1994 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
414 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
122,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 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 205 of 414 complaints (49.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 249 | 60.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 1.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.7% |
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 | 205 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 48 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 34 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 33 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 9 |
| Trailer Hitches | 7 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 205; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 48; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 34; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 33; Tires: 10; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 9; Trailer Hitches: 7; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6
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 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 382 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 | 163 |
| 1996 | 49 |
| 2000 | 83 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1995: 163; 1996: 49; 2000: 83; 2001: 48; 2002: 16; 2003: 25; 2004: 10; 2005: 9; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 249 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001875 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
NHTSA#8990-98-V-15-001:WINSHIELD WIPER WIRING. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005643 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
ABS FAILURE, WET WEATHER, TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN, TRAFFIC FLOW BEGAN THEN STOPPED FOR AMBULANCE ON CROSS STREET, BRAKES LOCKED, MY VEH. SLID FORWARD, CUT WHEELS AND RELEASED BRAKES TO MOVE INTO TURN ONLY LANE, CLIPPED CORNER BUMPER OF VEHICLE AHEAD, I AND MY TWO CHILDREN (5 & 8 YRS) IN BACK SEAT WEARING SEATBELTS, FORTUNATELY NO ONE INJURED, BRAKE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, THIS WAS THE FIRST COLLISION, MFR. DEFECT, DEALER SHOULD REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018450 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
MY 1994 SUBURBAN WAS SERVICED AT R & S CHEVROLET, JOPLIN MO UNDER G M CAMPAIGN # 99V025 FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH---THE SWITCH WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AT THE TIME OF SERVICE BUT IS NOW DISFUNCTIONAL AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022359 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
SEATBELT BECAME COMEPLETELY DISASEMBLED DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025489 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)
1994 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DRIVERS SEAT FAILED DUE TO CRACK IN FRAME STRUCTURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025524 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
DURING HEAVY RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED. WIPERS FROZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. DEALER REPAIR $124.24. VEHICLE NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA. VEHICLE # [XXX]. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID SORRY BUT NO REFUND. DUH! MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM ON YOUR WEB PAGE.PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU [XXX] *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 128,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025545 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPER PERFORMS ITERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL FOR LONG PERIODS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026103 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
GENERAL MOTORS UNWILLING TO HONOR WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS UNDER A SPECIAL POLICY AMENDMENT. TSB 00064 INCREASES COVERAGE FOR ELEVEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES FROM DATE OF SERVICE IN REGARDS TO MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC DIESEL FUEL INJECTION PUMP. THIS INCLUDES 1994 CHEVROLET SUBURBANS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026103 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V159000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V150001 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 1998-07-01 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V025000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 1999-02-05 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗