1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND BLOWING THE TRAILER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HARNESS WAS UNDERSIDE CAUSING ONE OF THE WIRES TO BURN OUT. AS A RESULT, THE WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 08/11/2014*LJ

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE FUEL PUMP OVER HEATED, MELTED, AND DESTROYED THE CONNECTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,000.