Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2004)

406 consumer complaints on file.

#10558401January 3, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR RUPTURED AND CAUSED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, COMPROMISED, AND ALL MUST BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT AND MY SON WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT BUT THAT WAS MERELY FORTUITOUS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THAT PERMANENT BRAKE LINES SHOULD FAIL. THE TRUCK IS USED VERY INFREQUENTLY AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. HAD I OR A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE SOMEONE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED CARS SINCE I WAS 17 AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BRAKE HARD LINE RUPTURE. WITH THE NON-CORROSIVE METALS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE TUBING IT IS INEXCUSABLE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST GM TO PREVENT CLEARLY FORESEEABLE INJURIES AND DEATHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554357December 2, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR WINDOW LIFT HINGE ATTACHED TO THE GLASS TO THE TAILGATE IS DEFECTIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS HINGE ONLINE, I LOCATED SEVERAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERAL PROBLEMS IF THE GLASS WERE TO SEPARATE DURING TRAVEL AND SHOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR CHEVROLET. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1,300.00 FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT WILL JUST RE-OCCUR WITH IN A FEW YEARS AS SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS OBSERVED ONLINE BY NEW OWNERS OF 2 YEARS. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552504November 15, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WHEN I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKELINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551448November 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
SEVERE BRAKE LINE CORROSION UNDER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549653October 26, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES
I LIVE NEAR FREDERICK, MARYLAND AND TODAY I DROVE MY 2004 SUBURBAN DOWN TO THE CUL DE SAC AT THE END OF OUR STREET GOING AROUND 20MPH, BUT WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES, I FELT THEM GO ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, SO I PUMPED/PRESSED THEM AGAIN TWICE AND EACH TIME THEY THEN WENT FULLY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE TRUCK WAS NOT STOPPING. I MANAGED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND PRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH THE FRONT TIRES JUST 3 FEET FROM MY NEIGHBORS LAWN. I THEN GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE ALONG WITH A TRAIL OF IT ABOUT 30-40 FEET UP THE STREET FROM WHERE I FIRST PRESSED THE BRAKES. I TOWED THE TRUCK BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND CAN SEE THAT ALL OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED ALONG THE FRAME BELOW THE DRIVERS DOOR AREA. I COULD SEE THAT ONE OF THE LINES CLEARLY RUPTURED AND SPRAYED BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. I STARTED LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND SEE THE SAME SYMPTOM/PROBLEMS ARE ALREADY LISTED AS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR 1999-2003 CHEVY TRUCKS UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE10010. MINE IS A 2004 MODEL YEAR BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT IN LATE 2003. IN ANY CASE, I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT 20MPH AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE TOWING. CLEARLY GM HAS A PROBLEM AND THESE TRUCKS THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS THIS PROBLEM COULD KILL PEOPLE VERY EASILY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549368October 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I TURNED ON MY ENGINE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND PUT THE SUV IN REVERSE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO MOVE EVEN WITH MY FRONT ON THE BRAKE WHILE PUTTING IT IN REVERSE AND I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND THIS STOPPED THE VEHICLE. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS NO WARNING ABOUT BRAKE FLUID BEING LOW AND THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AT 8:30 PM. MY HUSBAND LOOKED NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE AND SAW THE BRAKE LINE DRIPPING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID OUT ON THE DRIVEWAY ALL RUSTED. WHY WASN'T THIS MADE WITH STAINLESS STEEL? THIS IS A CAR FOR FAMILIES WHICH MEANS MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL HAVE A CHILD IN THE CAR WHEN IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549428October 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING....NOTICED SLIGHT BRAKE PEDAL LOSS , THEN TOTAL FAILURE WITHIN MINUTES...MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE CORRODED AND WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED..THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS AND ALL OTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURES OF ANY GMC MADE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544901September 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ANOTHER BRAKE LINE COMPLETELY CORRODED AD INOPERABLE. HAD SAME ISSUE ON ANOTHER BRAKE LINE 6-MONTHS EARLIER. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONNECT TO REMAINING LIES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING ERRANDS PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF CHILDREN WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542443September 7, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE TIRE HAD SEVERAL CRACKS AROUND THE SHOULDER AND APPEARS SEVERAL WERE GETTING READY TO CHUNK OFF. A COUPLE APPEAR TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TIRE CAUSING THE AIR LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537306August 26, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF BRAKE FAILURE WITH CORRODED BRAKE LINES OF 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH UNDER 100K MILES. FIRST WAS IN JANUARY 2013, COMPLETE LOSE OF BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED FRONT BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS ETC. AT THE TIME, WE HAD THE REAR BRAKE LINES INSPECTED AND REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY SEAMED OK. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 24, 2013. TRAVELING ON I-495 IN MASSACHUSETTS (WHILE PULLING A BOAT TRAILER) AND APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD AND BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY WENT SOFT AND ALMOST COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID SLOWED TRAFFIC AHEAD AS ONLY FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKING.(ALONG WITH TRAILER BRAKES) AND CAR COULD NOT SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP. AFTER NEARLY CASING A MAJOR ACCIDENT, WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXIT AND DRIVE TO NEAREST SEARS REPAIR SHOP (1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD). AFTER BRAKE INSPECTION, COMPLETELY CORRODED BACK BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535542August 15, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL; IN LINE AT DRIVE-THROUGH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH BOARD AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIFTING FORWARD. THE MESSAGE CENTER IN THE DASH DISPLAYED "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM." LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER INTO A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED - RUSTED THROUGH. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO PRODUCE A VEHICLE THAT SELLS FOR OVER $45,000.00 THAT WON'T EVEN LAST 10 YEARS...ESPECIALLY WHEN SUCH A FAILURE IS LIKELY TO HAVE CATASTOPHIC CONSEQUENCES. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523175July 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL ON THE DASH WILL GO OUT INCLUDING: SPEEDOMETER, RPM, GAS, OIL, ETC. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE MESSAGE CENTER, INCLUDING THE ODOMETER, IS BLANK ALSO. AT FIRST THIS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT COME ON BUT WOULD COME OWN A FEW MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. THEN IT STARTED NOT COMING ON AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519536June 12, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER READS THAT I'M GOING FASTER THAN I AM. I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF IT REGISTERS 10MPH. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THAT RIDE WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET HAVE FOUND MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ON THIS VEHICLE. SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514721June 2, 2013
STEERING
IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512806May 20, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE IS A 4WD SUBURBAN 1500. WITH 2 WD DRIVE SELECTED AND DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FROM 5 MPH TO 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 OR 8 TIMES. EACH TIME WAS IN TRAFFIC WHICH REQUIRED ILLUMINATING EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD. EVERY TIME PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS FORTUNATE IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON ONE OCCASION I HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD JUST PULLED BACK INTO TRUCKS LANE WHEN IT OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETECT A PROBLEM. THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR REMAINS IN "DRIVE", THE DASH SELECTOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED IN 2WD AND I GET NO MESSAGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE CENTER. TO TROUBLESHOOT I SELECTED "AUTO 4 WD" ON DASH SELECTOR AND OPERATED FOR A WEEK WITH NO PROBLEM. I THEN SELECTED 2 WD AND THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED WITHIN 2 HOURS OF OPERATION. ONCE I STOPPED, I SELECTED 1,2,3 AND R ON GEAR SELECTOR WITH NO EFFECT. SELECTED NEUTRAL AND TURNED IGNITION OFF AND THEN RESTARTED WITH NO EFFECT (ON PREVIOUS OCCASION I HAD SELECTED PARK WITH VEHICLE RUNNING AND NOTICED A GEAR GRINDING NOISE SO DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN WITH ENGINE RUNNING). TURNED IGNITION OFF WITH GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL AND SELECTED AUTO 4 WD AND THEN RESTARTED ENGINE WHICH TOOK CARE OF PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509663April 26, 2013
TIRES
WE WERE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON US HWY 131 JUST NORTH OF KALAMAZOO, MI. OUR WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 SHREDDED AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO ROLL OVER. THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $2400 PLUS $197 FOR TWO TIRES. WE BOUGHT SUBURBAN FROM A FORD DEALER IN WI IN DECEMBER 2011. THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE RECALLED AND ALSO WERE 14 YEARS OLD. WE WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO SEE ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE TWO TIRES THAT THEY KNOWINGLY PUT ON THE SUBURBAN. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY PUT THE TIRES ON BUT CLAIMED IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WE THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FIRESTONE. NINE MONTHS AFTER WE FILED THE COMPLAINT, SENT THE EVIDENCE, ALL PAPERWORK, THE TIRE WITH SHREDDED PIECES, AND COST OF REPAIRS, WE RECEIVED A NOTE THAT FIRESTONE WAS NOT LIABLE, THAT THE TIRE WAS 14 YEARS OLD, AND THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR ONE TIRE. THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. WE TOOK THE AIR OUT WHEN IT WAS SENT BECAUSE UPS WOULDN'T TAKE IT WITH AIR IN IT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE SECOND TIRE. IT HAS EXCELLENT TREAD. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING FROM LOOKING AT IT THAT IT IS A HAZARD. SHOULDN'T A TIRE COMPANY THAT RECALLED TIRES HAVE TO REPLACE THEM EVEN IF THEY ARE OLD? WE HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW THAT THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY BALD AND NEVER WENT FLAT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494741January 25, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE HYDRO BOOST WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE BRAKE FLUID AND POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493550January 20, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500 FAILED DURING AN ATTEMPTED STOP. THE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SUBSEQUENT TESTING OF THE BRAKES REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM LINES LEAVING THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. IT WAS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS CORROSION WAS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS FOR WINTER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $2,500. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR SNOW PLOWING OR SPREADING ROAD SALT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487740December 8, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED .TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,THEY WANTED $500 TO REPLACE. TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AND TRIED TO NEGOTIATE A LOWER PRICE AND ALSO FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT SOME CUSTOMERS REPORT ONLINE THAT THEY HAVE GOT THE DEALER TO REPLACE AT NO COST. MY CLUSTER HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND I AM SEEKING TO HAVE GM REPAIR IT FOR FREE.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485442November 21, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SUDDENLY AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON AS WELL AS THE BRAKE "IDIOT" LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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