2003 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 2003 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
- Brakes1453.8%
- Electrical311.5%
- Fuel system27.7%
- Engine27.7%
- Body & structure13.8%
- Tires & wheels13.8%
- Driver assistance13.8%
- Other / unspecified13.8%
- Powertrain (other)13.8%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, TURNS OUT ALL LINES ARE RUSTED, NEED ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED.
BRAKE LINE FAILURE
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .