2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine2257.9%
- Brakes615.8%
- Electrical615.8%
- Fuel system25.3%
- Heating & air conditioning12.6%
- Tires & wheels12.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID: 07V521000. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHY?
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN TWO WEEKS THAT NEARLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW AND INTERSTATE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE GLIDE TO THE SERVICE LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE HAPPENED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSED HAZARDOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE INVOICE WHICH INCLUDES THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS REQUIRED. REVIEWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE A NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE IF IT WOULD HELP GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED IF I SEEK LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY RELIEF. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD MY TRUCK LOOKED AT BY ALL AMERICAN CHEVROLET IN 2014 AFTER I READ YOUR ARTICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WHILE THEY SAID THE LINES LOOKED RUSTY UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, THINGS LOOKED OK. THE GM EXEC [XXX] WAS ESTIMATING A $500 REPAIR COST, AND FIGURED IT WAS NO BIG DEAL WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT TO THAT POINT. I ALSO READ THAT GM SAID IF A PROBLEM OCCURRED I'D NOT LOSE BRAKING BECAUSE IT WAS A DOUBLE SYSTEM, AND THAT I WOULD ALSO GET AN INDICATION ON THE DASH OF A PROBLEM. SADLY OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY 2016, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE, AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE REPAIR WAS NOT THE $500 ESTIMATED BY GM IT WAS OVER $2,000. "..G.M. DOES NOT COMMENT ON OTHER AUTOMAKERS? RECALLS, [XXX], A SPOKESMAN FOR G.M., WROTE IN AN EMAIL. [XXX] GM ADDED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAD DEVELOPED A PARTS KIT LAST YEAR FOR THE BRAKE LINES..." ?THESE ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH DEALERS AND THE AFTERMARKET,? HE SAID. ?BASED ON TIME STUDIES, THE REPAIR INCLUDING LABOR SHOULD COST ABOUT $500. WE CAN ONLY SUGGEST HOW MUCH LABOR TIME THE REPAIR SHOULD TAKE.? I ALSO RECEIVED NO WARNING ON THE DASH OF THE TRUCK WHEN THE LINES FAILED, AND THE FLUID WAS POURING ONTO THE ROAD, I COULD SEE A TRAIL OF IT BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD KEPT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WELL MAINTAINED AND I DOWNSHIFTED THE TRUCK TO STOP AND HAD IT TOWED BY AAA TO THE SHOP. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS OR WHO AT GM SHOULD I SPEAK WITH? WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED I NEEDED TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY AND THE COST WAS OVER $2200. [XXX] [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,204. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN TWO WEEKS THAT NEARLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW AND INTERSTATE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE GLIDE TO THE SERVICE LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE HAPPENED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSED HAZARDOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE INVOICE WHICH INCLUDES THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS REQUIRED. REVIEWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE A NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE IF IT WOULD HELP GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED IF I SEEK LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY RELIEF. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I HAVE HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S THE GM RECALL. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE TRUCK WILL START BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM OR WITHOUT HAVING ANY BOOST. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NOONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN FINDING OUT HOW I CAN GET MY TRUCK FIXED AS I AM A MOTHER OF 4 AND THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM BLESSED FOR HAVING NOT BEING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT OR ACCIDENT PERIOD DUE TO THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE. THANKS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN 8.1L, HAS BEEN STALLING CONTINUOUSLY. IT STALLS WHEN DRIVING, SLOW, FAST OR EVEN AT A RED LIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTER ALL REPLACED. I HAVE READ ON MANY SITES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 74,500 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. ONCE THE FUEL GAUGE REACHED THE HALF WAY MARK IT WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND REGISTER AN 'EMPTY' READING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE, ENCLOSED WAS A WARNING/ALERT MESSAGE TO REFER TO GM TBS # 03-01-38-019A AFTER REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFAULT ON 17 VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS 2002 TO 2004. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHEVY AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AS I NOW WILL NEED TO PAY WELL OVER $1000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER IF THIS IS NOT FIX BECAUSE HAD THE BELT BROKE WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO TAKEN OUT THE SERPENTINE BELT WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX A/T TIRES, LINE SIZE LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE CHORDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 500. THE VEHICLE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,418.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .