14 of the
531 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban are about the
equipment — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
104,981 miles.
A
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
AIR Conditioner
642.9%
Trailer Hitches
535.7%
Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
17.1%
Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
17.1%
Wrecker AND Wheel Lift Devices
17.1%
Equipment & Accessories across every Chevrolet Suburban year
DRIVING FROM WORK-SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR IN VEHICLE GOING FROM I-270S TO I-370W ~ 1/4 MILE FROM RAMP. TRAFFIC MODERATE. TRAVELING 45 MPH I TAPPED BRAKES, THEY WENT ALL WAY TO FLOOR. TURNED OFF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. USED ENGINE BRAKING SELECTING 3-2-1 TO SLOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE SLOWED, APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE - DROVE TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. VEHICLE STOPPED-WHITE SMOKE COMING AROUND EDGES OF HOOD. LOWER PORTION OF WINDSHIELD HAD COUPLE OF HEAT DISCOLORATION MARKS ABOUT 1/4 SIZE OF A PENNY IN THE MIDDLE LOWER PORTION. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DASH DID NOT FEEL HOT, NOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL - NO SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE. HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN BY HOOD RELEASE. POWER WINDOWS WORKED. EGRESSED VEHICLE AND DRIVER SDIE AIR BAG INFLATED. CALLED 911 AWAITED FIRE/POLCIE DEPT. OPENED DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER DOORS. FLAMES COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT ENTERS FIRE WALL. FLAMES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE FROM ENGINE NEAR SKID PLATE/TRANSFER CASE. USED SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON FLAMES IN CABIN AND UNDER VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FROM CENTER CONSOLE TO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MELTED AWAY AT ABOUT 45 DEG ANGLE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF CONSOLE. INSIDE ENGINE THE THYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT AND BARKE MASTER CYCLINDER HAD MELTED. SIGNIFICANT BURN DAMAGE FROM FIRE IN ENGINE. VEHICLE-TOTAL LOSS. VERY FORTUNATE TO RECOGNIZE BAD SMELL, ID BRAKE MALFUNCTION, USE ENGINE BRAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE; USE EMERGENCY BRAKING TO STOP - MODERATE TRAFFIC. MINIMIZED POTENTIAL HAZARD TO SINGLE VEHICLE-NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES.
NHTSA complaint #10107606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,963 milesSAN Clemente, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
LATENT DEFECTS AND THE GMC SUBURBAN.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FRONT OUTPUT SHAFT SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AC HEATER KNOB HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THEY FAIL TO FIX PROBLEMS AND HE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY IN HELPING TO RESOLVE MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10042136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pharr, TX
TRAILER HITCHES
CONSUMER STATES PLATFORM HITCH WAS INSPECTED BY DOT PERSONNEL AND FOUND CRACKS, CONSUMER USES VEHICLE TO PULL A 2OOO 34 FOOT AIRSTREAM.
NHTSA complaint #561924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edmonds, WA
TRAILER HITCHES
WHILE PULLING TRAILER AT LOW SPEED AND TURNING RIGHT THE METAL ON THE HITCH TORE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING THE TRAILER HITCH TO GO UNDER THE CAR AND NEARLY PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK, THE HITCH WAS INSTALL BY THE MANUFACTURER AND DID NOT BREAK AT BOLT ATTACHMENT OR WELD. NLM
NHTSA complaint #561468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1) MAJOR COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE/CYL HEAD GASKET (LEFT REAR OF MOTOR) (2) ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATES TC 1870 CODE PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY (3)WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITENTLY SAFETY HAZARD (4) A/C DASH LIGHTS CYCLE ON AND OFF WHEN A/C BUTTON IS PUSHED ON BUT FAN MOTOR IS SHUT OFF. ALL PROBLEMS ARE "COMMON" PER DEALERSHIP SERVICE WRITER
NHTSA complaint #747054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westchester, OH
TRAILER HITCHES
TRAILER HITCH PLATFORM WELD JOINT FAILURE DUE TO STRESS ON THE HITCH, CAUSING CRACKING HITCH FLANGES, AT STRESS POINTS. THE METAL FATIGUE (CRACKS) HAVE REDUCED THE HITCH TOWING CAPACITY BY 50 PERCENT. WHERE IN CONTINOUS USE OF THE HITCH CAN CAUSE COMPLETE FAILURE, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS.
NHTSA complaint #561734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
State College, PA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
REAR AIR-CONDITIONER LINES HAVE LEAKED AT THE REAR EVAPORATOR.
NHTSA complaint #744828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Paso, TX
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES
TRAILER TOWING PLATFORM HAS A 1 INCH CRACK IN THE REAR.
NHTSA complaint #560634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longwood, FL
TRAILER HITCHES
THE HITCH RECEIVER EXPERIENCED WELD PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED CRACKS IN THE METAL ATTACHMENT PLATE. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellaire, TX
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MAJOR FAILURES AT 2 YEARS A/C, BATT, ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP & DIFFERENTIAL,
NHTSA complaint #712000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sandia, TX
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST HERE ON YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY SERVICE OR HELP TO US. WE HAVE OBTAINED AN ATTORNEY AND WE WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT YOUR SERVICE AND TRY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. IF YOU CAN BE OF ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #706747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.