Window & Wiper complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 10% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 3 | 6% | 3,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 116,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% | 277,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 3% | 18,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 2% | 48,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% | 99,000 miles |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% | 115,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 3% | 65,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 3% | 141,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% | 95,000 miles |
| 1998 | 4 | 29% | 136,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 31% | 100,000 miles |
| 1996 | 1 | 11% | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 25% | 301,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Car was parked (in covered area) when back window shattered sometime after 12pm. Car had not been driven in two days and outdoor temperature started at 62 that morning so there were not extreme temperature changes as at the time the window shattered, it was approximately 75 degrees. No apparent reason for breakage as we live in a secluded area and were nearby outside enjoying the day.
Safe lite auto glass placed polyeurethane glue on the rear window auto defroster metal contact to the rear window of my Chevy 2007 lt Suburban. I hit the remote starter and allowed the car to run for 9 minutes, the vehicle will auto shut off after 10 minutes. My daughter smelled smoke in the car so I inserted my ignition key and I rolled down the windows. I then backed my car out of the garage, pulled out of the driveway and my rear window exploded into pieces of glass everywhere. I called the police, filed a police report, filed a claim with my insurance company (geico, ref claim # : 0501768800101053) where the claims adjuster found that the metal contact did cause a chemical reaction with the polyurethane glue as the cause.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. While the vehicle was parked outside the contact's place of employment, someone reported that they heard a loud noise as if glass shattered from the contact's vehicle. The contact went outside and noticed that the rear window glass was shattered. After viewing the security cameras, it was discovered that the window exploded on its own and without impact. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Transmission slippage; driver side mirror defects; head lamps & loose steering column. Biggest issue is transmission. While driving on highway at 70 MPH, transmission began slipping without any prior warning. Situation was extremely dangerous as it was night-time driving with little or no opportunity to get vehicle off the interstate. Other family vehicles have had the same issue with the transmission going out without warning. Also, the driver side mirror goes out gradually, as the liquid that defrosts the mirror goes bad and leaks into the mirror. This mirror has already been replaced once, at the cost of $400+. This mirror is also a hazard as the driver is unable to use the mirror to adequate lane and traffic maneuvering. The steering column always seems to be loose. Nothing has been done, as of today's date, to correct the transmission issue as it is a costly repair.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The contact heard a noise coming from the vehicle. Upon further inspection, she noticed that the rear passenger side window was cracking in a spider web pattern. She stated that the tint on the glass was webbing in a pattern. She then noticed that the glass was expanding as if something was in the vehicle and pushing the glass outward. The failure caused the glass to shatter. The contact called the dealer and they stated that they were unaware of any failure occurring on this year, make, and model vehicle. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the glass shop for repair at the cost of $190. She is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The contact was unsure if the failure was caused by the heat outside. The failure mileage was 89,000 and current mileage was 89,015.
I just started leasing the vehicle from quality auto that says that the car is road ready but have lots of hazardous things to it a very bad gas leak that there taking there time to fix and my hood of my car won't stay down ...it's 7 days into my car lease and there promises have been broken and won't trade me another car .
The hinge for the rear liftgate window failed. There is a horizontal crack across the hinge. It appears to be metal fatigue. This failure is a safety hazard for the following reasons: 1) the window no longer seals properly and could allow exhaust gases to enter the vehicle cabin, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning. It is very possible that this failure would not be detected immediately. 2) the hinge failure causes additional strain on the remaining hinge and latch. Further failure would result in the window detaching from the vehicle. A) if this occurred while driving, the window could impact vehicle behind the Suburban or shatter on the roadway leading to debris related accidents. B) if this occurred while stationary, the glass could (which is heavy and sharp edged) could injure a person standing or walking at the rear of the vehicle. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. He stated that the side view mirror is perfectly in tact from the outside; however, from the inside it was smeared and displayed double vision. The dealer stated that they could diagnose the failure at the owners expense with an estimate of $100.00. The dealer also stated that if the mirror needed to be replaced the owner would be responsible for paying $300. The mirror has been distorted for a few months. The failure and current mileages were 65,000. Updated 05/15/09 updated 05/18/09.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Suburban 1500 years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (9), 2004 (7) and 1997 (5) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Suburban 1500 window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for any Chevrolet Suburban 1500 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Suburban 1500 window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 108,000 miles; 17% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the power window devices and controls (6 mentions), followed by the glass, side/rear (5).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.