RecallMyCar

1996 Chevrolet Suburban Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban, and owners have filed 360 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
360
owner complaints to NHTSA
20 / 12
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–14
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 03V159000 Reported 1,755,876 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

  2. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 98V150001 Reported 1,557,585 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.

  3. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 96V057000 Reported 379,004 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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."

    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.

360 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban have filed 360 complaints with NHTSA; 20 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 10 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 104,235 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 84 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 27, 2014 · Steering

“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 s”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 20, 2013 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban (Suburban 1500 2WD, Suburban 1500 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–14 mpg
City / Highway11–12 / 16–17
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine8 cyl, 5.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Chevrolet Suburban model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Suburban model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Chevrolet Suburban02
1978 Chevrolet Suburban03
1979 Chevrolet Suburban01
1981 Chevrolet Suburban11
1982 Chevrolet Suburban11
1983 Chevrolet Suburban03
1984 Chevrolet Suburban06
1985 Chevrolet Suburban09
1986 Chevrolet Suburban07
1987 Chevrolet Suburban018
1988 Chevrolet Suburban330
1989 Chevrolet Suburban362
1990 Chevrolet Suburban354
1991 Chevrolet Suburban352
1992 Chevrolet Suburban3189
1993 Chevrolet Suburban0499
1994 Chevrolet Suburban3858
1995 Chevrolet Suburban6457
1996 Chevrolet Suburban3360
1997 Chevrolet Suburban2414
1998 Chevrolet Suburban2201
1999 Chevrolet Suburban1634
2000 Chevrolet Suburban8282
2001 Chevrolet Suburban6440
2002 Chevrolet Suburban2286
2003 Chevrolet Suburban5301
2004 Chevrolet Suburban4204
2005 Chevrolet Suburban6129
2006 Chevrolet Suburban123
2007 Chevrolet Suburban4292
2008 Chevrolet Suburban4213
2009 Chevrolet Suburban5106
2010 Chevrolet Suburban3117
2011 Chevrolet Suburban3148
2012 Chevrolet Suburban4101
2013 Chevrolet Suburban4118
2014 Chevrolet Suburban359
2015 Chevrolet Suburban11429
2016 Chevrolet Suburban6220
2017 Chevrolet Suburban5141
2018 Chevrolet Suburban481
2019 Chevrolet Suburban378
2020 Chevrolet Suburban444
2021 Chevrolet Suburban12199
2022 Chevrolet Suburban4124
2023 Chevrolet Suburban3126
2024 Chevrolet Suburban142

Checking a specific 1996 Chevrolet Suburban

How do I know if my 1996 Chevrolet Suburban has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V159000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.