Complaints
531
Crashes
25
Fires
17
Injuries
18
Fatalities
10
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Chevrolet Suburban Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#190 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:127,318 mi
Crash-related:7
#225 complaints
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
#325 complaints
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 90 | 7 | — | 127,318 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 25 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 22 | 1 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 19 | — | 2 | 118,140 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 15 | 2 | — | 42,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 14 | — | — | 120,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | 1 | 97,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 | 6 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 7 | 3 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 7 | — | — | 46,232 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 | — | — | 35,963 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 | — | 4 | 174,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 | — | 1 | 174,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | 1 | 174,116 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 4 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
90
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
127,318
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
118,140
Tires:Tread/Belt
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,000
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,000
Air Bags:Frontal
8
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,232
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,963
Power Train:Axle Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
174,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
174,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
174,116
Brake Master Cylinder
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Trailer Hitches
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Chevrolet Suburban Years
1996 Chevrolet Suburban — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1996 Chevrolet Suburban has 531 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 90 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (90 complaints, avg 127,318 mi); Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery (25 complaints); Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor (25 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 114,493 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban include 25 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 18 injuries, and 10 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Suburban reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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