Occasionaly when coming to a stop during a contact with wet roadway the ABS system seems to be engaging in a manner that is erratic and dramatic. When coming to a stop, just as total stopping is about to occur a violent pulsing of the brakes occurs such that the feeling of being rear-ended takes place. This will continue for anywhere from 3 to 5 braking incindents in a row and then abrubtly stop. By the time I get to a dealer the situation is unduplicatable. I have read about problems with other ABS systems on the chevy line of SUV's and was wondering if this is similar to those complaints. It is always wet roadway when it happens, but not necessarily a cold vehicle (as in first use of the day). It truly feels like someone just hit you from behind in the way the vehicle lurches as it comes to a full stop at light or stop sign. Also tends to only happen when braking from slow, 40 MPH or less, speeds.
1994 Chevrolet Suburban brakes complaints
Page 5 of 21: complaints 101 to 130 of 581, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have had problematic anti-skid since purchasing this vehicle, and have had dozens of near accidents and actually have been forced to veer into shoulders and ditches to prevent disaster. We are afraid to drive this vehicle and want to get rid of it. The dealer has been informed of this on numerous occassions, but continuously charges us to 'adjust' or replace the brakes and says this problem is normal.
These brakes do not act properly - when travelling on the freeway the brakes shudder when applied and they often lock and make a yawning sound.
The ABS brakes system on the 1994 suburban was unreliable since the first month after original purchase. A typical scenario is coming to a stop at a stop sign or stoplight. The brakes occassionally start pulsing, allowing the vehicle to travel an extra distance before stopping. This has resulted in near misses where we almost rear-ended other vehicles and on other occassions came to a stop in the intersection. Also, railroad tracks are particularly hazardous with the suburban ABS.
My wife was involved in an accident on 6-16-99. She was going aprox. 30 MPH. The vehicle in front of her was approx. 20 ft in front of her. She felt that the vehicle did not begin to slow in time. Our vehicle (suburban) sustained $8,000+ in damages the second vehicle was totaled. A third vehicle sustained minor damage to rear bumper and was driven from scene. We feel that ABS failure could be contributing factor but don't have mechanical confirmation.
Abs system isnt working, and sometimes the ABS system will work. Consumer applied the brakes, and the vehicle kept going, causing the consumer to rear end another vehicle.
Both my wife and I have experienced problem with the brakes on our 1994 surburban. The situation has ocurred on dry pavement and I believe can not be attributed to either of us applying the brakes to hard or "pumping" the brakes. After applying the brakes it appears that the brakes lock and then release. The release (or failure)of the brakes extends the stopping distance. In addition I have noticed difficulty in steering when this occurs. I am submitting this report because of the recent publicity regarding the anti-lock brakes and the continued investigation of surburbans
Anti-lock brake system has "locked up" repeatedly since purchase (on average, approximately once every two weeks). We've explained the problem to the dealer's service department, but have been told that there's no problem. "lock-up" occurs most frequently when, during light braking, the vehicle travels over a bump (e.g., rough pavement, manhole cover). "lock-up" also has occurred during medium to heavy braking on wet/slippery surfaces. The vehicle appears to "think" that the wheel is slipping and, instead of pulsing, just stops responding to the brake pedal for as much as 2-3 seconds. I read that the small gm SUV's are being recalled for similar-sounding problems, but was disappointed to see that the investigation is still underway for suburbans and full-size pickup trucks.
Ea 95-023; when traveling and under any normal stopping, the brake pedal traveled to the floor board, causing extended stopping distance, and resulting in near accidents. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
In regular braking vehicle veers to the right. Also, during a panic stop brakes malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance. Deale r replaced parts in braking system. Please provide further information.
This seems to be a problem with the ABS on chevy surburbans. This incident resulted in a crash on a sunny day with drive pavement. The ABS deployed and the vehicle would not stop. I have run into this instance 3 previous times where "standing" on the brakes does not stop the vehicle. Yet if I release the ABS brakes and re-apply, the vehicle will usually stop. Given the current recall on chevy ABS products from this timeframe, I wanted to report the problems I have had with ABS on my suburban.
Brakes failed when tried to stop at traffic light.--- wiper would stop for no reason and sometime would ot start, dealer said the problem was the circuit board that was on a g.m. Recall list for 1994 suburbans but our unit VIN no was not included, I contacted g.m. On the phone and they also refused to repair, I purchase the replacepent board from the dealer and the wiper works ok, I beleive g.m. Owes me for the repair.
.brakes go all the way to the floor. No resistance from brake pedal.
While making a sudden stop brakes made a loud noise and extended stopping distance occurred. Please provide futher informaton.
Here is an excerp of the letter I gave my dealership regarding ABS potential problems on 2 oct 1995. Dealership said brakes were fine. On 27 september, while I was braking to stop at a traffic light, my suburban hit a bump. The brakes immediately "changed". Instead of the normal stopping, it felt like the ABS "kicked in" and I could feel the hear and feel the characteristic pedal vibration. Worst of all, most of the braking force was gone. The ABS should not have kicked in since this was not a panic stop or a wheel lock up situation. I kept the brake pedal depressed and within one or two seconds the ABS turned off and normal braking resumed.. I know what normal ABS functioning feels like since I have tested them under a controlled panic stop situation. This is the second time this failure has happened to me under a normal braking situation. I dismissed the first event as a freak occurrence until my wife rear ended a truck in front of her on 21 september, while in slow moving traffic. She explained that she should have been able to stop in time to avoid the collision but could not. There were no injuries-only minor damage to our suburban and the truck. This condition may have contributed to that accident.
While braking at various speeds and weather conditions, brakes will make a loud noise. Brakes will not function properly, meaning pedal will hit floor, but the vehicle is not slowing down. Abs brakes may take over at any time, regardless of weather conditions or speed.
Poor brake performance when trying to make a sudden stop at the intersection.consumer contacted dealer and manufacturer.
When going about less 30 MPH on unleveled road, the brakes will release.
Both incidents were almost identical. I was traveling approximately 35 miles per hour or less and had the need to stop quickly due to other vehicles in front of me. When I applied the brakes it felt like they were not working and the pedal went to the floor. There was no pulsing of the brakes, just a noise that sounded like a loud groan. I did not pump the pedal, I just applied harder and harder pressure until the pedal was on the floor, and the suburban continued to almost freewheel into the back of vehicle in front of me. Luckily no one has been seriously injured yet. But if a remedy is not found I am sure it is just a matter of time until a child runs out from behind a parked car, and it won't just be property damage. I took my suburban to grey chevrolet to have them check out the brakes, and they said all that all they could find was that the master cylinder was overfull, and brought the level down to where it should be. The brakes do not fail all the time, it is intermittent. Due to that a problem is hard to define.
While driving at any speed vehicle is stalling and jerking. It feels like something is falling off the vehicle. Also, when applying brakes, they go straight to the floorboard.
Abs braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in a crash. Dealer cannot determine the problem.
Brakes lock in wet weather, causing violent lurch, also brakes fail when coming to a stop on rough surface, resulting in poor steering control and going thru intersection. Wipers intermittent - sometimes they do not come on. Grinding noise in rear-end had this problem since new, dealer checked once then ignored it, they were also notified on the brakes but "could find no problem"!!??!!
Braking system seems to fail on bumpy and wet conditions. Brakes a underpowered for the weight of vehicle and overheat while towing. Replaced master cyl twice due to leaks. I am told at a car show chevy is aware of this. I cannot believe the amount of brake failures I have found on this sight and nothing is being done about it. Lives are at stakes and chevrolet should be held accountable for it, not the consumer. Dealer told me to upgrade brakes to the existing system 96 and up would cost me 1400.00. No one seems to care even the dealership. I will not purchase another chevy again. The brakes systems in these 94 should be recalled. Ask any mechanic who has worked on these brake systems.
Consumer experiencing brake failures with antilock brake system.
No summary listed for this vehicle.
When the problem originally started about 2 yrs ago, we ignored it. Then, when it became clear that it wasn't an isolated incident, we took the vehicle to a local chevrolet dealership (not the selling dealership). During a test drive, the event occurred, and the service representative said that this was "normal," and that other similar makes did the samething. The event that happens is that when pressure is applied to the brakes, there is a grinding sound, and the brakes don't "take". The vehicle continues along its course, not slowing appreciably for a while. The brakes will eventually grab, and then the vehicle stops. The service rep said we just needed to be careful when we drive.
Abs engaged during moderate braking, causing vehicle to go into a "coast" situation resulting in a rear-end collision with vehicle ahead. Witness 1 verified brake lights came on, but vehicle was not stopping. Witness 2 verified hearing ABS engage, but also stated vehicle was not stopping. Problem has occurred several times previously (not resulting in accidents), but dealer has not been able to locate a problem. Vehicle was towed to dealer after accident, at insurance company request, but again, no problem was found. Have asked for gmc service rep. To inspect vehicle. Dealer committed to contact factory rep. And has stated factory rep. Will contact us this week to drive vehicle for extended period. Currently waiting to hear from factory rep., but dealer does not expect him to find any problem. It is our opinion that vehicle is unsafe to operate due to the randomness of applying brakes and having vehicle go into "coast" mode. Due to number of times the vehicle has been returned to dealer for this problem and the fact that it finally resulted in an accident with injuries, we feel that gmc should take some responsibility. First, necessary repairs should be made to make the vehicle safe. Second, gmc has a financial responsibility to compensate for damages caused by the malfunction of the factory equipment. Research into this situation has found information indicating gmc is well aware of the problem and that this is not an isolated incident.
Abs system fails while driving under abnormal conditions (gravel,rain,rr track) causing the ABS system to active, makes noise and the pedal to goes to the floor, almost resulting in vehicle collision.
Three cars in front stopped suddenly, I applied brakes with full presure from my foot (I did not release presure at any time), my suburban did not slow down and ended up in a ditch with extencive front end damage. The roadway was wet and the speed was 35 MPH. Driver was only occupant and was wearing a seatbelt, minor neck injury.
Driving through a wet parking lot at 10-15 MPH , applied brakes , ABS started functioning and brake pedal sunk to floor . Vehicle contiued to roll with brake pedal on floor . Stopped vehicle with e-brake and fence .
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