Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10583051April 16, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR WARNING LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES RESPONSE. ROLLED TO A STOP GOING UP A HILL. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO TOLD US THE BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED AND FAILED. SECOND TIME THE BRAKE LINES FAILED IN TWO YEARS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578128April 7, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO STOP AND AVOID INJURING MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON. THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING 50 MPH WITH MY WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR OR I MIGHT NOT BE WRITING THIS TODAY (OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED BY ME DUE TO THIS BRAKE FAILURE). I DISCOVERED THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE WAS BECAUSE MY BRAKE LINE PREMATURELY CORRODED AND THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO NHTSA AND YOU HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. HOW DARE YOU AND GM PUT MY FAMILY AND OTHER INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AT RISK BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE!!! WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL??? A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF CHEVY OWNERS AS WELL AS PREMATURE RUSTING OF THE BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE WHICH I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR, BUT I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS THAT CARS WITH 3 TIMES AS MANY MILES SHOULDN'T EXPERIENCE. PERHAPS CONGRESS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS DERELICTION OF DUTY BY NHTSA. HOW MANY AMERICANS HAVE TO DIE OR GET INJURED IN ACCIDENTS BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION??? IF TOTAL FAILURE OF A VEHICLE'S BREAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T SPUR A CALL TO ACTION BY NHTSA THEN WHAT WILL? WHAT COULD BE MORE VITAL TO SAFETY THAN BRAKES ON A 1/2 TON TRUCK? REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE LINE WILL COST ME OVER $1,200 AND THAT JUST ADDS INSULT TO THIS WHOLE DISGRACEFUL SITUATION. I DEMAND TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS WELL KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT I HAVE TO CORRECT. NHTSA HAS FAILED AND IT'S COSTING WAY MORE THAN $1,200; IT'S COSTING AMERICANS THEIR LIVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576818April 2, 2014
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW OF OUR SUBURBAN IS READY FALL OUT. THIS WOULD NOT INJURE US, BUT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO CARS FOLLOWING US. GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT AS THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REAR WINDOW IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. THEIR RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT WAS THAT A FIX WAS AVAILABLE THROUGH SAFE LITE, BUT NOT PERFORMED BY CHEVROLET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573915March 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. UPON INSPECTION THEY SAID ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO OUTSIDE RUST WHICH I HAD THEM DO. I LIVE IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. CANT REMEMBER COST OF CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACING ALL OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567973March 8, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ON 3-8-14 AT ABOUT 10:00 AM I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME WHEN I WAS APPROACHING A TWO WAY STOP SIGN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. I BEGAN BRAKING NORMALLY FOR THE STOP WHEN SHORTLY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE RESISTANCE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOST AND THE PEDAL WENT INSTANTLY TO THE FLOOR. AT THE TIME THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY BREAKING OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE INTERSECTION. PUMPING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY PROVIDED A SLIGHT BREAKING. I CONTINUED TO DRIFT AND DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE STOPPED. WHEN INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, BREAK FLUID WAS SEEN DRIPPING AT A FAST RATE FROM A BREAK LINE UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID WAS QUICKLY BUILDING UP. LATER THAT DAY I WENT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT THAT COULD BE INSTALLED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE COMMON INSTANTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566633March 1, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
GETTING ONTO EXIT RAMP AT 50 MPH . BEGAN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. SUDDENLY NO BRAKING POWER AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565695February 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME MUSHY, TOOK PRECAUTION TO GET HOME WITH SLOW SPEED. ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON. COMPLETE LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKING POWER. COASTED INTO DRIVE AND APPLIED PARKING BRAKE. CHECKED BRAKE LINES AND FOUND ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED BUT THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING ALL BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565163February 20, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE MADE A FULL STOP, DRIVER THEN CONTINUED ON AND PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN, BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AND DIC ADVISED OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 3 DIFFERENT TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE, EACH TIME ANOTHER AREA OF THE LINE BURSTING. EACH TIME I HAVE PAID MORE THAN $185 TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563806February 11, 2014
STEERING, WHEELS, SUSPENSION
LOOKING FOR A CONSUMER RECALL REPORT. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED. ATTEMPTED TO REGISTER WITH DATA BASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561864January 28, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO FLOOR, EXTREMELY LONG TIME TO STOP.NO WARNING JUST DRIVING IN COLUMBUS TRAFFIC AND LOST BRAKES. FOUND MASTER CYLINDER ALMOST EMPTY. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH LEFT SIDE DRIVERS FLOOR/FRAME RAIL AREA. DEALER ESTIMATE $1200 TO$1600. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS ON LINE INVESTIGATION VERIFIES.WEB SITE SHOWS OPEN CASE,NO RE-CALL TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561447January 25, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP. THREW SHIFTER INTO PARK BEFORE IT ROLLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND DOWN EMBANKMENT AND INTO WOODS. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM CORRODED BRAKE LINES AT REAR OF VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558247January 2, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HAD TO USE THE PARKING BREAK AND RUN INTO THE CURB TO STOP. FOUND THERE WAS NO FLUID SO FILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND PUMPED BRAKES. FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT OF THE LINE JUST UNDER THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I INSPECTED ALL THE BRAKE LINES AND FOUND THEM SEVERELY CORRODED AND WILL NOW REPLACE THEM ALL. THE LAST TIME I HAD TO CHANGE A STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS ON A 1952 BUICK, BUT THAT WAS IN 1984, WHEN THE CAR WAS 32 YEARS OLD. THERE SHOULD BE EITHER A RECALL OR AT LEAST A NOTICE FROM CHEVROLET THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. I COULD HAVE EASILY WRECKED MY TRUCK AND/OR KILLED A PEDESTRIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557424December 27, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILED IN DUE TO POOR GROUNDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 348.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557165December 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND LOW BRAKE FLUID. CHEVROLET DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE LINES. LOST BRAKE PRESSURE ON DECEMBER 23, 2003 AND TOWED VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557192December 24, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS HUGE PILE OF JUNK, IT HAS BEEN EVERY PROBLEM TO CHANGING FUEL PUMP SEVERAL TIMES, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS,BATTERIES,MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, EVERY GAUGE IN THE VEHICLE IS OFF FROM GAS GAUGE TO SPEEDOMETER TO COOLANT! THERE IS NOT ANYTHING THAT IS NOT WRONG WITH IT. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND SO MANY TIMES OF BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH 4 LITTLE KIDS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER WITH NO HEAT. I WOULD LIKE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FROM CHEVROLET TO COVER ANY EXPENSE INCURRED WHILE OWNING SUCH A PIECE OF CRAP AND FOR THE HUMILIATION I HAVE INCURRED BY BEING SEEN IN A CHEVY BECAUSE THEY ARE JUNK!!!!!OR WOULD LIKE BOOK VALUE OF VEHICLE SO I CAN GO BUY A FORD BECAUSE THEY RUN FOR 250,000 MILES PLUS!!! NOT 125,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555410December 10, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER LEAVING A GAS STATION. BRAKE FLUID LEAKING DOWN FRAME RAIL NEXT TO ABS BOOSTER BY THE FUEL TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555385December 9, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
APPROACHING STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. AFTER LOOKING AT LINES ,THEY ARE ALL CORRODED TERRIBLY AND I NOTICED THE NHTSA HAS AN OPEN COMPLAINT ON THIS VERY THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554323December 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE SPEEDOMETER PROVIDED AN ERRONEOUS READING OF 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553503November 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR OUR STATES' REQUIRED ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXTREMELY RUSTY AND, IN HIS OWN WORDS, ON THE VERGE OF COMPLETE FAILURE. HE SHOWED ME THE LINES WHICH WERE FLAKING AND ALREADY PITTED AND CREVASED. HE NOTED THIS WAS A **VERY** DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD RESULT IN A "NO BRAKE CONDITION". AFTER SHOWING ME THE BRAKE LINES IN QUESTION, HE RECOMMENDED FULL BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK HIS RECOMMENDATION SERIOUSLY AND I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THE INTERNET ABOUNDED WITH OWNERS OF 1999-2003 SUBURBAN (AND OTHER CHEVY/GM MODELS) PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUSTING OF BRAKE LINES. !!! I WAS APPALLED THAT SO MANY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AND WITH NO FORMAL RECOURSE/ACTION TAKEN BY CHEVROLET. [AS A RELATED NOTE, IN THE PRIOR ANNUAL INSPECTION FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE ABS SENSORS WERE NOTED AS RUSTED THROUGH, AND WHICH I HAD REPLACED]. WE LIVE IN VIRGINIA WHERE THE WEATHER IS MODERATE AND THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH WINTER CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE ROAD SALTING, ETC. SO THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE LIVING IN HARSH ROAD-SALTED CONDITIONS. I ENDED UP DECIDING TO SPEND THE $$ TO REMEDIATE THIS DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION AND TO GET ANOTHER 10 YEARS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A STAINLESS STEEL SET OF PRE-BENT BRAKE LINES SPECIFIC TO THIS VEHICLE (SHOWS THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR THESE IN THE MARKET BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION) AND HAVING THEM INSTALLED (OVER $1K TOTAL). OUCH! CHEVROLET NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, ADMIT CULPABILITY, AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR VEHICLE OWNERS. COME ON CHEVY... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553215November 21, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HEARD A POP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. DEALER SAID FRONT TO BACK BRAKE LINE CORROSION. COST WILL BE $2000 TO FIX. WE SEE THERE IS A PENDING INVESTIGATION ON THIS AND WANT TO KNOW STATUS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKELY FROM RESEARCHING THIS THAT A RECALL IS POSSIBLE. CAN YOU PROVIDE A STATUS ON BRAKE LINE CORROSION INVESTIGATION AMONG 1999-2003 GM VEHICLES. NOT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO PAY $2000 FOR BRAKE CORROSION THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. PLEASE ADVISE IF POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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