Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (1996)

370 consumer complaints on file.

#10148079January 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE BATTERY CABLES LEAK ACID, . WHEN THE BATTERY BECOMES CORRODED, THERE IS NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY CABLES ARE BAD, WHICH WE HAVE REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WE HAVE HAD THE BATTERIES (REPLACED MORE THAN ONE) CHECKED, AND THEY ARE FINE. WE HAVE HAD THE POSTS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE. THE LATEST, (IM STRANDED RIGHT NOW) SEEMS TO BE THE WORST YET. AT FIRST WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING, IT WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS APART, NOW ITS EVERY WEEK. ALSO WHEN IT STARTED THE CABLES WHERE REALLY CORRODED BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. NOW THEY CAN BE WIPED OFF WITH A DRY TOWEL. ALSO, THE A/C HAS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO CRACKS IN HOSES. (FROM THE ACID) BEING AS I LIVE IN TEXAS, EVEN IF THE TRUCK IS RUNNING I CANT DRIVE IT IN THE SUMMER, EVEN IF WE FIX THE HOSES IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER THE LAST TIME, THEY TOLD ME THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT I NEEDED TO SPEND 400.00 TO HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED AGAIN. HOW IS THIS PROBLEM REALLY CORRECTED. TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD SUBURBANS I HAVE FOUND THAT A NUMBER OF THEM HAVE HAD VEHICLE FIRES DUE TO THE ACID PROBLEM!!! HAVING CHILDREN IN THE CAR, IM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. (WHEN IT EVEN STARTS) I CANNOT SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE AND PUT THEM IN DANGER. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP A 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN THE TRUCK. WELL IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN AND I KEEP IT FULL! ALSO, SOMETHING TO DO W/ THE ABS BOOSTER BEING BAD. WELL MY BRAKES ARE FAILING AGAIN. (LESS THAN A YEAR LATER) THE PADS ARE FINE. THE ACID LEAKING HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO OUR DRIVEWAYS, NOT TO MENTION THE KIDS AND ANIMALS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETTING INTO THE ACID ON THE GROUND. PLEASE SEND ME ANY INFO THAT MIGHT HELP ME. IM AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND TALK TO THEM AGAIN ABOUT THE INFORMATION THE I HAVE FOUND, RE: IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143861November 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. FUEL PUMP FUSE BLOWN. REMOVED FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, FOUND WIRING BURNT/CHARRED INSIDE FUEL TANK. REPLACED ENTIRE SENDING UNIT. 30K MILES LATER, SAME MALFUNCTION. WIRING BURNT AT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130346July 27, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: 1996 GMC SUBURBAN , WHILE PULLING OUT FROM THE POST OFFICE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN. CONSUMER PUSHED DOWN VERY HARD, DID NOT PUMP THE BRAKES. FINALLY, THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL JERKED/ WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON . HEARD A REAL STRANGE NOISE, AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. THIS ONLY HAPPENED THIS TIME AND HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130223July 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, TIRES
1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, INTAKE MANIFOLD, ENGINE COOLING, TRANSMISSION, TIRES, FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL CONSUMPTION AND WIPERS.*MR CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DO ANYTHING BUT TAKE THE BATTERY CABLE OFF TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE BRAKES WERE NEVER LOOKED AT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126876June 29, 2005
POWER TRAIN
1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. *MR THERE WAS NO THIRD GEAR AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPAIRED AND 2 JOINTS WERE REPLACED IN THE FRONT SHAFT. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114481March 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE, HAD TO COAST TO OFF-RAMP. TRANSMISSION HAD TO TOTALLY REPLACE. PRE-ATURE WEAR, METAL FILLING WERE FOUND AND MISSING PART IN TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO TECHNICIAN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110330February 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES COMING TO A STOP, THE ABS STARTS ENGAGING MAKING THE VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE AND MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET VEHICLE STOPPED IN TIME BECAUSE OF THE ABS ENGAGING. THIS IS HAPPENING SPORADICALLY. AND HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OTHER SUBURBANS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107606January 20, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
DRIVING FROM WORK-SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR IN VEHICLE GOING FROM I-270S TO I-370W ~ 1/4 MILE FROM RAMP. TRAFFIC MODERATE. TRAVELING 45 MPH I TAPPED BRAKES, THEY WENT ALL WAY TO FLOOR. TURNED OFF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. USED ENGINE BRAKING SELECTING 3-2-1 TO SLOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE SLOWED, APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE - DROVE TO BRAKE DOWN LANE. VEHICLE STOPPED-WHITE SMOKE COMING AROUND EDGES OF HOOD. LOWER PORTION OF WINDSHIELD HAD COUPLE OF HEAT DISCOLORATION MARKS ABOUT 1/4 SIZE OF A PENNY IN THE MIDDLE LOWER PORTION. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DASH DID NOT FEEL HOT, NOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL - NO SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE. HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN BY HOOD RELEASE. POWER WINDOWS WORKED. EGRESSED VEHICLE AND DRIVER SDIE AIR BAG INFLATED. CALLED 911 AWAITED FIRE/POLCIE DEPT. OPENED DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER DOORS. FLAMES COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT ENTERS FIRE WALL. FLAMES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE FROM ENGINE NEAR SKID PLATE/TRANSFER CASE. USED SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON FLAMES IN CABIN AND UNDER VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FROM CENTER CONSOLE TO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MELTED AWAY AT ABOUT 45 DEG ANGLE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF CONSOLE. INSIDE ENGINE THE THYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT AND BARKE MASTER CYCLINDER HAD MELTED. SIGNIFICANT BURN DAMAGE FROM FIRE IN ENGINE. VEHICLE-TOTAL LOSS. VERY FORTUNATE TO RECOGNIZE BAD SMELL, ID BRAKE MALFUNCTION, USE ENGINE BRAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE; USE EMERGENCY BRAKING TO STOP - MODERATE TRAFFIC. MINIMIZED POTENTIAL HAZARD TO SINGLE VEHICLE-NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089083September 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
RECALL 03V159 000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL BACK IN 1999. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE WIPERS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES. *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10084038August 31, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FOUND INOPERATIVE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087151August 4, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK DECLINED BACKWARDS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE, AND VEHICLE SERVED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE OUT OF THE DITCH, AND DRIVE THE HOME. CONSUMER BACK, LOWER NECK AREA, AND CHEST WERE SORE. CURRENTLY VEHICLE PARKED IN CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074735June 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TWICE NOW FOR MY 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. BOTH TIMES IT HAS COST ME OVER $650.00. BOTH MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THEY SEE THESE AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK ON THE 5.7 ENGINES. THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY ACTUALLY LAUGHED WHEN I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS SET UP AS A RECALL ITEM FOR THIS ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074113May 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FAN SWITCH LOCATED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT CONTROLLED THE AIR VENTILATION MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS TWICE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A HIGH DEMAND PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072711May 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE OWNED 2 1996-1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND HAVE HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK ON BOTH AT ABOUT 85000 MILES. I DID A LITTLE LOCAL RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE VORTEC 5.7 ENGINE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AREA, THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THIS WAS MOST LIKELY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THEY GET THAT ALL THE TIME. TOAY, I NOTICED A COOLANT PUDDLE IN MY DRIVE WAY AND UPON LOOKING INTO IT, MY LATEST 1996 SUBURBAN WITH A VORTEC 5.7 IS LEAKING AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A COSTLY PROBLEM TO THE CONSUMER. IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $500.00 TO HAVE THIS DONE. I NOW MUST MAKE THE DECISSION TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE DEALER FOR $500 OR TO DO IT MYSELF FOR ABOUT $150.00 AND A DAY OF HEADACHES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068494May 8, 2004
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
ANTI LOCKS SYSTEM KICKS IN AT ALMOST EVERY STOP. STARTS TO VIBRATE AT 4 TO 5 MPH. AT DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE WE COULDN'T GET A READING PERIOD, IT WAS ON LIFT STANDING STILL. *AK ABS WAS READIND MOVING AT 3MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067839April 26, 2004
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DOT CCFJ VMP 2801 DELTA TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATING. RETAIL WILL NOT PRO-RATE P265 75R15. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062711March 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, SIDE MIRROR REMOTE CONTROL IN DRIVERS DOOR PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TORE OUT THE PANEL AND CUT THE WIRES TO REMOVE IT BEFORE THE TRUCK CAUGHT COMPLETELY ON FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054048January 14, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054059January 14, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047932November 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER/MECHANIC, AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BATTERY CABLES. THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED TWICE, BUT VEHICLE KEPT DOING THE SAME THING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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