Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10314687February 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. HE STATED THAT ON NOVEMBER OF 2009 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, HE NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAILING. THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO INCREASE AND DECREASE IN SPEED UNTIL IT STOPPED WORKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE CLUSTER PROGRAM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUSTER PROGRAM. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $500.00. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304978February 4, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 4WD ROLLOVER RESULTING IN ROOF COMPACTING AND SEAT BELTS FAILING, 3 MAJOR INJURIES;: ALL WEARING SEATBELTS: DRIVER: ROAD BURN, CUT'S, BRUISES, BROKEN RIB. FRONT PASSENGER: SEVERE, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, C2, STAGE 3 SPINAL FRACTURE. WINDOW'S BROKE OUT & CAR LANDED ON RIGHT ARM RESULTING IN ELBOW DISLOCATION, FRACTURE AND MUSCLES TORN FROM THE BONE; BROKEN RIB. 2ND SEAT PASSENGER: 1/2 THROWN OUT OF THE CAR SUSTAINING 3 SPINAL FXS, RIB FX., SCAPULA FX. AND ROAD BURN. 3RD SEAT PASSENGER: THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE INTO THE FAST LANE ON ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SUSTAINING HEAD INJURY, BILATERAL COLLARBONE FRACTURE'S, SCAPULA FX. AND ROAD BURN. CHEVY SUBURBAN'S CANNOT WITHSTAND A ROLLOVER AND CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A COURT TRIAL. IMPEACH OBAMA OBAMA & HIS CIRCUS FOR DEFYING OUR U.S. CONSTITUTION! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10301849January 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS WOULD INCORRECTLY ENGAGE WHEN STOPPING AT LOW SPEEDS (< 5 MPH). INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE SINCE ABS STARTS PUMPING INSTEAD OF JUST APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS ON IDEAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND AT LOW SPEED/NON SKIDDING STOPS. *TR MECHANIC REPLACED WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY ON BOTH FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT WHEELS (WHEEL HUB INCLUDED NEW ABS SPEED SENSOR). PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED 99 - 2002 (MINE IS A 2003) SUBURBANS FOR THIS. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ABS SENSORS WERE BADLY CORRODED (PRESUMABLY) FROM SALT GETTING INTO CONTACT WITH THE SENSOR. MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED THAT HE HAS FIXED THIS IN *MANY* SUBURBANS AND IN MANY CASES THAT CAME AFTER OWNERS HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO GET DEALERS TO FIX THE ISSUE. MECHANIC SAID DEALERS WERE REPLACING THE ABS COMPUTER, AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND PROBLEM STILL WASN'T FIXED. IMPORTANT NOTE: IT APPEARS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A RECALL IS DONE, DEALERS SHOULD AT LEAST BE AWARE OF THIS COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295453December 12, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HIGH CENTER (3RD) BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 20003 CHEVY SUBURBAN HAS GONE OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME. I SEE MANY MANY SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH THEIR HIGH-CENTER (3RD) BRAKE LIGHTS OUT. THERE HAS TO BE SOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GLITCH TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. GM RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS MAY BE RELATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE HIGH-CENTER BRAKE LIGHT SERVES AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION AND AT $120 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE IS CAN GET EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281506August 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WHILE DRIVING IN A 45MPH ZONE, I CHECKED MY SPEEDOMETER AS I PASSED A POLICE OFFICER AND IT READ 75MPH SO I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS SPEEDING AS I WAS GOING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE DEFAULT POSITION OF THE GAUGE WAS 30MPH. EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FULLY PEGGED AT 120+ MPH. I DISCUSSED THE FAILURE WITH COLLEAGUES AT WORK AND TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND I DISCOVERED 1) THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN GMC TRUCKS IN MODEL YEARS 2002-2006 AND 2) THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT A COST OF APPROX. $700. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR TWO REASONS: FIRST, THE FAILURE IS INSIDIOUS AND CAN CAUSE AN OVERREACTION (ONE CASE II KNOW OF WHERE SOMEONE WAS PULLING A BOAT TRAILER ON A WET ROAD, LOOKED DOWN AND SAW 90MPH, HIT THE BRAKES AND SKIDDED OFF THE HIGHWAY), AND SECOND, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPAIR FOR OLDER VEHICLES OWNERS (AS I AM) WILL BE HESITANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX ONE INDICATOR NEEDLE. THANK YOU FOR ASSISTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280291August 12, 2009
VISIBILITY
THE REAR WINDOWS OF THE 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND TAHOE AUTOMOBILES (AND PRESUMABLY OTHER MODEL YEARS AS WELL) ARE SIMPLY GLUED TO HINGES. A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE WINDOWS HAVE DELAMINATED FROM THE HINGES. I WAS TOLD BY THE CHEVROLET SERVICE ADVISOR TWO DAYS AGO (WHEN I TOOK MY SUBURBAN IN FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WINDOW) THAT HE HAS SEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF THE WINDOW DELAMINATIONS. HE FURTHER ADVISED ME THAT IF BOTH HINGES DELAMINATE (WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY OCCUR DUE TO THE EXTRA WEIGHT BEING PLACED ON A REMAINING HINGE) THAT THE WINDOW WILL SEPARATE FROM THE AUTOMOBILE. IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGH SPEED THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE FATAL FOR THE AUTOMOBILE FOLLOWING BEHIND. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN A RECALL ON THE REAR WINDOWS OF SUBURBANS AND TAHOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278689July 29, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER, STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE HINGE FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW FAILED. THERE IS A HORIZONTAL CRACK ACROSS THE HINGE. IT APPEARS TO BE METAL FATIGUE. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1) THE WINDOW NO LONGER SEALS PROPERLY AND COULD ALLOW EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE CABIN, RESULTING IN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD NOT BE DETECTED IMMEDIATELY. 2) THE HINGE FAILURE CAUSES ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE REMAINING HINGE AND LATCH. FURTHER FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN THE WINDOW DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. A) IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COULD IMPACT VEHICLE BEHIND THE SUBURBAN OR SHATTER ON THE ROADWAY LEADING TO DEBRIS RELATED ACCIDENTS. B) IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE STATIONARY, THE GLASS COULD (WHICH IS HEAVY AND SHARP EDGED) COULD INJURE A PERSON STANDING OR WALKING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS VEHICLE AT ~ 13000 MILES OF OPERATION. THE REPAIR WAS MADE BY A DEALER AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE RECENT RECURRENCE OF THE FAILURE OF THE SAME HINGE OCCURRED AT ~107000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS LOGGED AS SERVICE REQUEST # 71 743 851 820 BY JATTA FLORES. JATTA DENIED OWNER'S REQUEST THAT GM REPAIR THE DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275312June 30, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500. I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE BACK WINDOW. I HAVE A HATCHBACK WITH A LIFTGATE WINDOW. I OPENED IT TO CHECK THE LEAK AND WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT I COULDN'T. I NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMING OFF THE GLASS. I HAD TO PUSH THE TOP RIGHT OF THE WINDOW DOWN TO CLOSE IT. NOW THE REAR ACCESS DOOR WARNING IS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272916June 4, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LIKE MANY OTHERS.....THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE LIFT GATE GLASS HAS COME UNBONDED ON MY 2003 SUBURBAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267894May 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES, INDICATES VARIOUS SPEEDS OTHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. NEVER A STANDARD OFFSET FROM ACTUAL SPEED. MIGHT INDICATE 20 MPH AT 55 MPH ACTUAL AS MEASURED BY GPS ONE TIME, THEN 10 MPH AT 60 MPH ACTUAL ANOTHER TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265945April 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 53000 MILES, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILING, SPEEDOMETER PEGGED AT 120 MPH. STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AT 49,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264020April 2, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
NORMAL USE FOR FOUR YEARS. THE FAILURE WAS THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH HAS MOSTLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE GLUE HOLDING IT ON IS NO LONGER SUFFICIENT TO HOLD IT ON. THERE IS A GAP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW WHERE IT IS RAISING UP, LOOKING AS IF IT COULD FLY OFF AND HIT VEHICLES BEHIND WHILE DRIVING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO REPLACE IT AS THE COST IS ASTRONOMICAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $1200 QUOTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263127March 26, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE BACK WINDOW ARE SEPARATING FROM THE HINGES. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE WINDOW TO REALIGN AND NOW THERE IS A GAP WHERE YOU CAN FEEL AND HEAR WIND CONSTANTLY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT. OCCURRED AROUND 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262936March 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER ON OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A DEFECT AND THAT IT WILL ONLY BE REPLACED BY CHEVROLET IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. OUR SUBURBAN HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND NOT BECAUSE OF WEAR AND TEAR, CHEVROLET SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE $550+ TO HAVE IT REPLACED SO WE WILL DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE SPEEDOMETER WORKING, WHICH IS UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261969March 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SAFELY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261771March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES INCORRECT SPEEDS. SHOWS I AM GOING 30 MPH SITTING STILL OR 120 MPH WHILE DRIVING 65MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260758March 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 Z71 SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER BROKE TODAY ALL OF A SUDDEN, SAID I WAS DRIVING 60MPH WHEN I WAS BARELY DOING 25. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF IT REMAINED AT 30MPH. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER AND THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HOW MUCH TO FIX IT. $600.00. NOW I KNOW WHY, AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE. EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. MY TRUCK HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. WHY WON'T GM REPAIR THIS REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLES HAVE ON IT. A DEFECT IS A DEFECT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE MILEAGE IS WHEN IT OCCURS! LET'S SEE, FOOD IN MY KIDS MOUTH AND A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, OR $600.00 TO REPAIR MY DEFECTIVE TRUCK. NO WONDER WHY GM IS GOING UNDER. I KNOW I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD DO SOMETHING. I SEE THERE A TONS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258693February 15, 2009
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT STOP WORKING. FUSE MUST BE REMOVED TO STOP WIPERS FROM CONSTANTLY OPERATING. INTERMITTENT FEATURE DOES NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258288February 10, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, EQUIPMENT
THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS FAILED. IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES IN THE PAST. I WISH I HAD KNOWN BEFORE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2005, WITH APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE "THROTTLE BODY MODULE", "STEERING GEAR", DASH CLUSTER, AND NOW FUEL PUMP HAVE ALL FAILED! THIS HAS MADE ME VERY UPSET WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. I THOUGHT BUYING AMERICAN WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY 2004 GMC SIERRA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257209February 2, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE BACK WINDOWS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE HINGES. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE WINDOW TO REALIGN AND SHATTER AT ANY TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH ADHESIVE TAPE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V037000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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