1994 Gmc SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002841 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK ALL OF THE TIME. I TOOK VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALER AND HE SAID MY SURBURBAN WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 126,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002841 at NHTSA ↗
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 10014276 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
THE WIPERS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE FAILED TO OPERATE 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. ALL THREE TIMES WERE DURING A STORM. TWO RAIN STORMS AND THIS LAST WAS A SNOW STORM. THE WIPER MOTOR MAKE AN ODD NOISE WHEN THEY STOP WORKING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019844 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK AT VARIOUS TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022204 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 66,911 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038246 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039930 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK CONSUMER WAS RETURNING HOME WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN. HE TURNED ON THE WIPERS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. HE TRIED A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER LOST VISION OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO PULL OVER. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040063 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WOULD STOP WORKING, BUT WIPER MOTOR WA STILL RUNNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040063 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 ↗