IllustrationTWO DRIVER'S SEATS SEPARATED FROM FRAME. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
1994 GMC Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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: 17 of 411 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 270 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
64 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
411 reportsSEAT FRAME BECAME DETACHED FROM FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED PROBLEM WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT WIPER MOTOR STALLED DURING RAINSTORM, TRAVELLING 55MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. WIPER AND WIPER FLUID MOTOR QUIT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IN OPERATION OR WHILE STOPPED. SOMETIMES A BUZZING SOUND OCCURS WITH THE FAILURE. I DISCOVERED THAT I CAN TAP THE WIPER MOTOR MODULE AND THE WIPER MOTOR MAY BEGIN AGAIN, BUT ITS WORK WILL BE SHORT…
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FRONT WIPER MOTOR STALLED DURING RAINSTORM, TRAVELLING 55MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. WIPER AND WIPER FLUID MOTOR QUIT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE IN OPERATION OR WHILE STOPPED. SOMETIMES A BUZZING SOUND OCCURS WITH THE FAILURE. I DISCOVERED THAT I CAN TAP THE WIPER MOTOR MODULE AND THE WIPER MOTOR MAY BEGIN AGAIN, BUT ITS WORK WILL BE SHORTLIVED. ANOTHER PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS A MELTDOWN AND SMALL FIRE UNDER THE DRIVERSIDE DASH. THE ROCKER SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE DOME LIGHT HAS AN "AUTO" AND AN "OFF" POSITION. WHILE IN "AUTO" FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR WITH THE DOORS OPEN, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH AND THE ROCKER SWITCH HAD MELTED DOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDING UP IN THE CONTACT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH WHO COMMENTED THAT THESE SWITCHES WERE A PROBLEM.*AK
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1994 GMC SUBURBAN PERFORM VERY POORLY ON WET PAVEMENT. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED GREATLY AND HAS LED TO ONE ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER TIMES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES HAS LED TO NEAR ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE VERY CAUTIOUSLY IN WET WEATHER. THE ACCIDENT WAS ON WET PAV…
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THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1994 GMC SUBURBAN PERFORM VERY POORLY ON WET PAVEMENT. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED GREATLY AND HAS LED TO ONE ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER TIMES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES HAS LED TO NEAR ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE VERY CAUTIOUSLY IN WET WEATHER. THE ACCIDENT WAS ON WET PAVEMENT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE AND THEN WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR, YET THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH THE BRAKES HAD RELEASED. BRAKING ACTION WAS ALMOST GONE CAUSING US TO SLIDE INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER UNIT. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO STOP HAD THE BRAKES NOT RELEASE THE BRAKING ACTION.
LEFT REAR TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.AFTER STOPPING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TIRE TEMPATURE WAS 150DEGREES (COMPARED TO 130DEGREES ON THE 3 REMAINING TIRES), AND THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD 50LBS OF AIR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY PASSENGERS, BUT THE TIRE T…
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LEFT REAR TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.AFTER STOPPING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TIRE TEMPATURE WAS 150DEGREES (COMPARED TO 130DEGREES ON THE 3 REMAINING TIRES), AND THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD 50LBS OF AIR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY PASSENGERS, BUT THE TIRE TREAD CAUSED $4,206 IN DAMAGE TO THE MIDDLE AND REAR PANELS OF THE SUBURBAN. *AK (TIRESIZE: 950R165LT)
LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.AFTER STOPPING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TIRE TEMPATURE WAS 150DEGREES (COMPARED TO 130DEGREES ON THE 3 REMAINING TIRES), AND THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD 50LBS OF AIR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY PASSENGERS, BUT THE TIRE T…
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LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.AFTER STOPPING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TIRE TEMPATURE WAS 150DEGREES (COMPARED TO 130DEGREES ON THE 3 REMAINING TIRES), AND THE TIRE CONTINUED TO HOLD 50LBS OF AIR. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY PASSENGERS, BUT THE TIRE TREAD CAUSED $4,206 IN DAMAGE TO THE MIDDLE AND REAR PANELS OF THE SUBURBAN.*AK (TIRESIZE: 950R165LT)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. IT WILL WORK ONE TIME THEN STOP OR MAY NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE 2 GMC VEHICLES (ONE 1992 1/2T SERRIA AND ONE 1994 SUBURBAN) AND 2 CHEVROLET VEHICLES (ONE 1994 S10 PU AND ONE 1997 S10 BLAZER) THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *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
3EA02006 · 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
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