Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#11739251May 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 291,000 and at the time of inspection, it was discovered that the odometer was tampered with, and without disclosure of these modifications.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687853September 17, 2025
TRAILER HITCHES
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the contact noticed the trailer attached was moving from left to right independently, and the trailer detached from his vehicle. The contact mentioned that he lost control of the vehicle into a parallel position when another vehicle collided with his vehicle on the front left driver side, causing the contact to get T-Boned. The contact stated that he sustained three fracture injuries to his spine, three fractured ribs, bruise on his kidney. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The contact mentioned that both the trailer and vehicle were towed to a lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11603498July 19, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The cluster of the speedometer
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11390689January 29, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD 0% OF MY BRAKES AND ALL THE BRAKE FLUID WAS GONE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ALSO FAILED PRIOR TO THIS I PUT IN BRAKE FLUID AND IT ALL LEAKED OUT WITHIN A MATTER OF MOMENTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360703September 23, 2020
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TOWING HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE AT ABOUT 60 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD AND LOWER BACK INJURY. THE FRONT PASSENGER (HIS DAUGHTER) SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY. THE TWO WENT TO THE DOCTOR THREE DAYS LATER. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED WAS DAMAGED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DAUGHTER'S DORM WHERE IT WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE DENIED ANY COMPENSATION TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE (THE VEHICLE TOWING THE DAMAGED VEHICLE) WAS NOT HIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11359978September 19, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, BRAKE LINE LEAKED ALL OF THE FLUID OUT, I DID NOT HAVE ANY BREAKS, AWFUL TIME TRYING TO STOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED, IT HAPPENS A LOT WITH SUBURBANS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351202August 25, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH AN INDICATION TO REDUCE BRAKE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHE COULD HEAR THE AIR AND A HUMMING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351024August 24, 2020
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR WINDSHIELD DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 388,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11325161May 19, 2020
AIR BAGS
SERVICE AIR BAG POPPED UP ON DISPLAY. NO DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE AND IT SHOWED UP ONE DAY BUT THEN IT WOULD GO OFF AFTER I STARTED DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT LOW SPEEDS. NEXT TIME I TURNED IT ON IT WASN'T ON THE DASH AT ALL. IT CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THEN IT HAS NOT TURNED OFF AT ALL WHILE THE CAR IS ON. WAS NOT SURE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON IT BUT NONE WERE FOUND. IN THE PAST BOTH OF MY SUBARUS HAS THIS SAME SERVICE SIGN POP UP AND BOTH WERE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11316179March 4, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN OCTOBER 2019. IT HAS 180,000 MILES BUT IS IN GOOD OVERALL CONDITION. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THIS VEHICLE OR EVEN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE ISSUE IS RUSTY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES. THIS PROBLEM HAS PLAGUED OLDER VEHICLE OWNERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RUST BELT MIDWEST, SINCE HYDRAULIC BRAKES WERE INVENTED. SOME CONSCIENTIOUS MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS VOLVO, HAVE SWITCHED TO A BRAKE LINE MATERIAL CALLED CUNIFER OR NICOPP, A COPPER NICKEL ALLOY C70600. THIS MATERIAL PERFORMS LIKE CONVENTIONAL STEEL LINES BUT WITHOUT THE CORROSION PROBLEM. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN,AND HAVE BEEN REPAIRING VEHICLES AS WELL AS RESTORING CARS AS A HOBBY FOR WELL OVER 50 YEARS. OVER THIS TIME PERIOD I HAVE BLOWN MANY BRAKE LINES. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY IN THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN AN EMERGENCY STOP WHERE DAMAGE AND OR SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED EARLY IN THE MORNING AT A STOP SIGN IN MY RESIDENTIAL AREA. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE AROUND. I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TURN AROUND AND SLOWLY MOVE BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. SINCE MODERN VEHICLES ARE LASTING LONGER AND DO TO NEW VEHICLE COSTS MOTORISTS ARE KEEPING THEIR CARS LONGER. THE BASIC AMERICAN VEHICLES BRAKE LINES HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH IN THE LAST 50 YEARS,OTHER THAN SOME CHEAP ATTEMPTS AT EXTERNAL COATINGS. WHY NOT MANDATE ALL MANUFACTURERS USE THE VASTLY BETTER COPPER NICKEL LINES. IT WOULD DEFINITELY SAVE LIVES AND INJURIES NOT TO MENTION COSTLY VEHICLE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241928August 6, 2019
AIR BAGS
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.I JUST PURCHASED THE SUBURBAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11195482April 10, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191212March 24, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE SITTING AT THE MAILBOX CHECKING MAIL AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKES FIRMLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED RED REPEATEDLY SAYING TO CHECK THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH BRAKING ABILITY LEFT TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, I AM THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11160831December 11, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
RE: "G.M. RESISTS RECALLING TRUCKS OVER BRAKE LINES", NY TIMES, JULY 7, 2014 IN SPITE OF MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN PASSING NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MANDATORY SAFETY INSPECTION IN MAY OF 2018, IN AUGUST OF 2018 A BRAKE LINE BURST, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION. THE LINE BURST AT A POINT BELOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND JUST FORWARD OF THE ABS MODULATOR, WHERE THE LINES CROSS OVER THE TOP OF THE FRAME AND ARE EXPOSED TO WHEEL SPRAY. AT THE POINT OF FAILURE, THE LINES ARE OVERLAID AND OBSCURED BY A LARGE BUNDLE OF ELECTRIC WIRES. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE FAILURE POINT, WITH THE SHEATHED WIRE BUNDLE MOVED UP OUT OF THE WAY. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 167500. WITH REGARD TO THE NHTSA DETERMINATION NOT TO RECALL "ALMOST 1.8 MILLION FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FROM THE 1999 TO 2003 MODEL YEARS FOR CORROSION-RELATED BRAKE FAILURES", AS SUMMARIZED IN THE 7/7/14 NY TIMES ARTICLE, DOES NHTSA'S DECISION TO ABSOLVE GM OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS ISSUE ALSO ABSOLVE NHTSA AND/OR GM OF RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY OWNERS THAT THEY ARE IN GRAVE DANGER IF THEY ARE STILL OPERATING THEIR VEHICLES WITH THE ORIGINAL BRAKE LINES? NHTSA SHOULD KNOW FROM THEIR OWN RECORDS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. I KNOW BECAUSE I SEE THEM EVERY DAY. AS FOR GM'S EXCUSES: '"G.M. HAS RESISTED RECALLING THE PICKUPS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, TELLING REGULATORS THAT RUSTED BRAKE LINES ARE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ISSUE." OBRAKE LINES ARE NOT A MOVING PART. HOW ARE THEY "MAINTAINED"? I HAVE MORE TO SAY, BUT YOU ARE LIMITING ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11142362October 24, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN I START MY TRUCK. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER DRIVING A BIT OR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN, WHERE OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111983July 17, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES RUSTING. TWICE IN A MONTH THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER A HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKY FOR ME & OTHERS THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND THEREFORE THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099259June 1, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE LINE BLEW A HOLE AND NO BRAKES. NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. NO HELP WITH THAT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PASS ON RIGHT SHOULDER THREW THE GRASS. ALMOST A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. NEED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF. PEOPLE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11083684April 6, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11083689April 6, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11081326March 26, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT GM USED SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS IN OF ALL THINGS THE BRAKE LINES! I LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY WHEN ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES BLEW DUE TO RUST. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? I SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST PARTIAL BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO THE FRONT AND REAR LINES BEING SEPARATE. LUCKILY FOR ME THIS HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE MY FAMILIES THANKSGIVING TRIP, OR ELSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED! PLEASE DON'T LET GM GET AWAY WITH THIS!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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