Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 169 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.
The 25 most recent of 169, in the owner's own words
(1) HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKING SYSTEM 3 TIMES IN LAST 4 MONTHS (2) VEHICLE KEEPS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE BEEN ACTIVATING FOR NO REASON (3)REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS (4)WHEN STARTING FROM START POSITION BRAKE CALIPERS STAY A LITTLE CLOSED AND EVENTUALLY LOOSEN UP ONCE THE VEHICLES PICKS UP SPEED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MECHANIC BLED THE BRAKES AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE ABS ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. THE ROADS WERE ICY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE BRAKES LOCKED, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED. THE ABS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE ABS ACTIVATION WAS INTERMITTENT, AND MANY TIMES THE BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOP, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE WITH THE ABS SENSORS. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ABS SENSORS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER CLEANED THE SENSORS AND SPRAYED THE WITH AN ANTI-CORROSION SPRAY. THE CONSUMER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
THE ABS/HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS AGAIN GONE OUT ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY FIRST COMPLAINT 5 YEARS AGO, I HAD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SENSOR REPLACED--UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS PRIOR TO GM'S CURRENT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT GM HAS OPTED TO MAKE A TEMPORARY LESS EXPENSIVE AND QUICK FIX RATHER THAN OFFERING THEIR CUSTOMERS A PERMANENT AND SAFE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE BRAKING HAD EXTENDED STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING ANTI LOCK BRAKES WILL LOCK UP WHILE CONSUMER IS PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL BRAKE OPERATION HAD FAILED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT BATTERY FLUID HAD LEAKED ON BRAKE LINES, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR INJURY TO REPORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE CAUSED LEAKAGES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE DEALER. *AK BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT. *SLC
RIGHT REAR BRAKE FELL APART FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE LIKE WHEN WATER OR A ROCK GETS INTO THE BRAKE. RIGHT NOW IT'S LEAKING GAS DUE TO A FAULTY SERVICE REPAIR AND THE HAS "REFUSED" TO FIX IT AND GM SAYS WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER DEALER TO FIX IT CORRECTLY. *AK
WHENEVER DRIVING ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WOULD SOMETIMES STAY ON FOR A WEEK OR EVEN JUST A DAY. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO SEPARATION OF LEFT FRONT HUB.*AK *JB
FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE EXCESSIVE AND UNEVEN WEAR. DRIVER SIDE WEARING MUCH FASTER THAN PASSENGER SIDE. HAVE REBUILT FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM WITH NO IMPROVEMENT.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEVERE PULLING TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE GOING 40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT SLAMMED ON BRAKES. CHEVROLET'S DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES & ABS LIGHT CAME ON. PUMPED BRAKES 3 TIMES AND ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. THEN INTO THE LEFT HAND LANE. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKES TO COME OUT OF SKID. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP & HAD IT CHECKED. NOTICED ROTOR BROKE IN HALF, IT WAS NOT CORRODED. PADS SITTING ON MOUNTING HAD BROKE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. *AK
FRONT BRAKES REPAIRED 10 TIMES. BACK BRAKES JUST DONE. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH ABS SYSTEM. NO HELP FROM CHEVROLET.*AK
WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE BRAKES FAIL, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHICH HAPPENDED ON 010301 RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCASSION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON EACH OCASSION. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE SITUATION. ANY ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ENGINE OIL PAN FAILURE, FAULTY POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS. BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS ON THE SEAT BELTS, FROZEN EMERGENCY BRAKE AND GLAZED BRAKE PADS. POOR DEALER SERVICING. ABS BREAKS WENT SKIDISH 3 TIMES AND STILL NO FIX. LOST CONTROL. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
EA 95 026/POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE: ON GOING PROBLEM WITH APPLYING BRAKE HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP; BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASION AND IN /OUT OF INDEPENDENCE SHOP ON TWO OCCASION AND CONDITION STILL GO ON UNRESOLVED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AFTER BEING REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AGO. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND IS A VERY GENTLE DRIVER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS RELATING TO UNSATISFACTORY FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR ON THIS YEAR/MODEL WITH ABS BRAKES. ALSO, I READ THAT IN JULY OF 1999, GMC HAD INITIATED A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE/BRAKE COMBINATION, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. GETTING 20,000 MILES ON A SET OF FRONT PADS (95% GONE WHEN REPLACED) WHILE THE REAR SHOES (REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME) SHOW LITTLE WEAR IS ABSURD IN MY OPINION. IT JUST SEEMS THAT "SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT." *AK
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON WET ROAD VEHICLE SWERVES AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. ALSO ABS INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ON. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, AND MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO FIND A SOLUTION. *AK *ML
THE PROBLEM IS ,IT GOES THROUGH A SET OFF BRAKE SHOES ABOUT EVERY 4 MONTHS.THE IS NOT PULLING A TRAILER OR ANYTHING. THE WIFE JUST DRIVES TO WORK EVERY DAY. ABOUT 10 MILES ROUND TRIP.THE CALIPERS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND PARTS MOVE FREELY.THE DRIVER SIDE USUALLY HAS THE PROBLEM.THE INSIDE PAD WILL COMPLETELY WEAR OUT ,WITHOUT REALLY EVEN TOUCHING THE OUTSIDE PAD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY SOURCES THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PORPORTIONING VALVE THAT GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS,BUT I CAN'T FIND IT. HELP PLEASE. *AK
THE REAR AXLE SEAL CONTINUALLY FAILED, ALLOWING GEAR OIL TO SOAK THE REAR BRAKE SHOES. THE OIL SOAKED REAR BRAKE SHOES CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS, MANY AFFECTING THE ABS SYSTEM, AND DIRECTIONAL STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE DURING STOPS, THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP, AND A GENERAL POOR FEELING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE OIL SOAKED REAR BRAKE SHOES CAUSE THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE WET. UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, AS DESIGNED, THE FRONT BRAKES DO MORE OF THE STOPPING, AND THE ABS IS MORE APT TO DETECT AN ACTUAL SKID. THE ABS, UNLOCKS THE LOCK WHEEL, THUS OVERLAODING THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL, CAUSING THAT WHEEL TO SKID, AND THE ABS UNLOCKS THAT WHEEL NEXT. THIS CYCLE CONTINUES, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRAVEL TOWARDS THE FLOOD, AND THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO EACH SIDE REPEATEDLY. THE SYMPTOMS I AM REPORTING ARE REPORTED AT YOUR WEB SITE HUNDRES OF TIMES. IT IS TIME THE GENERAL MOTORS IS FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, MANY OF WHICH MAY BE TRACED TO LEAKY RER AXLE SEALS.*AK
ABS FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. TOM JUMPER SAID 'TOO BAD.' $1100 IN PARTS/LABOR FOR ABS BRAIN & PRESSURE REG. IS BIG REPAIR FOR 68K MILES! WAS IT PATCHED TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH TO SELL? VERY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE ANIT-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT ON, BUT SEVERAL TIME THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO A SKID WITH NO CONTROL. THE BRAKES LOCK AND UNLOCK AT A SLOW ENOUGH RATE TO CAUSE A HOPPING THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGERS CAN FEEL AND CAUSE A SKID. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE TOLD DRUMS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN OVERTURNED, REPLACED STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE AND BRAKE PEDAL HOPS WHEN STOPPING NORMAL OR HARD. THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THE ANIT-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SO BEEN HOLDING OFF, DEALER WANTS OVER $700 TO FIX AND THEN IF RECALLED GET MONEY BACK?!?*AK
EXCESSIVE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, PULLING AND WEAR IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. BRAKES AND SYSTEM REPAIRED EVERY 500 TO 2,500 MILES BY CHEVY DEALERSHIP OR AN AUTO CENTER LICENSED TO DO CHEVY WARRANTY/OUT-OF-WARRANTY WORK. BRAKE CONDITIONS DETERIORATE RAPIDLY ONCE REPAIRED. CALIPERS, ROTORS, PROPORTIONAL VALVE, DELCO BRAKE PADS, CYROGENIC PADS, IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, ALIGNMENTS, ABS, REAR ANTILOCK SENSOR, ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SOME EXCESSIVELY. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES DUE TO BRAKE PERFORMANCE. FYI, THE SERVICE CENTER HAS SHOWN ME THE TECH BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY CHEVY REGARDING REPAIRS/SERVICE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE SERVICE CENTER HAS WORKED ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM(S) THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE CHEVY SUBURBAN BRAKE SYSTEM. ALL REPAIRS/SERVICE ON THE SUBURBAN (IN- AND OUT-OF-WARRANTY) ARE DOCUMENTED AND ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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