Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2001)

566 consumer complaints on file.

#10575851March 31, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
2001 SUBURBAN - WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR LEAVING ME BARELY ANY BRAKING POWER, BUT FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (25 MPH) I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I THEN DROVE TO A GARAGE WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE TO WHERE I WAS AND HAD THEM PUT IT UP ON THE RACK TO LOOK AT IT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL OF MY BRAKES LINES WERE VERY RUSTY AND THE ONE REAR LINE HAD BROKEN, I LEFT IT THERE AND HAD THAT LINE REPLACED BUT AFTER REPLACING THAT LINE ANOTHER 2 LINES BROKE DURING THEIR TESTING AFTER THE FIRST REPAIRS. I ENDED UP HAVING 3 REAR LINES AND THE 2 LINES TO AND FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED (3 THAT BROKE AND 2 OTHER ONES THAT LOOKED REALLY BAD) AT A COST OF ABOUT $800, I AM NOW GOING TO GET THE REMAINING 2 FRONT BRAKE LINES REPLACED "BEFORE" THEY BRAKE ON ME ALSO. THESE 2 LINES ARE THE HARDEST TO REPLACE AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $700-$800 TO REPLACE THEM. THE ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER HIS BRAKE LINES ALSO BROKE ON HIS SUBURBAN COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND HE HAD TO DRIVE ON THE BIRM TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. HE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF HIS SUBURBANS BRAKE LINES.I LIVE IN WESTERN PA AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING HERE FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES DURING THAT TIME BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKE LINES RUST AND BREAK LIKE THIS. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING, THIS MUST BE FROM FAULTY BRAKE LINE MATERIAL, NONE OF MY MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER HAD THIS HAPPEN SO CHEVY CANNOT JUST BLAME IT ON LIVING IN A SNOW/ROAD SALT AREA. *** I PLAN ON GOING WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER WHEN I GET MY NEXT SUV. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10569321March 14, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION WAS ABNORMALLY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564075February 12, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS DOWN ARE BREAKING OFF AT THE HEADS AND CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS. WHICH ARE IN TURN CAUSING MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAIL PREMATURELY. I HOPE GM FIXES THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH THERE LS V8 ENGINES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555971December 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST , VEHICLE TOWED ALL BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND REPLACED ESPECIALLY AT SECURE POINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555025December 6, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE FRONT BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554442December 2, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAME SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 04/15/14 MA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542391September 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE PEDAL LAST ALL PRESSURE AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. WAS SUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE FROM 35 MPH WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND FAILED. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT OTHER BRAKE LINE ARE IN THE SIMILAR CONDITION. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538398September 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD JUST ACCELERATED FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TWO CARS PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THEY WERE FORCED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY DUE TO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM MAKING A LEFT TURN. THIS FORCED ME TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATED, THE TIRES STARTED TO SQUEAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. FORTUNATELY, THE TURNING CAR WAS ABLE TO MAKE HIS TURN AND THE TWO CARS THAT PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME WERE ABLE TO GET MOVING AND OUT OF THE WAY AS I SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES OUT. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINE DUE TO EXTREME RUST. THEY WERE RUSTIER THAN RUSTY, THEY WERE TRASH. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES I NOTICED THAT ONLY THE BRAKES LINES WERE EXTREMELY RUSTY. REST OF UNDERSIDE WAS NOT TO RUSTY AT ALL. AS A RETIRED QUALITY SUPERVISOR WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE METAL STAMPING INDUSTRY I AM FULLY CONVINCED THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITLY NOT RIGHT HERE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS A SAFETY RELATED ITEM THE LINES SHOULD NOT RUST OUT AS THESE LINES DID. I BELIEVE THE WRONG MATERIAL WAS USED FOR THESE LINES OR A STEP IN THE RUST PREVENTION PROCESS WAS NOT PERFORMED THAT LED TO THIS PREMATURE RUSTING. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT RUST OUT LIKE THESE LINES DID. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536434August 21, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE'S "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CONTINUES TO LIGHT UP EVEN AFTER HAVING THE CODE ERASED. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVROLET SUBURBANS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OBD CODE P0332 STATES THE KNOCK SENSOR HAS LOW VOLTAGE. THE PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE HAVE IS WHEN WATER OR MOISTURE GETS INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WATER BEGINS TO POOL OVER THE SENSOR AND SEEP INTO THE SENSORS. THE LACKING OF WATER SEAL IN THIS POOLING AREA DAMAGES THE SENSORS. THE VEHICLE THUS CANNOT PASS IT'S BI-YEARLY SMOG TEST AND ALSO CREATES A FALSE SENSE OF VEHICLE RELIABILITY. IF OTHER ISSUES COME UP OTHER THAN THE BAD SENSORS THE DRIVER WOULD NEVER KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532111July 27, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED IN A PARKING LOT. PARKED VEHICLE. UPON RETURN LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE VERY CORRODED ON THIS 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, FUEL LINES ARE ALSO VERY CORRODED BUT HAVE NOT YET FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521715June 25, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND WITHOUT WARNING WHEN I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS JUST GOING TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN EXIT AND NOBODY WAS DIRECTLY IN-FRONT OF ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL RUSTED AND ONE OF THEM HAD BURST A HOLE. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE THAT MIGHT BE IN A DIFFERENT DRIVING SCENARIO THAN I WAS.PLEASE LOOK HEAVILY INTO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521793June 25, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO FLOOR WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. STOPPING ABILITY WAS VERY POOR. WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME, SO WE RETURNED HOME. UPON INSPECTION BRAKE FLUID WAS DRIPPING DOWN FRAME RAIL UNDER DRIVERS SEAT, WHERE ABOUT FIVE BRAKE LINES ENTER THE ABS VALVE UNIT. THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT ONE FAILED. VERY BAD LOCATION FOR THE ABS VALVE, AS THE BRAKE LINES FOLLOW THE FRAME RAIL FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO THE ABS UNIT AND ARE PRONE TO COLLECTING ROAD SALT SPRAY. SERVICE ACCESS IS LIMITED AND AWKWARD. THIS SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 2001 SILVERADO PICKUP IN AUGUST 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520280June 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
MOVING MY BOAT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT TO STOP MY BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED CAUSING NO BRAKING!!! PUMPED THEM LIKE CRAZY AND IT JUST PISSED OUT ALL OF THE FLUID. I HAD MY CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE AREA AND I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE NOT KILLED! UPON INSPECTION THE BRAKE LINE ROTTED AT THE POINTS WHERE THEY ARE HELD ONTO THE FRAME BY THE HANGERS! THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD HAVE SOME LIABILITY IN THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE IS BARELY JUST OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW IN DESIGN. THE SCARY PART IS THE LINES LOOK GREAT OVERALL BUT WHERE THEY ARE PLACED IN ALL OF THE HANGERS THEY HAD ROT SPOTS IN THEM THAT WAS ONLY APPARENT AFTER DIS-ASSEMBLY. A NORMAL SAFETY INSPECTION WOULD NOT PICK UP ON THE CORROSION HIDDEN WITHIN THE HANGERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519952June 15, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514710June 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BRAKING AT A STOP LIGHT THE ABS STARTED MAKING A BUZZING SOUND; IT FAILED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM NO LONGER BE USED SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512851May 20, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FAILURE. METAL BRAKE LINE BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER AND CALIPER DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO CORROSION OF THE METAL BRAKE LINE. MECHANIC SAID ALL METAL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY ON THESE FAULTY LINES. THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE LINES WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND WAS DEFINITELY A PREMATURE FAILURE IN MY OPINION. LUCKILY MY 20 YEAR OLD SON NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE HIGHWAY. IF THE LINE WOULD HAVE FAILED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510662May 5, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP, A HYDRAULIC LINE SERVING THE FRONT BRAKES RUPTURED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES. THIS IS THE THIRD HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TWO LINES TO FAIL WERE ON THE REAR AXLE. ALL OF THE REMAINING HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED AND PITTED, THEY ALL ARE AT RISK OF FAILURE AT ANY TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE. IT POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO THE DRIVERS AND TO THE PERSONS AND PROPERTY OF OTHERS. EVERY ONE OF THE OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINES. WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT SHALL BE IS UP TO NHTSA, BUT THE NEED FOR INFORMATION IS GREAT. THIS IS A HEAVY WEIGHT VEHICLE FOR ORDINARY CONSUMER USE. MOST SUCH USERS ARE UNPREPARED FOR A BRAKE FAILURE OF THIS KIND. INTERESTINGLY, GM DOES NOT OFFER REPLACEMENT PARTS. PRECISION FORMED LINES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AFTERMARKET. THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER USES NON-CORRODING COPPER-NICKEL REPLACEMENT LINE, AND FABRICATES THE LINES LOCALLY. THE SAME BRAKE LINE METALLURGY WAS USED IN HIGH END EUROPEAN CARS (VOLVO AND PORSCHE) BEGINNING IN THE 1980S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505710April 9, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME HESITANT TO START. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL PERIODICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,177. UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505131March 31, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH I WAS NEAR MY EXIT AND ACTIVATED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE ROOM TO CHANGE LANES AND PASS MY EXIT AND DOWNSHIFTED TO SLOW AND EVENTUALLY STOP. I HAD TRIED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE CABLE SNAPPED ON THE SPOT. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT EVERY BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND MOST WERE FAILING. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID IT ISN'T RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE JUST THE LEAKING LINES BECAUSE ONCE THE PRESSURE IS RESTORED, THE REMAINING LINES WOULD THEN LIKELY FAIL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND I AM WAITING FOR WHAT I AM SURE WILL BE A SIZABLE REPAIR BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504948March 29, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE OWNED MY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN SINCE JANUARY OF 2008. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND TODAY WILL BE MY 4TH. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE SAME PART OVER AND OVER. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED MY MECHANIC ADVISED US TO KEEP AT LEAST 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN THE TANK WHICH I HAVE TRIED TO DO. BUT EVEN DOING THIS THE FUEL PUMP SEEMS TO GO ABOUT EVERY 15 MONTHS, JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. ITS RIDICULOUS, THERE IS NO WAY I SHOULD BE REPLACING FUEL PUMPS AT THIS RATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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