2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Owner Complaints

BRAKE LINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, TURNS OUT ALL LINES ARE RUSTED, NEED ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10992072

Incident

May 29, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BOTH HWY AND CITY. THE SUBURBAN WILL GO INTO REDUCED ENGIN AND LOSE ALL ITS POWER AND SPEED. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AND IT'S FINE TO GO FOR MAYBE A MILE AND IT DOES IT AGAIN. THEY CAN NOT PIN POINT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS . IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10823383

Incident

Oct 9, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

BRAKE LINE FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10823307

Incident

Jan 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY PERFORMED AN INTERIM REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NEED THE FUEL PUMP LINE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10763849

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE METAL BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS MODULATOR VALVE AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL RUPTURED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. ALL BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR LEVELS OF CORROSION NEAR THE AREA THE AFOREMENTIONED LINE RUPTURED, AND AT VARIOUS OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. A BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS MODULATOR HAD FAILED IN A SIMILAR MANNNER APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS PREVIOUSLY. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES HAD ALSO FAILED DUE TO CORROSION APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE CORROSION AND RUST ON MANY OTHER COMPONENTS BENEATH THE VEHICLE AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS RATHER CONCERNING. POWER STEERING LINES (INCLUDING POWER BRAKES, SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS HYDRO-BOOST BRAKES) APPEAR TO BE NEXT. ALL METAL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE FOR AN OWNER COST OF ABOUT $500. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NHTSA RECENTLY CLOSED AN INVESTIGATION OF BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION ON SEVERAL GM TRUCKS AND SUVS. AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS, THIS INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT "A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME." APPARENTLY THEY DON'T READ THE COMPLAINTS ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE...

NHTSA ID

10721311

Incident

Apr 29, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10660000

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

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

NHTSA ID

10648287

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

ONE OF THE METAL BRAKE LINES BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS MODULATOR VALVE RUPTURED DURING A STOP DUE TO CORROSION. ALL BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE HAVE SIMILAR LEVELS OF CORROSION NEAR THE AREA THE AFOREMENTIONED LINE RUPTURED, AND AT VARIOUS OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES HAD FAILED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS PREVIOUSLY DUE TO CORROSION. THE CORROSION AND RUST ON MANY COMPONENTS BENEATH THE VEHICLE AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BECOMING RATHER CONCERNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629913

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

137,096 mi

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM THE DRIVEWAY, COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY, A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT FROM A LOCATION UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR AREA. AFTER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED. ALL BRAKE LINES LOOK TOTALLY RUSTED. LIMITED OR NO BRAKES IS A BIG PROBLEM ON A 3/4 TON VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE'S UNDER CARRIAGE IS WASHED ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622436

Incident

Aug 15, 2014

Mileage

80,909 mi

A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE WITH NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR - WHEN INSPECTED THE DRIVERS SIDE LINE HAD CORRODED ALMOST DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME OF OCCURRENCE, THE FIRST BEING THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE IN SAME LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502170

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,293.

NHTSA ID

10471706

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

72,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (35 MPH), I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNING YELLOW. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY DECREASE IN SPEED WHATSOEVER. ESSENTIALLY, THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER AT ALL. PRIOR TO THIS, THERE HAD BEEN NO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK HAD BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (NESENGER 112 CHEVROLET, 112 MEDFORD AVENUE, MEDFORD, NY 11763). I WAS ABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO COAST OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THE NEXT MORNING. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM ON A SIDE ROAD AND THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE REAR BACKING PLATES. THE REPAIR TOTAL WAS $2457.01. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433658

Incident

Oct 13, 2011

Mileage

65,871 mi

WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SUBURBAN 2500 & WENT TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR & TRUCK HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. AFTER LOOKING WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM SAW BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK AND ON GROUND. BRAKELINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND HAVE BURST. NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422710

Incident

Aug 30, 2011

Mileage

93,813 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 K2500 CHEVY SUBURBAN, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SIDE STREET WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES VERY HARD - HARD ENOUGH TO LOCK UP AT LEAST ONE WHEEL, BUT AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I CONTINUED ON, BUT JUST A FEW SECONDS LATER, I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY PUMPING THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND RAN SLIGHTLY INTO THE BUSY INTERSECTION. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO INSPECT WHETHER I HAD DAMAGED SOMETHING. I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY AND SLOWLY DROVE HOME, WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO FIND BRAKE FLUID SPLATTERED AND LEAKING ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE AROUND THE ABS UNIT. THE BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED, AND I SUSPECT ONE HAS BLOWN OUT. THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD AND WELL MAINTAINED CONDITION OTHERWISE, BUT THE UNDERSIDE SEEMS PARTICULARLY RUSTY. IF I WERE TRAVELING MORE THAN THE 30-35 MPH I WAS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THESE ARE VERY COMMON VEHICLES, IF THIS IS TYPICAL, A SAFETY RECALL MUST BE INITIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342314

Incident

Jul 9, 2010

Mileage

109,685 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SAFELY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK). SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

NHTSA ID

10261969

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

88,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10249806

Incident

Nov 24, 2008

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

NHTSA ID

10226578

Incident

Apr 10, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 (3/4 TON) - THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE JUNK AND DANGEROUSLY UNRELIABLE - FAULTY. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT GM AND NHTSA NOT ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL ON GM 2003-2006 INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. MINE BEGAN FAILING AT 40,000 MILES IN 2005 (FUEL GAUGE READING WRONG OR EMPTY IF IDLING MORE THAN 30 SECONDS, SPEEDOMETER PEGGING OR READING WRONG INTERMITTENTLY). I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER BUT THEY LIED AND SAID THAT HAD NO OTHER REPORTS OF SUCH. WHEN TOLD IT WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR, I HAD TO PASS ON THAT EXPENSE AND JUST RELIED ON A CHEAP GPS I MOUNTED TO READ ACCURATE SPEED. NOW, GM COMES OUT LATE AND CLAIMS THEY MAY PAY FOR THE REPAIR IF IT IS UNDER 70,000 MILES ON THE 03 AND 04 MODELS. I SURMISE THEY WAITED INTENTIONALLY TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL COST AND THEY WILL SEND A LETTER ON THE 05 AND 06 MODELS IN TWO YEARS HOPING THOSE VEHICLES ALSO HAVE GONE OVER 70K. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY WELL KNOWN DEFECT BECAUSE THERE ARE SITES ON THE INTERNET SUCH AS WWW.SPEEDOMETER.COM DEDICATED TO REPAIRING GM CLUSTERS. AGAIN, A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT AND THE NHTSA MUST STEP UP AND FORCE A FORMAL RECALL OR BE AS GUILTY OF NEGLECTING ITS DUTY AS THE FDA HAS BEEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218121

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE AT 52000 ON 2003 SUBURBAN 2500. SPEEDOMETER SHOWS BETWEEN 70 AND 120 MPH. *CN

NHTSA ID

10213765

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

51,000 mi

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE OIL IS OUT OF THE VALVES CAUSING IT TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL MOTOR. THEREFORE NEEDING TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOU SHOULD PUT IT INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213092

Incident

Mar 29, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE TRANSFER CASE STARTED SWITCHING FROM 2 HI TO 4 HI AND 2 LO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND BY ITSELF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN RESULT IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10169167

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

Mileage

67,150 mi