BRAKE REAR AXLE SEALS FAILED.
1996 Chevrolet Suburban complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP AFTER REPAIRS MADE.
VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM NOTICEABLE VIBRATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. DEALER ALSO REPLACED FRONT/REAR ABS BRAKES/TIRES/DRIVESHAFT AND REAR AXLE. *AK
BRAKES: JULY 22, ON FREEWAY 66MPH TRAFFIC STOPPING, APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE CAME TO STOP BARELY ON SOME ONE'S BUMPER. OCTOBER 29, AT MCDONALD'S PULLED UP TO WINDOW , BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, SCRAPED SIDE OF WALL WITH FRONT GRILL GUARD. STOPPED PUT IN PARK, PUT PARKING BRAKES ON, GOT HOME/CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN, AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID REAR DRUMS WERE BROKEN. *AK
UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP ON WET PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR LESS ,THE ABS BRAKES WILL GRAB AND PULL AND LOCK UP IN WET CONDITIONS.THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THEREFORE, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBELM. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS IN THE FRONT. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE BRAKING, PROBLEM CAN BE HELPED BY TURNING OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING MOTOR. *SLC
ABS BRAKES, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS,THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKES AND TURNED ROTORS. *AK
THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR, AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. *AK
OWNER CLAIMS THAT SHE WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT FELL OFF COMPLETELY. *AK
THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP ON WET PAVEMENTS AND IN COLDER THAN NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SLIDE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED & THE BRAKES (ABS) ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD GO LEFT OR RIGHT. IF WEATHER IS WET/SLIPPERY, VEHICLE WOULD SPIN SIDEWAYS AFTER BRAKES APPLIED. TOOK TO DEALER & DEALER AGREED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH BRAKES.. *AK
UPON MAKING A GRADUAL OR SUDDEN STOP AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. ALSO,THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRACKING, CAUSING INCREASED AMOUNT OF STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, PUSHED BRAKES, WENT TO FLOOR . NO BRAKESAND LOST ALL STEERING. DEALER SAID HYDRAULIC UNIT WENT OUT WHICH CONTROLLED ABS AND POWER STEERING. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DRIVER EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDALTO FADE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES ABS KICKS IN BEFORE IT SHOULD AND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS MUSHY, DEALER REPLACED BOOSTER ASSEMBLY AND FOUND AIR IN SYSTEM ON ONE OCCASION CAUSING PEDAL TO BE HARD. WIPER BLADES REPLACED. *SLC
GRINDING NOISE DEVELOPS IN BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM. DEALER'S COMMENTS: SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED (TWO REPLACEMENTS). *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL OPERATION. OWNER HAS HAD BRAKE LINES/CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS PUT ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO COLLISION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STILL TRAVEL. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN TO COME TO A STOP. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD , THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STILL TRAVEL . CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE BURNING, AND PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP ON TIME, AND KEEPS ROLLING FOR A FEW MORE FEET. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE; TIRES COMPLETELY FLATTENED ( SIX MONTHS ; 4 SETS) DUE TO SYSTEM DESIGN. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
WIPER CONTROL UNIT FAILED.
IN LOW SPEEDS THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR , CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES; PEDAL FELT HARD; DID NOT GO TO FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT NOT FOR AWHILE. ITS A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF BRAKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 40 MPH CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, MAKE WOBBLING NOISE, WHOLE WHEEL CAME OFF, SHEARED AT THE PINS: LUGS: BOLTS HAD WEATHERED OUT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS FAULTY LUG BOLTS. REPLACED NEW AXLE/RIMS/TIRES,THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NON- COMPLETION OF STOP DUE TO PEDAL DRIFTING TO FLOOR. DRIVER WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN, RESULTING IN POOR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. THIS OCCURS MOSTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE ABS BRAKES WERE SUBJECTED TO AN INTERMITTENT BRAKING FAILURE. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP FOR AN EXTENDED DISTANCE. *AK
DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD MAKES POPPING SOUND.
INJECTOR PUMP FOR ENGINE FAILED.
RIGHT WINDOW SWITCH FAILED.
BRAKES AND MASTER CYLINDER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
REAR SEAT LATCH FAILED.
POWER WINDOW LOCK FAILED.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.
WHEN TRAVELING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, RESULTING IN BRAKES FADING AWAY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *JB
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OWNER NOTES THAT PADS/ROTORS/DRUMS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK *SLC
DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND COMING TO AN INTERSECTION, APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JUST WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. *AK *NLM
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE ROTORS REPLACED AT 40K MILES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A REST AGAINST A PARKING STUMP. THIS WAS DUE TO A COLLAPSED VACUUM IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS ALSO REPLACED ON 10/16/97, FOR THE SAME REASON WITH 28,000 MILES. *AK
PASSENGER'S FRONT/MIDDLE SEATS BELTS FAILED.
PROGRESSIVE BRAKE FAILURE OVER 10-15 MILES STRETCH IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, REPLACED.
HAVING BREAKING PROBLEMS THAT WERE BEING CAUSED BY INCORRECT CLEARANCE AT THE SPINDALS, SPINDALS CORRECTED.
SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED.
FUEL INJECTOR FAILED.
ENGINE FAN SWITCH FAILED.
MICHELIN (P235/75R15) TIRES BLOW OUT.
TRANSMISSION - TRANSFER CASE INDICATOR FAILED.
BRAKES FAILED.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban → · Every Suburban year → · How the figures are calculated →