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1996 GMC Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 172 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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

172 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD FAULTY TRAILER OUTLET REPACED IN NORWICH,NY,WHILE ENROUTE TO NJ. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN ROUTE 206 IN NJ MY BRAKES FOR THE TREAILER WOULD NOT WORK.THIS WAS ON A STEEP DOWNHILL. WAS ABLE TO STOP BY PULLING INTO AN ELKS CLUB PARKING LOT.MY TRAILER PLUG CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND WAS SHREDDED DO TO DRAGGING.AN ERLK MEMBER LET ME B…

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HAD FAULTY TRAILER OUTLET REPACED IN NORWICH,NY,WHILE ENROUTE TO NJ. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN ROUTE 206 IN NJ MY BRAKES FOR THE TREAILER WOULD NOT WORK.THIS WAS ON A STEEP DOWNHILL. WAS ABLE TO STOP BY PULLING INTO AN ELKS CLUB PARKING LOT.MY TRAILER PLUG CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET AND WAS SHREDDED DO TO DRAGGING.AN ERLK MEMBER LET ME BORROW HIS CABLE. THE BORROWED CABLE ALSO CAME OUT TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT CABLE ALSO WOULD NOT STAY IN THE OUTLET UNLESS I TAPPED IT. I REPOTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER, OLIVERS CAMPERS, NORWICH NY. THE RESPONSE THAT I RECIVED WAS I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING.THAT I SHOULD TIE THE PLUG IN WITH WIRE. I WAS NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO HAVE THE OUTLET LOOKED INTO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ROAD HAZZARD. IT MAY BE THE ONLY DEFECTIVE ONE BUT IF NOT HOW MANY DEFFECTIVE OUTLETS ARE THERE? I DO HAVE OTHER TRAILERS AND THEY SEEM TO LOCK OKAY. IT MAY BE THAT IT IS ONLY CERTAIN PLUGS.BUT I FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI #730106

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2000
Electrical SystemSeats

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #729971

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Tires

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE EXPLODED, AND RUBBER WAS FLYING ALL OVER ROAD. FIRESTONE BRIDGESTONE #AT. THERE WAS NO INJURIES, AND CONSUMER WILL CALL FIRESTONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869049

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Tires

THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE INVOLVED THE TREAD COMING COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE TO THE SUBURBAN (ABOUT $3000). WE WERE TOWING A 30' TRAILER WITH BOTH INSTANCE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WERE CHECKED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED A BUBBLE FORMING ON THE TIRE TREAD. THESE WERE THE OR…

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THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE INVOLVED THE TREAD COMING COMPLETELY OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE TO THE SUBURBAN (ABOUT $3000). WE WERE TOWING A 30' TRAILER WITH BOTH INSTANCE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WERE CHECKED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED A BUBBLE FORMING ON THE TIRE TREAD. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #729200

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Tires

TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED WITH NO WARNING. DID NOT BLOW OUT, JUST CAME APART.( DOT NUMBER: W211BAB445 TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )

NHTSA ODI #728795

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Electrical System

PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY WITH PREVIOUS OWNER. BATTERY LEAKING, ALTERNATOR WENT. RADIO WENT INYO ANTI-THEFT. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES (BATTERY LEAKING) & ALTENATOR 2 TIMES SINCE MAY. THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER ANTI-THEFT MODE WAS FIXED, ONLY CD WOULD WORK. CAR HAS JUST FIED AGAIN. SAW ARTICLE IN PAPER REFERR…

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PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY WITH PREVIOUS OWNER. BATTERY LEAKING, ALTERNATOR WENT. RADIO WENT INYO ANTI-THEFT. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES (BATTERY LEAKING) & ALTENATOR 2 TIMES SINCE MAY. THE RADIO HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER ANTI-THEFT MODE WAS FIXED, ONLY CD WOULD WORK. CAR HAS JUST FIED AGAIN. SAW ARTICLE IN PAPER REFERRING THIS PROBLEM BUT WHEN CHECKED WITH DEALER (RT 22-BRIDGEWATER) THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726846

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2000
Structure

DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND. *ET

NHTSA ODI #553161

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2000
Power Train

TRANSFER CASE SNAP RING FAILED SECOND TIME IN 89,000 MILES. MAKES GRINDING SOUND FROM STOP AS GEARS CLASH. CAN AVOID MAJOR DAMAGE IF ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. SNAP RING IS A $2 PART. LABOR IS ABOUT $150 TO REPLACE SNAP RING. $700 TO REPAIR TRANSFER CASE IF INTERNAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #725437

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2000
Visibility

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864739

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Electrical System

THE BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL, CAUSING VEHCILE NOT TO START. ENGINEER ANALYSIS# EA00013. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864223

Official recalls

3

03V159000 · 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.

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.

96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 4, 1996

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.

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

5

EA02006 · 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.

PE00017 · Headlight

Opened Apr 11, 2000 · Closed Sep 26, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, RESULTING IN THE UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE HIGH RATE OF WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR PROBLEMS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WITH THE RECOGNITION THE EACH INCIDENT OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE REPRESENTS A CONDITION OF VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER'S EVALUATION OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, AND THIS OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN THE DETAILS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT.

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

PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

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