RoadVitals

1993 Chevrolet Suburban Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
43
Latest Jan 8, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 499 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 2004

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER QUITS WORKING WHEN IN USE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR 03V159000, BUT THE MODEL YEAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *PH *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10048375
Mileage
118,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 11, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK, AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT WORK. WHEN THE INDICATOR IS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK. THEN, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN CONSUMER CANNOT TURN THEM OFF. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND RECEIVED A RECALL ON CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN,1994, BUT CONSUMER HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON HER CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN,1993. HUSBAND HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE, BUT SHE HAS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10039813
Incident
Sep 11, 2003
BrakesVisibility
Filed Sep 4, 2003

1993 CHEVROLET PU VIN # [XXX] AND 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN VIN # [XXX] BOTH VEHICLES HAVE FAULTY WIPERS. THE 1999 ALSO HAD THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM GO OUT. THE WIPERS WILL WORK AND THAN SUDDENLY STOP. YEARS 1994-1997 HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY GM, BUT GM WON'T HONOR THE RECALL FOR THESE 2 YEARS. THIS IS JUST AS MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE 1994-1997. I DID TALK TO A MANGER BY THE NAME OF JACK CUNNINGHAM AT PHONE # 866 942 4368 X48470 CASE # ASSIGNED IS 1-134580923 AND 1-135719603. HE ADVISED ME ON 8-29-2003 THAT IF MY VEHICLES ARE EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL, THAN THEY WILL HONOR THE RECALL ON MY 2 VEHICLES. IT IS COVERED UNDER A SPECIAL POLICY. I CALLED [XXX] AT [XXX] 785 266 5151 AND HE NEEDED TO TALK TO [XXX] TO GET CONFIRMATION THE VEHICLES ARE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. AS OF TODAY 9-04-2003, NEITHER [XXX] OR MYSELF CAN GET A CALL BACK FROM JACK. I CALLED THE 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AT GM AND THEY SAID THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE 1994-1997 VEHICLES. I ADVISED THEM I TALKED TO [XXX] AND THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO HIS AUDIX AGAIN. I FEEL THE RECALL NOW NEEDS TO BE ISSUED FOR THE 1993 AND THE 1999 VEHICLES AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10037211
Incident
Mar 1, 2003
Visibility
Filed Jul 24, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10024715
Incident
Jun 23, 2003
Mileage
13,700 mi
Visibility
Filed May 19, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020046
Incident
Feb 20, 2003
Mileage
160,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING, INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A RECALL #03V159000, BUT THE VEHICLE MODEL YEAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY. *PH *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10048378
Mileage
122,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 2, 2002

REFERENCE: NHTS CAMPAIGN ID 98V150001. INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS APPEARS AS DESCRIBED. I CAN GET TEMPORARY FUNCTIONING BY SLIGHTLY DISPLACING THE WIPER MOTOR UNIT AND ITS RELATED CONNECTOR STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, TO THOSE DIFFICULTIES AS RELATED TO THE REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V150001.*AK

NHTSA ID
766586
Incident
Jun 22, 2002
Visibility
Filed Apr 14, 2002

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING A WHILE THEY SOMETIMES TURN ON.

NHTSA ID
760673
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2002

INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE STARTING AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE USED IN AUG. 1999. REPLACED WIPER MOTOR FEB. 22, 2002, AFTER WIRING REPAIRS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FAILURE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN AND SNOW CAUSING US TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, INCLUDING ONE BLIZZARD. AFTER WIGGLING WIRES OR POUNDING ON THE WIPER MOTOR IT USUSALLY WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE. HAVE HAD OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVY SUBURBANS AND TRUCKS TELL US THEY HAD THE SAME TROUBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
758818
Incident
Sep 5, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jan 16, 2002

THE FIRST FAILURE WAS TRAVELING WEST OF DENVER, CO. IN A SNOW STORM WITH HEAVY, FAST TRAFFIC, AND THE WIPERS STOPPED IN MID CYCLE. THE SECOND WAS IN HEAVY RAIN, TRAVELING ON I-35 IN JUNE, 2001. I TALKED TO A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A SUBURBAN AND HE SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE THOUGHT GM HAD A RECALL, BUT I CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR MY MODEL OF SUBUBAN.*AK

NHTSA ID
756922
Incident
Apr 19, 2001
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPPERS STOP WORKING WHEN IM DRIVING, AND THE DEALER THEY SAID WAS A RECALL BEFORE BUT THEY SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY BECAUSE I DID NOT TAKE THE TRUCK WHEN THEY MADE THE RECALL. BUT I BUY THE TRUCK USED AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE PRIOR OWNER RESPOND TO ANY RECALL. AND THEN I E MAIL CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THAT TRUCK.*AK

NHTSA ID
740265
Incident
Oct 10, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jan 24, 2001

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH LEFT HAND SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR CAME APART, CAUSING GLASS FRAGMENTS TO FLY IN ROAD, AND CAUSING A HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS. MIRROR CAUSED DAMAGE TO SIDE OF VEHICLE, MIRROR WAS ONLY BEING HELD BY GLUE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
878951
BrakesVisibility
Filed Oct 11, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONSTANTLY SHUT OFF WHEN IT STARTS RAINING, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO WORK IS TO STOP THE CAR AND GET OUT AND MANUALLY FORCE THEM TO WORK AGAIN. THEY WILL WORK FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN DO IT AGAIN. THE GRILL : THE CROME IS PEALING OFF OF THE GRILL. THE BRAKES; THERE IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. ONE IS THE DISC KEEP WARPING AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THEY SOMETIME FAIL TO STPO THE CAR AS THEY SHOULD. THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRYING TO STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID
733999
Incident
Nov 12, 1997
Visibility
Filed Sep 29, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND INCREASING RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE FILL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
871921
Incident
Jun 4, 2000
Tires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Sep 25, 2000

WHEN TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THEY WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER WOULD GIVE WIPERS A PUSH TO START. *AK THE COMPUTER BOARD SOLDER CRACKED CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO MALFUNCTIONS. THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED TWO TIMES. *YH

NHTSA ID
871402
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
858012
Visibility
Filed Jan 24, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
855526
Incident
Jul 15, 1999
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN OFF WHILE WIPERS ARE OPERATING, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. WIPER COMPUTER BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID
844004
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN RAINING HARD CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

NHTSA ID
838609
Incident
Feb 2, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jul 29, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL START IN THE MORNING AND THEN QUIT. *AK

NHTSA ID
843700
Incident
Jul 27, 1999
BrakesEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Jul 27, 1999
Crash reported

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED THE FIRST TIME ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DRY DAY , I WAS UNABLE TO BRING MY SUBURBAN TO A STOP WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CITED FOR UNASSURED CLEAR DISTANCE SINCE NO SKID MARKS OR OTHER EXPLANATION COULD BE GIVEN AT THE TIME. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS AND CLOSE CALLS SINCE THE FIRST ACCIDENT. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM REPLACED AND WERE UNAWARE THAT THE UNIT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS UNTIL WE RECENTLY SAW THE RECALL WHICH EXPLAINS PERFECTLY THE TYPE OF INCIDENTS WE HAVE HAD TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WE DEFINATELY WANT THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO PURSUE THE ANTI-LOCK RECALL ON THE 1993 SUBURBANS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. I COMPLAINED BITTERLY TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL BUT $350 WAS COVERED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE GEARSHIFT IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT MAINTAIN A LOCK IN THE OVERDRIVE POSITION AND WOULD CONSTANTLY SHIFT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 3RD AND OVERDRIVE GEAR.

NHTSA ID
709295
Incident
Nov 24, 1995
Visibility
Filed Jul 23, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
843230
Visibility
Filed Jun 23, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE WHEN TRAVELING IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
840905
Incident
May 23, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jun 1, 1999

AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AWHILE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. DLR SAYS THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA ISSUED RECALLS 98V150000 AND 98V150001, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
837106
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Visibility
Filed May 24, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. AFTER JIGGLING THE WIRES OPERATION CONTINUES. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
838348

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .