1996 GMC Suburban visibility & wipers problems

The 1996 GMC Suburban has 27 visibility & wipers complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints

12%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Visibility & Wipers complaints by year

Suburban visibility & wipers complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V159000Visibility & WipersApril 28, 2003 · 1,755,876 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

98V150001Visibility & WipersJuly 1, 1998 · 1,557,585 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

What owners report

“LOCKS FOR VARIOUS DOORS HAVE STUCK FOUR TIMES, PREVENTING ENTRY OR EXIT FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND PERFORMED REPAIR WORK.*AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL HOWEVER IT DID…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · September 1, 1997

Common questions

How many visibility & wipers complaints does the 1996 GMC Suburban have?

NHTSA has 27 complaints about the 1996 GMC Suburban visibility & wipers — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 GMC Suburban visibility & wipers?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the visibility & wipers: 03V159000, 98V150001.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.