1994 Chevrolet Suburban problems
NHTSA has received 1,038 complaints about the 1994 Chevrolet Suburban, and 63% of them involve brakes. Next are wipers, windshield & visibility (17%) and seat belts (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,038 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 63% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 158 and 12
- Injuries and deaths
- 56 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 124,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 34 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 124,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 158 complaints mention a crash; 12 complaints mention a fire; 56 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1994 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Chevrolet Suburban with enough data (572 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Upon impact, during front crash at approx. 35MPH, 12:00 on front bumper shoulder/lap belt failed to retract, result driver hit steering column and windshield. Loss of unborn child. Tt when vehicle was purchased the seat belt would not retrac.
Experience intermittent brake failure, upon application of brake, they grab then release, result allowed to rear end another vehicle and driver miscarried child. Tt the seat belt failed to hold the driver in place during the accident.
Vehicle was parked with the ignition off. After approximately 10 minutes, a fire started in the area of the battery preceded by thick white smoke. The fire spread to the plastic wheelwell guard and right front tire about two minutes after the smoke was noticed. The front of the vehicle, dashboard, windshield, and front floor pan area was destroyed by fire.