Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10670910January 8, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ON THE EXIT RAMP. WENT TO PRESS MY BRAKES AT THE STOP LIGHT AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANKFULLY THE OFF RAMP WAS AN SLIGHT UPHILL SO THAT HELPED ME SLOW AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING ACROSS. I WENT THROUGH THE STOP LIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER THE TURN BY PRESSING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT 2 OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. THE OTHER LINES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST SO THEY WERE ALL REPLACED. I WAS THANKFUL THAT MY 4 KIDS AND HUSBAND WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND THAT THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC OR THIS COULD HAVE HAD A MUCH WORSE ENDING. AFTER SEEING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE ABOUT THE BRAKE LINES ON THE 2003 SUBURBAN, I WOULD HOPE THAT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED FOR SAFETY SAKE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670922January 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I AM A TEACHER AND GOT A CALL IN MY CLASSROOM THAT MY SUBURBAN WAS ON FIRE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WHEN I GOT OUTSIDE, SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS SMOKE ALL IN THE SUBURBAN AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE (NOT THE HOOD). WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THEY ENTERED THE VEHICLE, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND PROCEEDED TO TEAR OUT MY REAR HEADLINER TO EXTINGUISH THE ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT WAS OCCURRING. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND IT WAS DEEMED REPARABLE, WHICH I WAS NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT SEEING AS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BEYOND ELECTRICAL. THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE REAR DOME LIGHT AND BURNED THE HEADLINER AND MELTED THE PAINT OFF THE ROOF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCATION OF THE FIRE WAS NOT A IN A PLACE WHERE ANY MECHANIC COULD CHECK TO HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM OCCURRING AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD. I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO AFFORD A NEW SUBURBAN AND DO LOVE MINE, BUT AM NOW JUST CONCERNED. I AM THANKFUL NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO ONE WAS HURT.. BUT HAD A PARENT DROPPING A KID OFF TO SCHOOL NOT NOTICED THE SMOKE COMING OFF THE ROOF OF MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT, THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I HAD ALSO JUST FILLED MY TANK UP THE DAY BEFORE SO THE CAR WAS SITTING WITH 30 GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN IT. I AM ALSO THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT TRYING TO SCRAMBLE TO GET MY 4 KIDS OUT OF THE CAR (AND YES WE DO USE THE 3RD ROW SEAT DAILY). I THINK THIS INCIDENT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT TO PREVENT ANY OTHER OWNER OF A 2003 SUBURBAN FROM HAVING A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669595January 2, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668397December 26, 2014
ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST ALL POWER. IT SAID (REDUCED ENGINE POWER) ON THE DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVEN'T FOUND A MECHANIC WHO CAN FIX IT. I'VE LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME DEADLY CRASHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664731December 16, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS DRIVING BEHIND A SCHOOL BUS WHEN IT STOPPED TO LET KIDS OFF. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES, I AM NOT REALLY SURE HOW I MANAGED TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE BUS. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT. GOT OUT OF MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN WENT INTO THE BANK TO CALL MY HUSBAND TO COME GET ME. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OUT TO MY TRUCK THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. MY BRAKE LINES WHERE SHOOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664071December 13, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
APPLIED BRAKES AND HAD TO PRESS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. ONCE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO ROLL AGAIN UNLESS I APPLIED FURTHER PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663740December 11, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS TRAVELING IN CITY DOWN A SLIGHT HILL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNINGS WENT ON AND SOUNDED. IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO A LOW GEAR AND PUMPED BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP OFF THE ROAD. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE HAD BEEN A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE AS BRAKE FLUID WAS ALL ON THE GROUND AND COVERING THE SPARE TIRE. REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED THIS WAS DUE TO RUSTING OF THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663288December 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WENT TO STOP WHEN TRAFFIC STOP AND FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER TO STOP. HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT. I LIMPED HOME WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER AND WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECK THE OIL RESOLVE, IT HAD ALMOST NO OIL. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND A LEAKING BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS RUSTED OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663432December 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE WORKING UP TO STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662333December 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER LEFT TO THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661513December 2, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING, ONSTAR DEVICE POWER IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, FAN MOTOR, AND DOOR LOCKS LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURES RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660734November 24, 2014
ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I NOTICE A LOSS OF POWER AND NOTICE THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER COASTING TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CAR STARTS AGAIN AND I CAN DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO WHEN A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660000November 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS COMING TO AN INTERSECTION WITH A RED LIGHT, I WENT TO SLOW STOP FROM 30 MPH AND MY BRAKES FAILED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT ENGAGE AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658658November 17, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
RE: LOSS OF BRAKES. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES FAILED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE BRAKE SYSTEM SUFFERED A LOSS OF LOSS HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED HEAVY CORROSION. CORROSION CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652656November 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING IN MY SUBDIVISION I APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH VERY LIMITED/SLOW STOPPING POWER STOPPING. WITH GREAT LUCK IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO TERRIBLE IF A KID CAME IN FRONT LAST MINUTE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT. DRIVING VERY SLOWLY HOME AND IN THE DRIVEWAY I HAD ANOTHER PERSON APPLY THE BRAKES AND WHEN THEY DID BRAKE FLUID CAME DUMPING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED TERRIBLY RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. ONE OF THE LINES HAD SPLIT, ALL THE OTHERS COULD GO ANY DAY NOW. READING ONLINE THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, ONE DAY THESE LINES ARE GOING TO BREAK AT THE WRONG TIME AND SOMEONE OR SOME PEOPLE MAY LOSE THEIR LIFE. DO THE RIGHT THING GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650493October 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I CAN UNLOCK TRUCK WITH KEY OR REMOTE PUT KEY IN START AND DASH LIGHTS COME ON BUT NO START. AFTER BEING TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP, THE STARTED, AND KEY I KNOW IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCK. I HAVE REPROGRAMMED IT SEVERAL TIME BUT EACH TIME A DIFFERENT WAY. I HAVE RESEARCH IT ON LINE AND IT IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH GM CARS AND TRUCKS. HOWEVER I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS A RECALL. I AM RECENTLY THE SECOND CAR OWNER OF THIS TRUCK AND EXPERIENCING THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR ME AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY IF AT A SHOPPING CENTER. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME THEN THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED. IF ANY ONE CAN HELP ME PLEASE EMAIL [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650042October 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND FAILED ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY ATTACH TO THE ABS MECHANISM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648287October 16, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP AT A FLAT LAUNCH RAMP TO PUT OUR BOAT INTO THE WATER. AS THE TRAILER REACHED THE WATER, I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I DID THAT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE BOAT REACHED THE WATER. FORTUNATELY THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING AND ALLOWED ME TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD BURST. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL RUSTED AND NOT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. CONTRARY TO WHAT GM IS CLAIMING, MY VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP IN A SAFE DISTANCE AND THAT WAS WITHOUT THE BOAT/TRAILER ATTACHED. IF WE HAD BEEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED (WHICH WE DID SHORTLY BEFORE THE FAILURE), THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10644534October 14, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE TRANSITING THE PARKING LOT AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY LAST THURSDAY, I WAS APPROACHING THE STREET ENTRANCE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW MY VEHICLE. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDDLE, I ENCOUNTERED NORMAL BRAKING RESISTANCE FOR ABOUT A HALF SECOND BEFORE RESISTANCE STOPPED AND THE PEDDLE FLOORED. I PUMPED THE PEDDLE SEVERAL TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO BUILD PRESSURE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I ABANDONED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND DEPLOYED THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE ENTERING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE CROSS STREET. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT ENTERED TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM APPEARED TO HAVE SUFFERED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IN FACT, THE "BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE" INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ON SITE INSPECTION SHOWED RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIRS. THERE WERE LARGE PUDDLES OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AT BOTH THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WHEELS AND A TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID LEADING BACK UP THE PARKING LOT. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID BY THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, CONFIRMS THAT ONE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT THE OTHERS WERE ALSO CORRODED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE: THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AND HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GARAGED IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND HAS NEVER BEEN OPERATED FOR SIGNIFICANT PERIODS OF TIME IN TRADITIONAL "SALT BELT" STATES OR IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS WHICH WOULD ACCELERATE CORROSION. WERE "STAINLESS" OR CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS MANDATED OR USED IN THESE BRAKE LINES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10644658October 14, 2014
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
ONE OF THE TWO REAR PLASTIC WINDOW HINGES HAS SNAPPED. I FIRST NOTICED ON 10/11 AS I WAS ACCESSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BY UNLATCHING THE WINDOW. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK THE ISSUE AND NOW REALIZE THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD, THAT GM IS AWARE OF IT, AND ACTUALLY RE-DESIGNED THE HINGES STARTING IN 2005. WHAT THEY HAVEN?T DONE (AS I KNOW IT) IS ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'M WRITING TO ASK WHETHER THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND IF IT AND/OR GM HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THIS DOES NOT WARRANT FURTHER ATTENTION. THE CONCERN IS IT?S EASY TO LATCH THE WINDOW IN PLACE, EVEN WITH 1 OF THE 2 HINGES BROKEN, AND THEREFORE DELAY OR SIMPLY IGNORE THE REPAIR NEED (AS THE REPAIR COST IS SIGNIFICANT), ASSUMING IT?S SAFE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T USE THE WINDOW FURTHER FOR ACCESS. BY CONTINUING TO USE THE VEHICLE W/OUT REPAIR, THE ONE WORKING HINGE AND WINDOW LATCH ITSELF ARE FORCED TO KEEP THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. UNDER THE ADDED STRESS, THE SINGLE HINGE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL, AND LIKELY AT SPEED AS THE VEHICLE HITS THE LAST BUMP THE HINGE CAN WITHSTAND, OR AS REPORTED BY OWNERS ONLINE, A WINDOW IS SIMPLY ROLLED DOWN, INCREASING WIND FORCE ON THE REAR WINDOW. IF EITHER HAPPENS THE RESULT IS ALWAYS THE WINDOW IS JETTISONED FROM THE FRAME AND LANDS ON WHATEVER IT LANDS ON BEHIND THE VEHICLE. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT, AS THE WINDOW IS 4-5 FEET WIDE AND LARGE AND HEAVY ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY CAUSE DISASTER TO TRAFFIC TRAVELING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. I'VE CALLED 2 CHEVY DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA SO FAR AND ASKED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IF THIS ISSUE IS BEING ADDRESSED AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PART FAILING. THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT IN MY OPINION NOT LIKELY. I WORRY THIS IS A TRAINED RESPONSE, SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO MINIMIZE ATTENTION ON THE MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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