1992 Chevrolet Suburban Brakes Problems

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON WET SURFACE THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10002430

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED (85000 MLS)IT HAD A BAD FRONT END IDLER LINK AND A BAD A/C CLUTCH BEARING. NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE LIKE THEY SHOULD AND I WAS SCARED TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE SPONGY BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT SHOPS AND ALSO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKES AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS MODEL WERE JUST THAT WAY. I PUT NEW ROTORS AND PADS ON THE FRONT AND NEW REAR DRUMS AND SHOES AND REPEATEDLY BLED THE SYSTEM WITH SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. IT ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS A RESTRICTION IN THE BRAKE LINE TO BOTH FRONT AND REAR. IT ACTS AS THOUGH THEY DESIGNED THE THING NOT TO STOP QUICKLY. I UNPLUGGED THE MOTOR TO THE ABS SO THAT AT LEAST IT WOULD SQUEAL A TIRE. THE LACK OF SURE LOW SPEED STOPS HAS CAUSED 2 NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS AND 1 T BONE WHICH HAS RAISED OUR INSURANCE RATES. I HAVE LEARNED TO DRIVE THE THING ANTICIPATING STOPS AND PREBRAKING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND JUST LIKE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD THAT SHORTED OUT WHEN IT GETS WET THEY TOLD ME THAT FOR MY SPECIFIC MODEL THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY LAST WEEK THEY SENT US A MAILER SAYING THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE MY BRAKE PEDAL WITH A DIFFERENT ONE TO GIVE ME A "BETTER FEEL". THAT WON'T DO ME MUCH GOOD IF I'M STUCK UNDER A BUS!!!!! I HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH HAS SUBSTANDARD BRAKES, WHICH WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND THEY WON'T DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT THEM. I LIKE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE TRUCK BUT THE BRAKES SUCK BIG TIME.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

749530

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, BRAKING SYSTEM WORKS. SO WHEN TRAVELING IN SNOW OR ICE AND MAKING A SUDDEN STOP ABS SYTEM TAKES LONGER. *AK

NHTSA ID

870522

Incident

Feb 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HEARD & FELT A BUMPING AGAINST VEHICLE. STOPPED & CHECKED VEHICLE. NOTICED TIRES WERE BLISTERED & TREAD WAS PULLING FROM THE CASING. BOTH FRONT & REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD PROBLEMS. NOT POSITIVE IF ORIGINAL TIRES AT TIME OF PURCHASE WERE USED. ALSO, ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE WOULD PULL IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

867215

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABS BRAKES KICKED IN ON DRY PAVEMENT UNEXPECTEDLY, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE 50 PERCENT. CONTACT DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

865832

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE BRAKE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS YET TO FIX IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

855793

Incident

Dec 21, 1999

ON ANY SLICK ROAD SURFACES AT SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR , WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT STOPSIGN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURN ON IN THE CONTROL PANEL. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO READJUST ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY IN A FEW SECONDS AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED. BUT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT DO THIS. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HAS KICKED IN WITHIN A SIX MONTHS PERIOD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO. THE FIRST TIME THE ROADS WERE SLICK AND THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DESPITE THE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE HIT A SLICK SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLIDE COMPLETE ACROSS THE THREE LANE HIGHWAY, INWHICH I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FARTHEST LANE. THERE WERE ABOUT 4 OTHER CARS THAT HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES AND BASICALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SKIDDING THROUGH THE HIGHWAY. MY ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKED IN WITH A LOUD THUG. AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON TOO. BUT IT NEVER READJUSTED ITSELF AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO REPAIR TO RESET THE ABS. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED IN JULY 1999 AND WAS REPAIRED IN EARLY AUGUST. THIS SECOND INCIDENT DID NOT WARRENT THE ABS TO KICK IN. I BELIEVE THAT THE ABS ARE OVERLY SENSITIVE AND NEED TO BE REPROGRAMED. I HEARD ON A NEWS REPORT THAT THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WAS BEING RECALLED FOR ITS FAULTY ABS BRAKES FROM 1999 THROUGH 1992. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE 1992 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IS BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I CALLED ABOUT REPAIRS SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR VEHICLES STARTING IN 1994, NOT 1992. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED . PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE RESULTS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

717573

Incident

Dec 11, 1999

THIS VEHICLE HAS A TREMENDOUSLY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WET. ONE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG; THE OTHER SAYS TO TRY A NEW ANTILOCK UNIT. THEY SAY IT MIGHT HELP BUT IF IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IT IS NON-RETURNABLE. IT WILL COST @ $1000 JUST TO TRIAL AND ERROR A FIX FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

716881

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

854576

Incident

Dec 21, 1999

TRANSMISSION REAR SEAL LEAKING, DEALER ADIVISED SEAL WAS REPLACED WITH THE WRONG YEAR 95 SEAL. HUSBAND REPLACED WITH RIGHT 92 SEAL. STILL LEAKING. ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER IS KNOCKING LOUD NOISE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING OUT. WHEN I DRIVE 35 MILES OR MORE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILS. AND, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKS TEMPORARILY ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW.

NHTSA ID

716396

Incident

Dec 19, 1999

FAILED ABS IMPACTS BRAKING ACTION - INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, SOFT PEDAL. SETS TROUBLE CODE 63. DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. 4WD ABS INSTALLED ON 2WD VEHICLE AT FACTORY. UNDERSTAND THAT RECALL TO REPLACE CORRECT ABS MAY BE PENDING.

NHTSA ID

715726

Incident

Oct 15, 1999

THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MUSHY. I UNDERSTSAND THAT ABS WILL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO EMERGENCY BRAKEING THAN "NORMAL" BRAKES BUT THIS THING IS A REAL ADVENTURE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE PANIC STOPS.IT SEEMS TO RESIST YOUR FOOT THE HARDER YOU PUSH THE LESS BRAKING YOU FEEL.THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING MODULE WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE DISK BRAKE TO GRAB AND BOTH FRONT TIRES TO WEAR VERY BADLY. THE ELECTRIC WIPER CONTROL WENT OUT BECAUSET THE CONTROL BOX IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GOT WET. DAH! THE DRAG LINK BUSHING RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THE GREASE FITTING WAS APPARENTLY INACCESSABLE TO SERVICE AND NEVER GOT ANY GREASE. THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING AT 90000 MLS. AT WHICH TIME I RAN A STOP LEAK PRODUCT IN IT WHICH STOPPED IT SO FAR. THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT AT 110,000 MLS AND THE ALTERNATOR AT 95000 MLS. BRAKES ARE BIGGEST CONCERN!!!!!

NHTSA ID

712669

Incident

Dec 1, 1996

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PEDAL IS HARD. THE BRAKES REACT AND THEN RELEASE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO KEEP ON ROLLING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

846300

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

BRAKES SLIP DURING A NORMAL STOPPING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

846206

Incident

Aug 31, 1997

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED,THE BRAKES LOCKED UP,PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT,AN INSPECTION BY MY MECHANIC ,REVEALED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT FUCTIONING CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

710649

Incident

Aug 25, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

710648

Incident

Aug 25, 1999

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER MY CHECK ABS SYSTEM LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. WHEN MY BRAKES WERE SERVICED, NOT BY A DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE NOT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SINCE WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY (NOT THE ANTILOCK), WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT IN TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, ONLY "ALMOST" ACCIDENTS. WE DO, THOUGH, SEEM TO HAVE TO HAVE OUR BRAKES WORKED ON VERY OFTEN BECAUSE OF ONE THING OR ANOTHER. I READ ABOUT THE RECALL AND WANTED TO REPORT THIS TO YOU FOR YOUR RECORDS. I HOPE THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR VEHICLE WILL REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR US WITHOUT CHARGE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT DOES HAPPEN, AS APPARENTLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

710242

Incident

Apr 15, 1997

THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MARCH 30, 1999 AT THE INTERSECTION OF AL 150 AND I-459 IN HOOVER AL. I TRIED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT BUT THE SUBURBAN JUST WOULD NOT STOP. THE ANTI LOCK MECHANISM DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THERE WAS NO SLIDING OR SKIDDING. I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THERE WAS RAIN PRESENT, BUT IT WAS LIGHT RAIN ITH NO WATER STANDING ON THE ROAD. THE SECOND OCCASION WAS IN HOUSTON TX ON MAY 28, 1999. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE SUBURBAN ON THE SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD WHEN SHE WENT TO CHANGE LANES. SHE DISCOVERED THAT SOMEONE WAS OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN THE LANE THAT SHE WANTED TO BE IN. SHE PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAW SOMEONE IN THE ADJACENT LANE, PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, HARD. THE SUBURBAN'S REAR WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE SUBURBAN MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND EXITTED THE ROADWAY BACKWARD AT ABOUT 20 MPH STRIKING A CONCRETE BARRIER. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 MAKING THE SUBURBAN DRIVABLE, AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO THE BODY WORK YET. I FEEL THAT BOTH OCCURANCES HAVE BEEN CAUSED AT LEAST IN PART BY FAILURE OF THE FOUR WHEEL ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL THREW THE TREAD SIX DAYS LATER ON THE WAY HOME. I DON'T THINK IT WAS DESIGNED TO GO SIDEWAYS.( DOT NUMBER: AN11LX1127 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

NHTSA ID

709319

Incident

Jun 4, 1999

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CONSUMER HAS SLAMMED ON BRAKES ABRUPTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED, DEALER CHECKED BUT SAID THEY LOOKED FINE. NLM

NHTSA ID

782570

EA95026, INTERMITTENTLY, THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND VIBRATION, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED PARTS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

843228

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

ABS DOES NOT STOP MY SUBURBAN WHEN SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE TAKES A LOT LONGER TO STOP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SEVERAL BRAKE SHOPS AND THEY CLAIM THIS PHENOMENON IS NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED 4 NEAR MISSES AND ONE ACCIDENT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET IT CORRECTED BEFORE WE GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

708986

Incident

Apr 24, 1999

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATING BY ITSELF, AND CAUSING BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $1300.00. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

842226

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD, WHICH RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON BY PRIVATE MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

838529

Incident

May 25, 1999

ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO OPERATE RESULTING IN BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING, AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE UNIT. IN PRIOR INCIDENTS TO 2-12-99, VEHICLE HAS BEEN PUT UP ON CURB AND HOMEOWNER'S FRONT LAWN TO AVOID REAR END COLLISIONS. ON 2-12-99 REARENDED A PICKUP TRUCK THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME. HAD AT LEAST 50 FEET OF STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN CHEVROLET DEALER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT SUBURBAN ABS PROBLEM, OWNER WAS TOLD PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE IT DOES AND SQUEAL IS NORMAL. UNLESS ABS LIGHT COMES ON, IT IS NOT VEHICLE ERROR. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED ON VEHICLE, BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION CONTINUES TO PERSIST.

NHTSA ID

703718

Incident

Feb 12, 1999

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANITLOCK BRAKES. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, VEHICLE SKIDDED. ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND/OR DURING LOW SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

832699

Incident

Apr 4, 1997