1995 GMC Suburban Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  86
• Foundation components
  8
• Foundation components › Disc
  8
• Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
  6
• Foundation components › Disc › Pads
  4
• Power assist › Vacuum
  2

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 GMC Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The anti-lock brakes have "gone to the floor on several occasions the latest resulting in an accident. This has only happened at low speeds (under 30 MPH). I have replaced the brake pads three times and the rear drums once. Now the master cylinder is bad at 85,000. Is this common to all GMC surburbans? In 1994 GMC took back a surburban because of multiple brake failures in a lemon law situation. The 1995 replacement is now having problems including a master cylander failure. Is this common with other GMC surburban owners?

Upon approaching a bump in the road and upon making a sudden or gradual stop, the anti-lock systm kicks in, resulting in extended stopping distance, vehicle was onc e involved in a collision. Consumer has contacted the dealer , dealer has yet to replace any parts.

When brake pedal was applied it went straight to the floor, and there was no response from the brake system at all. Vehicle did not slide, it just kept rolling until it hit another vehicle, and that's what caused the vehicle to stop. Dealer has not been contacted.

While driving at approx 10-15 MPH brakes will pull/get soft sometimes lock up. This can happen in either wet or dry conditions. Dealer cannot find problem. This is a intermittent problem which resulted in an accident.

The brakes on the vehicle have been a problem since the day, I drove it, off the lot ! I returned to the dealership and they adjusted the parking brake within the first hour after delivery. It was re-adjusted at 4100 mi. At 14833 mi. The master cylinder was leaking and the fnt. Pads and both rotors were replaced. At 32740 mi. The fnt. Pads were replaced and the rotors machined. At 35258 I reported a rubbing noise to the dealer when appling the brakes, however, they could not duplicate the problem? At 41885 mi. The fnt. Pads were replaced, the rotors machined, the rear brakes relined and drums machined. At 48758 the fnt. Pads were replaced, the right rotor was replaced and both rotors were machined. I, at this time had enough and contacted the manufacture to explain the problems. …

This is a 2500 Suburban and the front disc brakes wear out every 11,000 miles. The rear drum brakes did not wear out until 137,000 miles, and that was only after I had the brake combination valve changed according to TSB #99-05-24-001a which was issued by GM to correct this problem. Until I located this TSB, I just kept being told that the 3/4 ton suburbans all go through front brakes very quickly. I was told this at several garages and several dealers. I feel this is a defect in the vehicle and not wearing out the rear brakes until the proportioning valve was replaced (which I paid $256. For) demonstrates that the wrong proportioning valve was installed in this vehicle. I would like to report this and find out if I have any recourse in getting reimbursed for my expenses. I am not aware of any recall on this vehicle for the brakes. Thank you.

The ABS system has always been a problem. One morning backing out of the garage after it had rained the night before, I gently braked and the car made a grinding noise and jerked abrubtly scaring all of us. It skidded ! Up and down the driveway I did this and it jerked and skidded! We decided it was not safe. The store checked tires and brakes. This has happened again and again! The electrical problem has been ongoing. The dealer cannot figure it out, we're OK for a while - 6 mos. With a new battery and then were stranded somewhere cause its died. We just had the radio replaced because they said it had a short,well it was out of the car and it died again. They replaced the alternator it died yesterday! Please help!

During routine brake maintenance (disc pad replacement), removal and inspection of the rotors revealed a circular crack running approximately 60% of the entire circumference of the rotors between the mounting bolt section and the pad section of the rotors failure to remove and detect crack and replace component would have resulted in catostrophic failure of the rotors,and almost assured a front tire lock-up. If my wife had been driving when this occurred, a major accident would have been a sure thing. Rotors available for your inspection if requested along with right side rotor which was changed also. Just in case, but did not show signs of cracking. Thank-you for you time.

Ignition system failed twice. When this happens the transmission does not shift properly, and remains in 2nd gear. The speedomoter doesn't work and the brakes lock up. The shift indicator light also goes out. I contacted two local GM dealers. Both machanics knew exactly what was wrong, as they have many come in larely with this same problem. They knew the exact price and time it takes to put the part in because they have done so many of them lately. In fact, one of the mechanics replied that he is surprised they haven't recalled this part yet. He's replaced so many of them.

The electric connector for the low pressure/ loss of fluid was not connected at the factory to the ABS valve. The original battery leaked at the + post. The OEM replacement battery did the same. After that I switched to an after market gel battery,optima brand and never had a problem with it. The factory installed trailer hitch platform started to faill when I was towing a 9000lbs trailer,showing a 3 to 4 inch crack in the right side bolted to the frame. All those failled parts were replaced at no charge by the dealer under either GMC warrenty or "good will" policy.

NHTSA investigations

Brake complaints in other Suburban years