1996 Chevrolet Suburban Brakes Problems

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 SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS MOUNTED AT THE FACTORY TO THE FRONT AXLE ON THIS 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK CAUSING IT TO VIBRATE AND COLLECT DEBRIS ON IT LEADING TO A PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO RUST. IN DECEMBER 2012, AGAIN WHEN I WENT TO STOP FROM ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN WENT ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, BUT AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE BY USING THE PARKING BRAKE AND RUNNING UP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AT THE "T - INTERSECTION" WHERE THE BRAKE LINE RUNS FROM THE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR AXLE AND SPLITS INTO 2 LINES AT THE T INTERSECTION. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS AS IT WAS A BAD DESIGN, BECAUSE THE T LAYS IN A RECESSED HOLDER ATTACHED TO THE REAR AXLE, ALLOWING DIRT, SALT AND WETNESS TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA AND CAUSE PREMATURE RUST AND FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINES. THIRD, LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED A RAW GAS SMELL AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AGAIN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AS GAS WAS POURING OUT OF THE FUEL LINE BY THE GAS FILTER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. THIS WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S REPAIR SHOP WHO AGAIN SHOWED ME THAT THE METAL FUEL LINE HAD RUSTED OUT DUE TO ITS BEING MOUNTED TO THE FRAME RAIL, CAUSING SALT, DIRT AND DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE THERE ALSO. HE WARNED ME THAT THESE TRUCKS FREQUENTLY CATCH FIRE WHEN THESE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION LINES RUST OUT. HE SAID HE HAD SEEN 5 OF THESE TRUCKS BURNED IN JUST THE LAST 2 YEARS AT HIS SMALL SHOP.PLEASE HELP. THESE TRUCKS ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUSLY DESIGNED TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10544573

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

185,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT 35 MPH, THE POSTED SPEED, WE LOST BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SERVICE BRAKE WAS APPLIED APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN. WE WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH ENTERED THE INTERSECTION AND PASSED ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH IT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ( OR PEDESTRIANS) IN THIS INTERSECTION AS WE WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HIT THEM. IT APPEARS THE BRAKE LINE(S) ON THE K2500 SUBURBAN HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN AN AREA THAT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE THEY GO THROUGH THE FRAME AND BLEW OUT AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT. THE DEALER IS UNWILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY DID NOT TELL US THE BRAKES COULD ONLY BE RELIED UPON FOR THE TIME THE TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS, POSSIBLY DEADLY OUTCOME SINCE WE TOW A TRAILER WITH THE TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCKS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL GIVEN THE POTENTIAL DEADLY POSSIBILITIES? TOYOTA WAS IN THE NEWS ABOUT THEIR UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION ISSUE BUT WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THIS UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING ISSUE? WHY IS THAT? IS NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP NOT A PROBLEM FOR THE NHTSA? *TR

NHTSA ID

10424654

Incident

Sep 10, 2011

Mileage

174,231 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS SENSORS WERE CORRODED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DISABLE THE ABS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT DOES NOT PLAN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,700. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED CAN PROVIDE A LIST OF WITH OTHER CONSUMERS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS. UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10218347

Incident

Dec 19, 2006

Mileage

190,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10130346

Incident

Jul 21, 2005

Mileage

64,635 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10130223

Incident

Dec 18, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10110330

Incident

Feb 3, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10107606

Incident

Jan 13, 2005

Mileage

174,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10068494

Incident

Apr 20, 2004

DON'T BELIEVE THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS AND THE FRONT DISC PADS NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 3K MILES. CHEVY DIDN'T WANT TO ADDRESS PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

769033

Incident

May 1, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

764388

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER (SNOW, RAIN) THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE PEDAL PULSATES, THE CONSUMER CAN ALSO HEAR A METALLIC GRINDING NOISE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

NHTSA ID

8006469

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LEFT ROTAR FAILURE, ON ANOTHER OCCASION CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO AVOID BEING CUT OFF BY ANOTHER MOTORIST, THE CENTER HUB SEPARATED FROM THE ROTOR OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAUSING THE CAR TO BE THROWN INTO THE MEDIAL STRIP. *TT

NHTSA ID

564055

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001819

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED, WHICH LED TO AN ACCIDENT. PUSHED PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001201

FRONT BRAKE GOT HOT, SMOKED, AND SQUEALED. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BACK TO CHEVROLET DEALER (FRYE CHEVROLET, AUGUSTA, KANSAS) 4 DIFFERENT TIME IN THE LAST 5000 MILES. STILL GETS HOT AND SQUEALS. THEY CANNOT (OR WILL NOT) REPAIR?*AK

NHTSA ID

751242

BRAKE DO NOT WORK

NHTSA ID

9002983

Incident

Jun 2, 2001

CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. SHE HAD FOOT ON BRAKES, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD. THEN, VEHICLE IDLED HIGHLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

893089

Incident

Jun 29, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL FELT HARD, AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. NO ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

892847

Incident

Jul 13, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

748246

Incident

Jul 6, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

743060

Incident

Mar 22, 2001

PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR AND LEFT FRONT PULLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

742461

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES; 2 SETS OF ROTORS & REPLACED DRUMS 1 TIME. DEALER SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS HEAVY, AND IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH BRAKES. THEY HAVE TRIED TO PUT DIFFERENT PADS ON, BUT NOTHING WORKED.*AK PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHILE TURNING. WIPERS MALFUNCTION DUE TO WIPER MODULE FAILURE. THERE IS A WHINE IN THE FRONT PART OF THE ENGINE DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ID

872388

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

CHEVROLET, SUBURBAN 1996, LS 1500, 4 X 4 I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 2YRS, I HAD TO PUT ON 5 SETS OF BRAKES, 2 SETS OF ROTORS, DRUMS, STEER KNUCKLES, ALTERNATOR, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, BATTERY, DIFFERENTIAL/AXLES REPLACED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS FOWL SMELL AND THE BACK PASSAGER DOOR STICKS AND WON'T OPEN MOST OF THE TIME. I BOUGHT IT AS A LEASE RETURN WITH 34,900 MILES ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHY THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD. I ONLY DRIVE THIS SUBURBAN IN EMERGENCY.*AK

NHTSA ID

733543

Incident

Sep 26, 2000

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID

731794

Incident

Aug 24, 2000

I HAD TO STOP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND THE BRAKES LOCKED WITHOUT THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM ENGAUGING. THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM. THIS WAS MY THIRD SUBURBAN. I SOLD THE VEHICLE ONE MONTH AGO.

NHTSA ID

730761

Incident

Jul 26, 2000