1996 Chevrolet Suburban Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Suburban years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 360 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban. That ranks 6th out of 30 Suburban model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (129 complaints, 36%), typically at around 174,116 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 12 fires, 14 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 360owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 20complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Chevrolet Suburban problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 129 | 36% | 174,116 | “stopping distance” (18%) | — |
| Electrical System | 47 | 13% | 125,567 | — | — |
| Visibility | 42 | 12% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 40 | 11% | 46,622 | — | — |
| Tires | 39 | 11% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 36 | 10% | 68,251 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 5% | 171,038 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 16 | 4% | 174,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 15 | 4% | 89,200 | — | — |
| Suspension | 10 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 9 | 3% | 104,982 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 2% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 240,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 185,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Chevrolet Suburban recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Risk: If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on june 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Risk: This condition can result in inoperative wipers, reducing a driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: These vehicles were assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat which could bind the throttle. This does not meet with the maximum return times required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: the engine speed may not return to idle increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for adequate throttle cable to dash mat clearance, and if there is insufficient clearance, cut out a portion of the dash mat to provide proper clearance.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Oem hitch receiver platform cracking (DP00001) — opened Jan 31, 2000, still open.
- Windshield wiper failure (EA02006) — opened May 31, 2002, closed Jul 23, 2003, led to recall 03V159000.
- Headlight (EA00024) — opened Sep 26, 2000, closed Dec 21, 2001.
- Battery leaks acid (EA00013) — opened May 2, 2000, closed Jun 28, 2002.
- Steering shaft separations (EA97007) — opened Apr 17, 1997, closed Mar 12, 1998.
- Steering shaft separations (PE96076) — opened Dec 18, 1996, closed Apr 17, 1997.
- Poor brake performance (EA95026) — opened Sep 20, 1995, closed Sep 20, 2001, led to recall 01I006000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
November 2010, i went to stop, the brake pedal went to the floor. I was able to stop using the parking brake, but was very close to rear-ending a carload of people. I had the truck towed to a repair shop. The mechanic told me that the front brake line had rusted out because it was mounted at the…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet suburban. The contact stated that while reversing from a driveway, the fuel pump over heated, melted, and destroyed the connectors. The vehicle was repaired by the contact and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000.
While driving through the neighborhood at 35 mph, the posted speed, we lost brake control of the vehicle when the service brake was applied approaching an intersection with a stop sign. We were unable to stop the vehicle which entered the intersection and passed all of the way through it. The brake…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet suburban. The contact was driving 55 mph when the transmission failed. The contact stated that the transmission would slip intermittently prior to the failure. The dealer advised that the transmission had failed and would need replacing. The vehicle was not…
Other Chevrolet Suburban years
← 1995 Suburban · 1997 Suburban →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 44 | 1 |
| 2023 Suburban | 130 | 3 |
| 2022 Suburban | 124 | 4 |
| 2021 Suburban | 200 | 12 |
| 2020 Suburban | 44 | 4 |
| 2019 Suburban | 78 | 3 |
| 2018 Suburban | 84 | 4 |
| 2017 Suburban | 141 | 5 |
| 2016 Suburban | 220 | 6 |
| 2015 Suburban | 430 | 11 |
| 2014 Suburban | 59 | 3 |
| 2013 Suburban | 118 | 4 |
| 2012 Suburban | 101 | 4 |
| 2011 Suburban | 148 | 3 |
| 2010 Suburban | 117 | 3 |
| 2009 Suburban | 106 | 5 |
| 2008 Suburban | 213 | 4 |
| 2007 Suburban | 292 | 4 |
| 2006 Suburban | 23 | 1 |
| 2005 Suburban | 129 | 6 |
| 2004 Suburban | 204 | 4 |
| 2003 Suburban | 301 | 5 |
| 2002 Suburban | 286 | 2 |
| 2001 Suburban | 440 | 6 |
| 2000 Suburban | 282 | 8 |
| 1999 Suburban | 634 | 1 |
| 1998 Suburban | 201 | 2 |
| 1997 Suburban | 414 | 2 |
| 1996 | 360 | 3 |
| 1995 Suburban | 457 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Suburban problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, visibility problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 129 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Suburban model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.