE $500.00. THE POTENTIAL FOR A LIFE ENDING ACCIDENT IS SO GREAT WHEN THESE SYSTEMS FAIL ON A VEHICLE. WHY AREN'T THESE VEHICLES BUILT WITH BETTER RELIABILITY? THE TRUCK WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER ON 9/11/2000. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE STILL NOT FIXED! (DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE: CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, V8 VORTEC 454, 4X4, 3/4 TON). *AK

IN FEBRUARY MY CAR DIED WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. I TURNED OUT TO BE ACID CORROSION ON THE BATTERY. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE MY POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO ACID CORROSION. EVEN AFTER CLEANING THE ACID OFF I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS IT IS STILL GOOD. I KNOW OF ANOTHER SUBURBAN (95) ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

THE BATTERY LEAKED/SPRAYED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE COMPONENTS OF THE SUBURBAN. THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REST OF THE COMPONENTS WERE JUST CLEANED OFF (THIS INCLUDED BRAKE HYDRAULIC CABLES AND LINES, BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONING HOSES, RADIATOR, ETC.). THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER SAID THEY DON'T COVER THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT IS NOT MADE BY THEM ALTHOUGHT I THINK THE COMPANY IS OWNED BY THEM. WE HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY AND PAY FOR ALL THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS OF THIS CORROSIVE ACID WILL BE. IT LEFT A HUGE ORANGE PUDDLE IN OUR GARAGE FLOOR WHICH WE CAN'T GET RID OF. WE TOOK VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, BATTERY AND GARAGE. THE CRACKED FRONT TRANSAXLE CASING WAS ONLY DIAGNOSED AFTER THEY HAD REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE FRONT AXLE TWICE SINCE IT WAS ALWAYS LEAKING FLUID. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD THE SEAL REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES BUT IT STILL LEAKS. THE FUEL PUMPED FAILED ON OUR CAR LEAVING US STRANDED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRUCK NEEDS TO KEEP A 1/4 TANK OF GAS AT ALL TIMES IN THE TANK SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NEVER REALLY WORKED WELL ON THIS MODEL, IT APPEARS THAT IT IS UNDERSIZED TO HANDLE THE THERMAL LOAD. WE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE SPOT WELDS ON THE DOOR JAMS FILED BECAUSE MANY SHARP BURRS EXISTED WHICH WERE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK