15 of the
531 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban are about the
steering — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
89,200 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND BLOWING THE TRAILER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HARNESS WAS UNDERSIDE CAUSING ONE OF THE WIRES TO BURN OUT. AS A RESULT, THE WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 08/11/2014
NHTSA complaint #10606400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,049 milesMelrose, MA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FOUND INOPERATIVE. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10084038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,200 milesPort Charlotte, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10054048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,200 milesPort Charlotte, FL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10054059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson, MI
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN.
NHTSA complaint #10020399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford, MA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8003060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN 1996, LS 1500, 4 X 4 I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 2YRS, I HAD TO PUT ON 5 SETS OF BRAKES, 2 SETS OF ROTORS, DRUMS, STEER KNUCKLES, ALTERNATOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, BATTERY, DIFFERENTIAL/AXLES REPLACED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS FOWL SMELL AND THE BACK PASSAGER DOOR STICKS AND WON'T OPEN MOST OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT IT AS A LEASE RETURN WITH 34,900 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHY THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD. I ONLY DRIVE THIS SUBURBAN IN EMERGENCY.
NHTSA complaint #733543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES; 2 SETS OF ROTORS & REPLACED DRUMS 1 TIME. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS HEAVY, AND IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH BRAKES. THEY HAVE TRIED TO PUT DIFFERENT PADS ON, BUT NOTHING WORKED.*AK PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHILE TURNING. WIPERS MALFUNCTION DUE TO WIPER MODULE FAILURE. THERE IS A WHINE IN THE FRONT PART OF THE ENGINE DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #872388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mapleton, UT
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
EA 97 007/STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION: WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HAS DISCONNECTED FROM SHAFT JOINT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FASTNER FOR STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MECHANISM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PREMATURE FAILURE AND SHOULD FIX IT BEFORE SOME ONE IS HURT.
NHTSA complaint #867078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antonio, TX
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
RIGHT REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT WASN'T IN PLACE, FELL OUT. ALSO, STEERING LINKAGE: IDLER ARM CAME APART, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #841185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eustace, TXFire
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #835029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lajolla, CA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
LOW FLUID LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER COLD STARTED, REPLACE PUMP IN COOLING SYSTEM ALONG WITH LEAKING FITTINGS.
NHTSA complaint #522380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport Beach, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WIRING BUNDLE IN STEERING WHEEL HOUSING PINCHES WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN A PARTICULAR POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #603035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Victoria, TX
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING ROD DISASSEMBLED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #804095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Luis P, 00
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
FASTENER BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND STEERING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.