Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10256516January 27, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 CHEVY Z71 SUB SPEED ODOMETER IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WILL WORK ONE DAY AND BE OFF BY MORE THAN 80MPH THE SAME DAY. GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENT AS WELL AS TICKETS AS WE HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT SPEED WE ARE TRAVELING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252711December 24, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REVVING OF ENGINE TO POINT OF SCREECHING TIRES. SOMETIMES FEELING OF BEING IN NEUTRAL FOR A SECOND THEN CLUNK IN TRANNY/REAR END? ACTS AS ENGAGEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL INCREASING SPEED, NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE BY HITTING BRAKE. COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING. NEXT TIME PUTTER "LOCKED OUT" TECH'S. PUTER REPLACED. WORKED GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS. ENGINE REVVED, HIT PATCH OF ICE, TOTALED OUT Z-71. THANK GOD, NO INJURIES. FIGHTING IT FOR APPX 16000 MILES. 72000 TO 88000. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249806November 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 WITH 122,000 MILES - THE FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED "ZERO" AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER ANY SPEED. IT THEN REGISTERED BETWEEN 120MPH AND 0MPH ALTERNATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249451November 20, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I BOUGHT MY SUBURBAN WITH GOODYEAR TRACKER II TIRES ON IT FROM THE DEALER IN DEC 06. IN APRIL 07 A TIRE WAS FLAT. IT HAD A SMALL SLICE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE BETWEEN THE GROOVES. NOTHING HAD TOUCHED OR SCRAPED AGAINST THE TIRE TO CAUSE IT. I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE FROM WALMART AS THEY ARE ONLY ONES ABLE TO GET AND SELL THEM. I HAD TAKEN THE WHEELS OFF FOR THE SUMMER AND PUT THEM BACK ON IN SEPT 07. IN MARCH 08 ON THIS NEW TIRE, IT HAD A LEAK IN THE GROOVED SECTION OF THE SIDE WALL NEAR THE TREAD. AGAIN NOTHING PUNCTURED IT OR SCRAPED IT. BECAUSE I COULDN'T CHANGE THE TIRE AT THE TIME I HAD TO PUT A PLUG IN IT TO GET HOME. THESE ARE VERY POORLY MADE AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER TIRES GET SMALL SLICES IN THE SIDEWALL. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF I HIT A POTHOLE, CURB, NAIL, SOMETHING. BUT THE FIRST TIRE WAS 3" ABOVE THE GROUND AND THIS ONE WAS ABOUT 1" ABOVE THE GROUND. I HAVE ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON THIS TIRE WITH ALOT OF TREAD LEFT THAT IS NOW GARBAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248421November 11, 2008
STEERING
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE, A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN. I FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME IN 2006 AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM BUT ONE THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT. I GUESS BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED FROM IT, CHEVY THINKS THAT SHABBY WORKMANSHIP AND DEFECTS ARE OKAY TO PASS ON TO CONSUMERS. THIS IS AN ANNOYING CLUNKING AND ONE THAT COULD MASK A REAL PROBLEM IF YOU CAN'T HEAR IT. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248348November 10, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. IN JUNE OF 2003, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT THREE YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE AND VIBRATE WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR DEFECTS RELATING TO THIS FAILURE. SEVERAL MECHANICS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248395November 10, 2008
STEERING
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 4TH TIME THAT IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. 24,451MI, 26,094MI, AND 65,655MI. YOU START TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING OR SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. HAS MORE PLAY THEN USUAL AS WELL. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE AS THEY KNOW IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247511November 3, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. WHILE TURNING AT SPEED OR SIMPLY CORRECTING AS DRIVING. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SITE ABOUT IT BUT IT APPEARS GM IS NOT PAYING FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ON GM'S BEHALF TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS OR AM I STUCK FIXING THIS? THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO BECOME VERY LOOSE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246819October 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER IS CURRENTLY STUCK AT 120 MPH. PROBLEM STARTED WITH IT BEING STUCK AT 45 MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243114September 22, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,722.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241236September 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER JUMPS WHILE I AM DRIVING HWY SPEEDS. IT JUMPS TO 120 MPH WHILE I AM DOING 60 TO 65 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238445August 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 SUBURBAN DOESN'T WORK. CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING NOT KNOWING THE SPEED I AM GOING. IT STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED, COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IF FIXED THEN. AFTER RECALL OBTAINED RECENTLY, I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS OVER MILEAGE CLAIMED IN RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238323August 14, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LIFT GATE GLASS HINGES BROKE; CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD NOT NOTICED A GAP IN THE BACK AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237726August 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BASED ON NHTSA #05V379000, OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM OF ENGAGING THE ABS SYSTEM WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON A SLOW STOP. THE REFERENCED RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE YEAR 2003 AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO CHARGE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THEN NOT AT ALL FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY AUTO MECHANIC HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM IS A CORROSION OF FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236265July 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM WAS RUSTED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $3,000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235280July 22, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HINGES SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234244July 14, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER READING INCORRECT WHEN IDLE OR MOVING. REGISTERS OVER 120 MPH WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 40 MPH. DEALER MADE RECALL BUT LIMITED TO UNDER 60,000 MILES. I PUT ON ALMOST THAT AMOUNT OF MILES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. CHEVY SHOULD JUST RECALL & REPAIR PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230424June 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER ON OUR 2003 SUBURBAN QUIT WORKING BACK IN MARCH 2008 WITH APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON IT. (IT NOW HAS 110,000 MILES) THE SPEEDOMETER WENT UP TO 120 WHEN WE WERE GOING APPROX. 40 MPH AND THEN IT STUCK DOWN PAST 160 AND HAS NET MOVED SINCE. SO FAR I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A RECALL NOTICE FROM CHEVROLET/GM. WE HAVE OWNED MANY DIFFERENT MAKES OF CARS ALONG WITH ANOTHER SUBURBAN WITH MANY MORE MILES THAN THIS ONE AND THE SPEEDOMETERS NEVER STOPPED WORKING. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER $600 TO FIX AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY YET. SEARCHING ON-LINE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX AS MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227757May 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
RECALL NUMBER: 05V379000 SUMMARY: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. MY 2003 SUBURBAN EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT DEFECT WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALMOST RAN OUT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF LOW SPEED ABS ACTIVATION. IMMEDIATELY I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THAT COST ME OVER $500 TO FIX. THE PROBLEM RESULTED FROM EXCESSIVE CORROSION BECAUSE I LIVE IN ONE OF THE LISTED SNOWBELT STATES. CHEVROLET WOULD NOT ASSIST, ACKNOWLEDGE OR HELP ME RESOLVE OR FIX THIS ISSUE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE HYDO VALVES DISCS AND ROTORS ALL COSTING ME CLOSE TO $1000. I FEEL THAT THE 2003 SUBURBAN SHOULD BE ADDED ON THE RECALL LIST MENTIONED ABOVE BECAUSE THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO MY SUBURBAN. THANK GOD MY WIFE AND KNOW ONE ELSE WAS HURT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226578May 4, 2008
STRUCTURE, TRAILER HITCHES
READ ON RV.NET ABOUT HITCH FAILURES. CONTACTED HITCH SHOP, HAD MINE INSPECTED. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE DRIFT PIN HOLES WERE ELONGATING AND FRACTURING. SINCE I TOW A TRAVEL TRAILER OFTEN, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE HITCH SHOP THAT THE HITCH WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR AROUND THE DRIFT PIN AREA OF THE HITCH. THEY STATED THAT THE METAL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HARDENED CORRECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Suburban