1994 Gmc SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
229 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
113,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 104 of 229 complaints (45.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 135 | 59.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 104 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 17 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 16 |
| Seats | 9 |
| Tires | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 7 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 104; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 17; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 16; Seats: 9; Tires: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 212 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 85 |
| 1996 | 35 |
| 2000 | 49 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
1995: 85; 1996: 35; 2000: 49; 2001: 26; 2002: 9; 2003: 8; 2004: 4; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2008: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 135 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006383 · 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)
I GOT INTO THE SUBURBAN TO GO TO THE STORE THIS MORNING, WHEN I SAT AND REACHED TO PLACE THE BELT INTO THE HOLDER, THE CHAIR ANCHOR SNAPPED AND I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WHENEVER STOPPING OR ACCELERATING. THIS PROBLEM LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE WHENEVER I NEED TO BRAKE FAST OR UPON MOVING AFTER BEING STOPPED AS THE SEAT ROCKS BACKWARDS. NOW I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AS TO RECALL WITH NO ASSIST. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A HAZARD IN THE SEAT ITSELF. THANK YOU. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045570 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
HAD FAILURE OF BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES AND FUEL DELIVERY LINES/SENDING UNIT DUE TO HEAVILY RUSTED/RUPTURED METAL LINES. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURES WERE OBSERVED IN MY DRIVEWAY, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TOWING TO THE LOCAL MECHANICS GARAGE.TOTAL COST OF REPAIR (ALL RUSTED LINES AND FUEL SENDING UNIT) AT LOCAL GARAGE WAS $875.00.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724356 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
APRIL 26, 1996 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY FAILED, WAS REPLACED AT SUPERIOR PONTIAC, SAN ANTONIO TEXAS WITH A AC DELCO PART 1981590. ON JULY 30,1997 THE ABS LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. RESULT OF "ACID FROM BATTERY LEAKED ONTO SPEED SENSOR, SHORTING IT OUT." HAD TO HAVE WIRING AND CONNECTORS, REPAIRS TO ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, CABLES AND PAINT REPLACED. I HAVE ALL DEALER PAPERWORK THAT SAYS ALL THIS IN PRINT. WAS WITTNESS TO PHONE CALL AT DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS SAME THING AHPPENING ON MINI VAN. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT AC DELCO HAS A BIG PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 746527 · 2001-06-06 (June 6, 2001)
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT A VEHICLE TRAVELING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TURNED IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY RELEASED AND I COASTED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I SWERVED TO MISS THE ONCOMING VEHICLE AND DID JUST MISS IT. SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN STEADY ON. I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE. A GENERAL MOTORS MECHANIC HAS PULLED THE CODES AND SAYS THAT THE ANT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 746527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724528 · 2000-06-25 (June 25, 2000)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREEZE UP AND STALL AFTER MOVEING ABOUT 1 INCH,IF I JIGGLE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH IN ABOUT 1 MINUTE IT SOMETIMES WIPES WINDOW 1 TIME AND THEN SHUTS OFF.THEN IT SEEMS TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE.I KNOW GMC HAD A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR.COULD THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAVE BEEN USED ON MY VEHICLE?MY VEHICLE WAS MADE ABOUT 4+MONTHS BEFORE THE AFFECTED RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757286 · 2002-01-24 (January 24, 2002)
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" FO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855598 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKES /STEERING AND HEADLIGHTS TO GO COMPLETLY OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855651 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DIESEL ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION PUMP. THIS CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITH THE SAME DESIGN PUMP EVERY 2 1/2 YEARS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130477 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)
DT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. CONTACTED GM, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130477 at NHTSA ↗