10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Sep 262000

Suburban 4WD

  • miles
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.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #5

Apr 041997

Suburban

  • miles
Front axle seals are leaking.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #4

Jul 271999

Suburban

  • miles
Major failures at 2 years A/C, batt, alternator, fuel pump & differential,

- Bellaire, TX, USA

problem #3

Jul 121999

(reported on)

Suburban 4WD

  • miles
Recently we had the vehicle serviced at a independant service (L&L automotive), in the past the vehicle has been serviced a Chevrolet dealership. L&L states on their invoice "found rear brake shoes did not match the drums, it appears that the incorrect rear differential was installed from the facotry, we put drums on that matched the rear shoes/axle". we have continually taken this vehicle to a authroized Chevy dealer because we had problems with brakes. Our invoices indicate that at 8947 miles on 7/26/96 we first complained, at 13,829 miles on 9/30/96 burt replaced front brakes (warranty), at 13,829 miles on 9/30/96 burt replaced front brakes, at 20,462 miles on 12/31/96 burt resurfaced rear brake drums (did not detect or tell us of any problems with the drums) and suggested the front brakes needed to be replaced again soon, at 21,575 miles burt replaced front brakes (we paid), at 30,799 miles on 5/29/97 burt replaced front brakes. This is just a sample and shows the problems we attempted to correct with the braking while the vehicle was under warranty. Chevrolet has denied us any responsibility because it is out of warranty, even if the vehicle was incorrect from the factory and even if their authorized dealer had 5 times to detect the problem while still under warranty. I feel that it is their responsibility and that the car is still unsafe. The drums/shoes/differential do not fit the vehicle that we bought. An increase safety problem is we have 2 disabled children, one is classified through the school district as "traumatic brain injury" (unrelated to an auto. Accident). We must have a vehicle that has the strength the carry and stop this 3/4 ton vehicle, which for 82,000 miles has been stopping mainly by front braking. I had to apolized to my wife for the last 3 years on blaming her driving on the brakes! since putting smaller drums to fit the shoes, I do not feel safe in driving this vehicle with my family and especialy pulling our boat or horse trailer.

- Louviers, CO, USA

problem #2

May 061997

Suburban 4WD

  • miles
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.

- Andrews, NC, USA

problem #1

Oct 291997

Suburban

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Tulsa, OK, USA