1994 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

THE BRAKES ARE GENERALLY DEFECTTIVE. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE NOT PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. ON ONE OCCASION, I NEARLY LOST CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. ON ANOTHER, ON A WET STREET AT LOW SPEED, I PARTIALLY ENTERED AN INTERSECTION THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD KEEP RELEASING. WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCIDENT NOTED ABOVE, I WAS ON A FREEWAY ACCESS ROAD GOING ABOUT 45MPH WHEN TRAFFIC UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A HALT, AND I, ALONG WITH MOST OF THE OTHER DRIVERS, HAD TO JUMP ON THE BRAKES HARD. I WAS BRAKING WELL AND STOPPING SHORT OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE INCREASED TO THE POINT OF ENGAGING THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM, THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RELEASED CAUSING ME TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH MANY CARS WERE SCRAMBLING TO STOP, MINE WAS THE ONLY ACCIDENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND I CONSIDER MYSELF A GOOD AND SAFE DRIVER. I DID NOT RELEASE THE BRAKES--I KNOW HOW ANTI-LOCKS WORK AND I KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. MY OTHER CAR HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, SO I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THAT WORK WELL. I RAISED HELL AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THEIR HEAD BRAKE GURU TEST THE BRAKES. THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE FINE AND WORKING PROPERLY. THEY ARE WRONG. I RECENTLY READ THAT THE NTSB HAS AN OPEN LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION INTO THESE BRAKES, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD PUT IN MY TWO CENTS TO HELP YOU. I BOUGHT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING FAILURE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP DURING PERFORMANCE, AND SOMETIMES DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK

I HAVE HAD SIMILAR INSTANCES IN THE PAST, WITHOUT AN INCIDENT OCCURING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INSUFFICIENT BRAKE POWER TO STOP THE VEHICLE ADEQUATELY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IN AN EMERGENCY CONDITION, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, BUT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS VERY LONG. THIS ABS REACTS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER I HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE STOPPING POWER IS ACTUALLY VERY DIMINISHED WITH THE ABS ACTIVATED THAN WHEN IT IS NOT ACTIVATED. ONCE THE ABS COMES INTO PLAY, THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT SPEEDS UP. I REALIZE THAT THE ABS IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE WHEELS FROM LOCKING UP AND THAT ONE SHOULD HOLD A CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL RATHER THAN PUMPING THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, IN DRY CONDITIONS, I CAN STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKER AND IN A SHORTER DISTANCE IF I DO NOT ALLOW THE TO ABS ACTIVATE. OF COURSE ONE DOES NOT HAVE THAT CHOICE IN A PANIC STOP SITUATION. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE SYSTEMS ENGINEERED INTO THE VEHICLE. I RECENTLY READ THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON THE 2000 SUBURBAN AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT GM DID NOT PROVIDE THE SAME 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKE SYSTEM INTRODUCED IN THE '99 PICK UP MODELS. THE ACCIDENT I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE BRAKING SYSTEM OPERATED AS IT SHOULD HAVE.

BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKS UP UNDER SLIPPERY OR WET CONDITIONS UPON TAPPING THE PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT APPROX. 30 MPH AND WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL HARD AND VEHICLE CONTINUED ON. THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA GIVE FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

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#. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, ABS SYSTEM IS KICKING IN AND NOT STOPPING VEHICLE.CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP. *AK

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DEALER ADVISED THAT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURERED AT THE JAINSVILLE WI PLANT, BUT THAT IT WAS MADE 100,000 CARS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL BEGAN. I HAVE TRIED IN THE SPRING TO GET MY WIPERS REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION THAT WHAT ISN'T BROKEN CAN'T BE FIXED (THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING OR CONSISTENCY). THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THIS UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL AS THEY WON'T BE REIMBURSED FOR WORK DONE. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME AND I AM SURE THAT OTHER SUBURBAN OWNER ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW TO PROCEED. THANK YOU.

WHILE USING WINDSHEILD WIPERS THAY WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE USING WINDSHIELILD WIPERS THEY WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED FOR EMERGENCY STOP

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE ABS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, A WHIRRING SOUND ACCOMPANIED THE LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH LED TO AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES VIBRATED AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING DURING RAINY WEATHER. NLM

ABS BRAKES AND PADS FAILED. NLM

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ISN'T WORKING ,AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

THE BRAKES HAVE "LOCKED UP" NUMEROUS TIMES PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STOPPING WHEN TRAVELING AT RATES OF SPEED LESS THAN 15 MPH. SCARY!! 5 CHILDREN AND THIS NEEDS CORRECTING!!!

I TURNED WIPERS AND WASHERS ON AND THEY STOPPED WORKING I TURNED THEM OFF AND BACK ON AND THEY WORKED. AT TIMES THEY WOULD WORK AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD NOT.

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS GET STUCK AND WON'T RETRACT WHILE PERSON SITTING IN THEM

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME, THEN DIES, AND WILL NOT RESTART. DEALER CONTACTED, AND REPAIRWORK DONE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DUE TO A FAULTY LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

ANTI LOCK BRAKES PERFORM POORLY, VEHICLE HAS RUN INTO DITCH ON TWO OCCASIONS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SEAT BELT HARNESS WORE OUT.THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IN THE FRONT SEAT ON BOTH SIDES DOESN'T RETRACT. THE SHOULDER HARNESS IS LOOSE. *AK

OCCASIONALY WHEN COMING TO A STOP DURING A CONTACT WITH WET ROADWAY THE ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE ENGAGING IN A MANNER THAT IS ERRATIC AND DRAMATIC. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, JUST AS TOTAL STOPPING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR A VIOLENT PULSING OF THE BRAKES OCCURS SUCH THAT THE FEELING OF BEING REAR-ENDED TAKES PLACE. THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 5 BRAKING INCINDENTS IN A ROW AND THEN ABRUBTLY STOP. BY THE TIME I GET TO A DEALER THE SITUATION IS UNDUPLICATABLE. I HAVE READ ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH OTHER ABS SYSTEMS ON THE CHEVY LINE OF SUV'S AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SIMILAR TO THOSE COMPLAINTS. IT IS ALWAYS WET ROADWAY WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A COLD VEHICLE (AS IN FIRST USE OF THE DAY). IT TRULY FEELS LIKE SOMEONE JUST HIT YOU FROM BEHIND IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE LURCHES AS IT COMES TO A FULL STOP AT LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. ALSO TENDS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN BRAKING FROM SLOW, 40 MPH OR LESS, SPEEDS.

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMATIC ANTI-SKID SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD DOZENS OF NEAR ACCIDENTS AND ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO VEER INTO SHOULDERS AND DITCHES TO PREVENT DISASTER. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND WANT TO GET RID OF IT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS, BUT CONTINUOUSLY CHARGES US TO 'ADJUST' OR REPLACE THE BRAKES AND SAYS THIS PROBLEM IS NORMAL.

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 6-16-99. SHE WAS GOING APROX. 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER WAS APPROX. 20 FT IN FRONT OF HER. SHE FELT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT BEGIN TO SLOW IN TIME. OUR VEHICLE (SUBURBAN) SUSTAINED $8,000+ IN DAMAGES THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A THIRD VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER AND WAS DRIVEN FROM SCENE. WE FEEL THAT ABS FAILURE COULD BE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR BUT DON'T HAVE MECHANICAL CONFIRMATION.

THE ABS BRAKES SYSTEM ON THE 1994 SUBURBAN WAS UNRELIABLE SINCE THE FIRST MONTH AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE. A TYPICAL SCENARIO IS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR STOPLIGHT. THE BRAKES OCCASSIONALLY START PULSING, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL AN EXTRA DISTANCE BEFORE STOPPING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR MISSES WHERE WE ALMOST REAR-ENDED OTHER VEHICLES AND ON OTHER OCCASSIONS CAME TO A STOP IN THE INTERSECTION. ALSO, RAILROAD TRACKS ARE PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS WITH THE SUBURBAN ABS.

THESE BRAKES DO NOT ACT PROPERLY - WHEN TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY THE BRAKES SHUDDER WHEN APPLIED AND THEY OFTEN LOCK AND MAKE A YAWNING SOUND.

ABS SYSTEM ISNT WORKING, AND SOMETIMES THE ABS SYSTEM WILL WORK. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS "LOCKED UP" REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASE (ON AVERAGE, APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS). WE'VE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM. "LOCK-UP" OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN, DURING LIGHT BRAKING, THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A BUMP (E.G., ROUGH PAVEMENT, MANHOLE COVER). "LOCK-UP" ALSO HAS OCCURRED DURING MEDIUM TO HEAVY BRAKING ON WET/SLIPPERY SURFACES. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO "THINK" THAT THE WHEEL IS SLIPPING AND, INSTEAD OF PULSING, JUST STOPS RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR AS MUCH AS 2-3 SECONDS. I READ THAT THE SMALL GM SUV'S ARE BEING RECALLED FOR SIMILAR-SOUNDING PROBLEMS, BUT WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL UNDERWAY FOR SUBURBANS AND FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS.

BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON OUR 1994 SURBURBAN. THE SITUATION HAS OCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT AND I BELIEVE CAN NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO EITHER OF US APPLYING THE BRAKES TO HARD OR "PUMPING" THE BRAKES. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKES LOCK AND THEN RELEASE. THE RELEASE (OR FAILURE)OF THE BRAKES EXTENDS THE STOPPING DISTANCE. IN ADDITION I HAVE NOTICED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING WHEN THIS OCCURS. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT BECAUSE OF THE RECENT PUBLICITY REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND THE CONTINUED INVESTIGATION OF SURBURBANS

IN REGULAR BRAKING VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, DURING A PANIC STOP BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALE R REPLACED PARTS IN BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EA 95-023; WHEN TRAVELING AND UNDER ANY NORMAL STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

.BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. NO RESISTANCE FROM BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRIED TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT.--- WIPER WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON AND SOMETIME WOULD OT START, DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS ON A G.M. RECALL LIST FOR 1994 SUBURBANS BUT OUR UNIT VIN NO WAS NOT INCLUDED, I CONTACTED G.M. ON THE PHONE AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR, I PURCHASE THE REPLACEPENT BOARD FROM THE DEALER AND THE WIPER WORKS OK, I BELEIVE G.M. OWES ME FOR THE REPAIR.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS ON CHEVY SURBURBANS. THIS INCIDENT RESULTED IN A CRASH ON A SUNNY DAY WITH DRIVE PAVEMENT. THE ABS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I HAVE RUN INTO THIS INSTANCE 3 PREVIOUS TIMES WHERE "STANDING" ON THE BRAKES DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. YET IF I RELEASE THE ABS BRAKES AND RE-APPLY, THE VEHICLE WILL USUALLY STOP. GIVEN THE CURRENT RECALL ON CHEVY ABS PRODUCTS FROM THIS TIMEFRAME, I WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH ABS ON MY SUBURBAN.

WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATON. *AK

HERE IS AN EXCERP OF THE LETTER I GAVE MY DEALERSHIP REGARDING ABS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS ON 2 OCT 1995. DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. ON 27 SEPTEMBER, WHILE I WAS BRAKING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY SUBURBAN HIT A BUMP. THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY "CHANGED". INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL STOPPING, IT FELT LIKE THE ABS "KICKED IN" AND I COULD FEEL THE HEAR AND FEEL THE CHARACTERISTIC PEDAL VIBRATION. WORST OF ALL, MOST OF THE BRAKING FORCE WAS GONE. THE ABS SHOULD NOT HAVE KICKED IN SINCE THIS WAS NOT A PANIC STOP OR A WHEEL LOCK UP SITUATION. I KEPT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND WITHIN ONE OR TWO SECONDS THE ABS TURNED OFF AND NORMAL BRAKING RESUMED.. I KNOW WHAT NORMAL ABS FUNCTIONING FEELS LIKE SINCE I HAVE TESTED THEM UNDER A CONTROLLED PANIC STOP SITUATION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ME UNDER A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION. I DISMISSED THE FIRST EVENT AS A FREAK OCCURRENCE UNTIL MY WIFE REAR ENDED A TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER ON 21 SEPTEMBER, WHILE IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC. SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT COULD NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES-ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO OUR SUBURBAN AND THE TRUCK. THIS CONDITION MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT ACCIDENT. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME, WHERE IT IS BOLTED TO THE SEAT TRACK, FRACTURED AND BROKE LOOSE AT THE LEFT FRONT BOLT. THE FRAME SHEARED OFF IN A JAGGED PIECE, LEAVING THE BOLT AND NUT ATTACHED TO THE TRACK AND ALLOWING THE SEAT TO SUDDENLY TILT BACKWARDS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

WHILE BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS, BRAKES WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE. BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, MEANING PEDAL WILL HIT FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SLOWING DOWN. ABS BRAKES MAY TAKE OVER AT ANY TIME, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS OR SPEED. *AK

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THESE ISSUES REPAIRED AND HAVE SENT LETTERS, BUT THE CHEY DEALERS WILL NOT GET INVOLVED, NOR WILL THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AGREE TO RESEARCH IT ANY FARTHER. I HAVE SPENT OVER $500.00 IN FRONT END PARTS, EXHAUST PARTS AND IT IS STILL THERE. I HAVE OWNED 3 OTHER SUBURBANS AND THIS IS THE WORST DRIVING ONE I HAVE EVER HAD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS TO GET THIS CAR TO SAFELY GO DOWN THE ROAD? IT WANDERS ALL OVER AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON A WINDY DAY.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

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

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SAME COMPONENT FAILURE (WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE) AS OTHER RECALLED VEHICLE'S, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED SERVICE DUE TO VIN #. MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY ,CAUSING A LOSS OF VISIBILITY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT. RECALL 98V150-001. *AK

POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AT THE INTERSECTION.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, RECALL HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #. (98V-150) MJS