RecallRepo

1996 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Chevrolet Suburban has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,692,465 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 531 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 03V159000 2003-04-28 1,755,876 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

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…

VISIBILITY 98V150001 1998-07-01 1,557,585 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 96V057000 1996-04-04 379,004 affected
Defect

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."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

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.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
90
7crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
25
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
25
TIRES
22
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
19
2fires9deaths
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
15
2crashes1injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
13
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
11
1crashes6injuries
Total complaints531

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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.”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2013-08-31

“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…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2011-09-10

“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…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2010-11-01

“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…”

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · reported 2010-08-20

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2009-06-09

“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet suburban. While driving 20 mph and attempting to stop the vehicle, the contact crashed into another vehicle. Both vehicles were damaged, but there were no injuries. A police report was filed. The mechanic stated that the abs sensors were corroded and advised…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · reported 2006-12-19

“1996 suburban caught on fire during transport due to a mechanical failure. *ts *nm”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2006-09-17

“From: david b parker comments: in a crash on 5/27/06 where another driver pulled out in front of me and I hit him at approximately 45 mph or slightly below the driver's side airbag in my 1996 chevy. Suburban 1500 lt. If this is a known problem, please add this to your database; if not you may want…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2006-05-27

Defect investigations

Investigation DP00001 Opened 2000-01-31 · open

OEM HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM CRACKING

THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT CRACKS IN THE HITCH RECEIVER PLATFORM MAY LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE TRAILER AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

Investigation EA00013 Opened 2000-05-02 · closed 2002-06-28

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA00024 Opened 2000-09-26 · closed 2001-12-21

HEADLIGHT

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…

Investigation EA95026 Opened 1995-09-20 · closed 2001-09-20

POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE

POOR PERFORMANCE OF ABS BRAKES

Investigation EA97007 Opened 1997-04-17 · closed 1998-03-12

STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONS

COUPLING BOLTS, JOINING THE STEERING SHAFT, MAY SEPARATE.IN SOME CASES, TOTAL UNFORESEEN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY RESULT.

Investigation PE96076 Opened 1996-12-18 · closed 1997-04-17

STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONS

BOLT IN THE COUPLING, JOINING THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE AND STEERING COLUMN SHAFTS, FALLS OUT.TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING OCCURS WHEN THE SHAFTS THEN SEPARATE.

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.