Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2003)

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10422535August 30, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2003 - COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO A FAILED METAL BREAK LINE. CHEVROLET DEALER HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE CORROSION AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PARKED ON A HARD SURFACE AND NEVER USED IN AN OCEAN/ SALT WATER ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A GM DEFECTIVE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422689August 30, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM NOW, I WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WANT $280 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SENT IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, BUT THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN ASKED ME TO TAKE THE SUBURBAN HOME, BUT ONE BLOCK IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IM SO FRUSTRATED, AND I SPENT SO MUCH ON TAXI GOING BACK AN FOURTH. AND NO ONE KNOWS THE PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT JUST DIES. WHEN I PULLED OFF I PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO GO ONE MORE MILE AND BAM IT DID IT AGAIN. WHY CANT ANYONE FIGURE IT OUT? WHY AREN'T THERE ANY RECALLS? I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE DIED. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION? WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF AT 69MPH I PRESSED THE BRAKE WHICH MADE IT HARDER AND HARDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES OR ANYTHING TO DESCRIBE THE ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR THAT I MIGHT SLAM INTO SOMEONE ELSE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS NO DETECTION OF MISFIRE OR ANYTHING, IT JUST DIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419736August 16, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
REAR WINDOW HINGE BROKEN PASSENGER SIDE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419470August 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUBURBAN LOSES POWER AND ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNINGS BEFORE SHUT OFF AND NO CODES AFTER SHUT OFF. AFTER WAITING 5-10 MINUTES, VEHICLE CRANKS AND RUNS AGAIN. RANDOMLY, IT MAY SHUT OFF AGAIN IN 1-2 MILES OR RUN FOR DAYS WITHOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING WHEN ONE IS ON THE INTERSTATE RUNNING 70 MPH AND YOUR ENGINE SHUTS OFF. YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AS YOU TRY TO MAKE IT TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED!!! THE BATTERY DIED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART YESTERDAY. THE DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY WHY THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, SO NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418507August 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
UPON BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT ERRAND, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED SINCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR AT LOW SPEED. ALL INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM WERE LIGHTED AND THE MESSAGE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" CAME ON. UPON INSPECTION, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND THE FLUID WAS DRIPPING FROM THE UNDERSIDE A LITTLE FORWARD OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE RUSTED OUT STEEL BRAKE LINES IN A CLUSTER OF FOUR LEADING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER BACK TOWARD THE REAR OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THIS TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING OCCURRED AT THE VERY END OF THE TRIP SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM BEFOREHAND. SIX LENGTHS OF THE RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417657August 5, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND PRESENTLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. THREE WEEKS AGO MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AT 30 MPH. SHE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE FRONT PASSENGER STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THRU. ON FURTHER INSPECTION, ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY AND IN BAD SHAPE. I HAVE INQUIRED INFORMATION FROM 6 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, ALL OF WHICH HAVE SEEN AND REPAIRED THE EXACT PROBLEM MANY TIMES. I AM TOLD THAT IN 2006, GM STARTED ANNODIZING THEIR STEEL BRAKE LINES AGAIN. BUT FOR THE SUBURBANS BUILT IN 2003 AND 2004, THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RECTIFIED AND GM HAS NO RECALL ON THEM. SINCE SUBURBANS ARE PRIMARILY USED TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE, I WOULD THINK THIS ISSUE WOULD BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO YOU. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES WITH AFTER MARKET STAINLESS STEEL LINES AT MY OWN EXPENSE, $1200. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415163July 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE BEGAN AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BEFORE PROGRESSING TO A CONTACT ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415247July 26, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 5.3L GAS ENGINE. VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A TICKING SOUND. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD HAD SNAPPED OFF. NO WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLES EXHAUST SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION VISUAL SOOT CAN BE SEEN ON THE FIREWALL INDICATIMG EXHAUST GASSES ARE COMING IN CONACT WITH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I FEEL THIS POSES A HUGE FIRE HAZARD IF LEFT RUNNING LONG ENOUGHT TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT HEAT FOR COMBUSTION. I ALSO FEEL IT IS AN EMISSIONS RELATED CONCERN SINCE EXHAUST GASSES ARE ESCAPNG THE SYSTEM UPSTRAM FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND POSING THE RISK OF EXHAUST GASSES ENTERING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE RECIEVED NO POSITIVE RESPONSE TO DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409160June 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED RAPIDLY TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406292June 6, 2011
VISIBILITY
I INITIALLY NOTICED A PROBLEM CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW AND ALSO NOTICED THE HINGE CONNECTING THE WINDOW TO THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE APPEARED TO BE CRACKED OR BROKEN. EVEN THOUGH I RARELY USE THE WINDOW, EVENTUALLY THE HINGE COMPLETELY BROKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW PULLED COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW IS RAISED UP SO THERE IS A LARGE SPACE BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE GLASS COULD EASILY BECOME FULLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FALL OFF, POSSIBLY WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. IT SEEMS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN, THAT THE HINGE IS DEFECTIVE BUT GM WILL NOT ADMIT THIS AND, THEREFORE, WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405352June 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES WERE COVERED WITH RUST AND WERE ALSO LEAKING. THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE AFTER MARKET PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED NONE OF THE AUTO PARTS STORE HAVE THE PARTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/23/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401373May 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3L GM HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HEADS ON THESE VEHICLES WITH THE 5.3L ENGINES. THE COMPANY (CASTECH) WHO MADE THE HEADS LET THEM GO WITH A DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR. GM HAS A TSB ON IT AS WELL #06-06-01-019B IT CAN CAUSE POSSIBLE OVERHEATING DUE TO COOLANT LOSS, AS IT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE IT CREATES ROUGH IDLE AND A SLIGHT MISSFIRE WHICH WILL DAMAGE THE CONVERTER SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE HEADS WITH DIFFERENT ONES. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE HEADS WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401371May 17, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3L, GM HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BRAKING ON THESE TRUCKS WHERE IT TAKES TOO LONG TO STOP. I HAVE REPLACED ALL PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. ALSO PERFORMED ABS BRAKE BLEEDING TO SEE IF AIR WAS IN THE ABS MODULE/PUMP ASSEMBLY. TRUCK STILL AT TIMES SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO STOP. IT ALWAYS TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO STOP. THERE IS NO ABS ACTIVATING DURING THIS TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399399May 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. BRAKES GONE ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398495May 2, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1/2 TON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READING ON GAUGE. RAN OUT OF FUEL MULTIPLE TIMES. AT FIRST FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READ 1/8 TANK, NOW EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READS 1/4 TANK. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET AS COST WOULD BE TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME. JUST BEING AWARE OF HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE USED. NO INJURIES OR CRASHES, BUT THIS COULD LEAD TO SOMETHING SERIOUS ON THE ROAD OR EXPRESSWAY IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398554May 2, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED ON OUR 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN. IT INDICATED MORE GASOLINE WAS IN THE CAR THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396759April 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE SO THAT IT COULD WARM UP AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT WAS ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE LOWER RESISTOR CONNECTOR AND THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AN INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT DENIED HER CLAIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392457March 22, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
EXPERIENCING UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION ON MY 2003 SUBURBAN PARTICULARLY AT SLOW SPEED STOPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392298March 21, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AS WELL AS A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386612March 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE ARE HAVING SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 Z71. IT STARTED WITH THE SEAT WARMERS ONLY WORKIING OCCASIONALLY, THEN WHEN I WAS TRYING TO START IT ONE DAY THE DS AUTOMATIC POWER SEAT DEPLOYED ME AND SMASHED MY CHEST AND LEGS ALL THE WAY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH I WAS PINNED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD UNTIL MY HUSBAND HEARD ME SCREAMING AND CAME TO GET ME - IT DID THIS ON ITS OWN, I HADN'T TOUCHED A THING OTHER THAN TURN THE KEY TO START POSITION. THEN THE DS POWER SEAT BUTTONS STARTING WORKING IN REVERSE I.E. PUSHING FORWARD ON THE BUTTON SENDS YOU BACKWARDS AND PUSHING BACK SENDS YOU FORWARD, THEN THE SERVICE 4WD LIGHT CAME ON THE DIC AND STAYED ON FOR AWHILE, THE SEAT WARMERS STARTED TO WORK AGAIN ON OCCASION AND THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER...AGAIN., NOW THE CLUSTER PANEL ...SPEEDOMETER, RPM AND OTHER GAUGES ARE INCORRECT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. WE ARE HAVING TO USE A GPS TO MAINTAIN SPEED LIMITS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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