1996 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
178 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
93,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 178 complaints (11.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 45 | 25.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 18.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 6.2% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 5.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 18 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 17 |
| Tires | 16 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 18; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 17; Tires: 16; Tires:Tread/Belt: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 152 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 78 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 7; 2000: 78; 2001: 35; 2002: 17; 2003: 11; 2004: 11; 2005: 7; 2006: 5; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 10000818 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
1996 CHEVY SUBURBAN WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. OCCURED SUDDENLY IN A DOWNPOUR ON A MOUTAIN HIGHWAY, NEAR COLLISIONS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TRAFFIC AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. UPON HAVING THE MOTOR REPLACED, I FOUND THAT A RECALL WAS EFFECTED FOR THIS ISSUE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN. I WISH I HAD KNOW, I WOULD HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE ANYWAY. CONCERENED ABOUT THE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002238 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER INADVERTENTLY CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOW VISIBILITY. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008886 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014560 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE TURN SIGNAL DIDN'T SHUT OFF, IT MADE A CLICKING NOISE. *JB. THE SWITCH OPERATED, HOWEVER BLINKER INDICATOR DID NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF. PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020399 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020400 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. *JB THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND VIBRATED BADLY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND NOTHING APPEARED OUT OF ORDER AND AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF VIBRATING OR BOUNCING. THE DEALER FOUND THE TIRE TREAD PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS, THERE WAS NO LEAKAGE OF AIR, AND NO SPLITTING OF TREAD OR SIDEWALL. THE FIRESTONE DEALER SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. (MODEL TIRE/R4S II) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029318 · 2003-07-27 (July 27, 2003)
MY FAMILY AND I WERE NEARLY KILLED WHEN OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE ON OUR 1996 SUBURBAN LOST IT'S TREAD. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, AT, STEELTEX, 245/75R16. THE TIRE NEVER LOST PRESSURE THE TREAD CAME OFF AND CAUSE US TO GO OUT OF CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE WE NEARLY HIT A PICKUP TRUCK HEAD ON. FROM THE POINT WHERE THE TIRE LOST THE TREAD TO THE TIME THAT I AVOIDED HITTING THE ONCOMING TRUCK WE WERE IN A SKID WHICH WAS ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET WITH A CHORD LENGHT OF ABOUT 8'. SINCE I HAD OVERCOMPENSATED TO MISS THE ONCOMING TRUCK WE STARTED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032060 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER VEHICLE, LEAKING BETWEEN INTAKE MANIFOLD AND EXHULST. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,502 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032060 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 ↗96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1996-04-04 (April 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: 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.
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 ↗