FaultScore

1994 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems

24 of the 1,038 complaints about the 1994 Chevrolet Suburban are about the electrical system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 220,820 miles.

B

24

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 6 25.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 5 20.8%
Module 4 16.7%
Electrical System 4 16.7%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 8.3%
Wiring 1 4.2%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 4.2%
Interior/Under Dash 1 4.2%

Electrical System across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1994 24 3.1%
1995 37 4.8%
1996 60 7.7%
1997 54 7.0%
1998 18 2.3%
1999 66 8.5%
2000 14 1.8%
2001 31 4.0%
2002 10 1.3%
2003 83 10.7%
2004 72 9.3%
2005 38 4.9%
2007 25 3.2%
2008 22 2.8%
2009 16 2.1%
2011 10 1.3%
2012 10 1.3%
2013 14 1.8%
2015 58 7.5%
2016 26 3.4%
2017 21 2.7%
2018 16 2.1%
2021 17 2.2%
2022 20 2.6%
2023 13 1.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 243,640 miles Midlothian, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, A FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY PRECEDED BY THICK WHITE SMOKE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC WHEELWELL GUARD AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER THE SMOKE WAS NOTICED. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DASHBOARD, WINDSHIELD, AND FRONT FLOOR PAN AREA WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10537114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 198,000 miles Clovis, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY THE NEIGHBOR'S DOGS WERE BARKING, SHE LOOKED OUT , AND THERE WERE SPARKS COMING OUT OF VEHICLE. SHE WOKE UP HER HUSBAND. HEARD A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, IT BURNED THE WHOLE MOTOR, MOST OF THE INSIDE, DASHBOARD. NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10142213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shipshewana, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK WIPERS FAILED AGAIN AND MECHANIC SHOWED CONSUMER HOW TO BANG ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN. FINALLY THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED REPLACING, THE BANGING STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #8004284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Simi Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

PROBLEM: BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR-NO PRESSURE, NO BRAKING. NEAR MISS COLLISIONS. MASTER CYLINDER, ABS COMPUTER, HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS REQURIED---THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFINATE BRAKE HISTORY PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, BASED ON INTERNET ARTICLES I'VE RESEARCHED I'M NOT ALONE. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN. WE'RE BASICALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.! WHEN THE BRAKES GO DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM---------EVEN THE GUY AT THE CAR WASH WAS SCARED!

NHTSA complaint #746579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liberty, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY LEAKS (POS) TERMINAL ONTO BRAKE LINES AND AIR CONDITION LINES ETC. REPLACED BATTERY, FLUSHED AREA WITH WATER, NOTICED RUST ON BRAKE LINES FITTINGS AND OTHER PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #9000236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP (POHANKA CHEVROLET IN VA) 25, YES, 25 TIMES SINCE 1994. I HAVE NOW JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE SECOND COMPUTER SYSTEM IN 2 YEARS. I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF THE NUMBER OF VISITS TO THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE EXPENSIVE COSTS I HAVE INCURRED. HAS THERE BEEN SIGNIFICNAT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WHAT RECALLS (OTHER THAN WINDSHIELD MOTOR AND ONE OTHER RECALL). MY MECHANIC FEELS THAT CHVROLOET MAY BE AWARE OF THE COMPUTER PROBLEMS IN THIS CAR BECASUE OF ITS URGENT REQUIREMENT TO SEND BACK THE COIL OF THE ORIGINAL.

NHTSA complaint #716667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP (POHANKA CHEVROLET IN VA) 25, YES, 25 TIMES SINCE 1994. I HAVE NOW JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE SECOND COMPUTER SYSTEM IN 2 YEARS. I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF THE NUMBER OF VISITS TO THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE EXPENSIVE COSTS I HAVE INCURRED. HAS THERE BEEN SIGNIFICNAT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WHAT RECALLS (OTHER THAN WINDSHIELD MOTOR AND ONE OTHER RECALL). MY MECHANIC FEELS THAT CHVROLOET MAY BE AWARE OF THE COMPUTER PROBLEMS IN THIS CAR BECASUE OF ITS URGENT REQUIREMENT TO SEND BACK THE COIL OF THE ORIGINAL.

NHTSA complaint #716667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Zeeland, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WHILE BRAKING THE ENGINE IRACES HIGH. THE RPMS ARE HIGH, AND THE FRONT WHEELS ARE SQUEALING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. OCCUPANT NEEDS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RPMS RETURN TO NORMAL. PREVIOUSLY, HAD A TON OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID IT MAY BE ELECTRICAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #851911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CLE Elum, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

PE94092, DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DIESEL OIL PUMP OR COMPUTER MODULE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE OPERATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

NHTSA complaint #845196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vancouver, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

CAR SHUTS DOWN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT SOMETIMES ON THE FREEWAY OTHER TIMES IN AN INTERSECTION 4 NEAR COLLISIONS MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR DEALERS DENY A PROBLEM INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME IT IS A DEFECT IN THE ECM AND PROM UNIT

NHTSA complaint #708415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fowlerville, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS SWITCH FAILED WHILE PARKED, THANK GOODNESS. A BURNING ODOR BECAME OVERWHELMING WHILE PUTTING ON SEATBELTS TO DRIVE AWAY. IT WAS NIGHT, SO I COULD NOT TELL FOR SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. MY NEXT INSTINCT WAS TO TURN THE CAR OFF IN HOPES OF PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DOME LIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT THE SWITCH, BEZEL AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WERE DESTROYED. I HAVE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES ON THIS VEHICLE FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ONE FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AND ONE FOR THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM IS SUSPECT IN THIS VEHICLE. WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES WE NOW HAVE THREE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY PER MY REPORT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES CAUSED BY THE SWITCH BURNING UP. HOWEVER, HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME THAT THE SWITCH MELTED, SHE VERY WELL MAY HAVE ENDED UP WITH A DASH BOARD FIRE ON THE ROAD WITH 5 CHILREN. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WITH OTHER SUBURBANS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. AS AN ENGINEER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, I KNOW DARN WELL THAT THET THERE IS NO SUCH THINK AS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE ON ANY TYPE OF FAILURE AND THIS VEHICLE IS PROVING TO BE A LOSER WHEN IT COMES TO WIRING AND SWITCHES. SORRY FOR BEING SO LONG WINDED. *99V025000.

NHTSA complaint #707099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO A EIGHT GAUGE WIRE OFF THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY HAD CORRODED INTO APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE BATTERY TERMINAL.

NHTSA complaint #511585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #530164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED DUE TO FAULTY BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #510281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #510281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DELCO BATTERY FAILED AT 22 MONTHS, DESPITE HAVING A 60 MONTH WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #516643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flagstaff, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #511337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Signal Mountain, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #803115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maimi, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE CUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TAKEN IN (3) TIME FOR REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #800304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethesda, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. LIMITING THE BRAKES AND, STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #801232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING, LOSING POWER. TT

NHTSA complaint #975966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING, LOSING POWER. TT

NHTSA complaint #975966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CAR WAS PARKED CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT IT WAS DETERMINED BY CHEVROLET THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SHORT BEHIND THE DASH AND CONSIDERED VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS, CHEVROLET IS REPLACING THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #973350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Marino, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

REPLACED DEAD BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #966770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Chevrolet Suburban problems

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