Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 440 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Suburban. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 440 · page 1 of 18
The ABS and Brake lights illuminate as per GM recall 05v379000. This occurs each time the vehicle is driven. I purchased this vehicle on 12/6/2023 from Kyle's Kars which is a used car dealership in Slatington, PA. A warranty was not offered due to the age, however I did purchase a warranty from Car Shield. This repair would not fall under the warranty guidelines.
this vehicle has a non-functioning parking brake. There was a recall in 2004 for 880,000 trucks and suv's. I have taken it to my garage twice but they cannot fix this problem because it is not fixable
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BEHIND HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE, THEY HAD APPROACHED A STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS HIS FOOT WAS ON THE PEDAL, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE ABS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HIT THE BACK OF HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE LOW IMPACT OF THE CRASH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.*DT*JB
FUEL PUMP MAY FALTER OR FAIL; FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL, REPLACED IT; OTHER FUSES PASSED TESTING WITH METER; VEHICLE STARTED, WOULD NOT RUN MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. NEW FUEL FILTER. GUY AT SERVICE STATION BANGED ON GAS TANK, AND IT WOULD START THEN RUN GREAT FOR A MINUTE, THEN WILL NOT RESTART. ORDERING A REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 ABOUT THE TIME OF GM RECALL 05027. IN DOING ONLINE TROUBLE-SHOOTING TODAY, I DISCOVERED THE 2001 GM RECALL 05027. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. FUEL FILTER WAS LAST CHANGED IN JULY 2009. COMPLETE FAILURE WHEN IN MOTION, BACKING OUT OF SERVICE STATION ONTO MAIN STREET (US 64 BUS), JUST INCHES FROM LANE OF TRAVEL (6.14.19).WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING LUNCH HOUR? GRATEFUL IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE, OR GET HIT. AS THE SERVICE ATTENDANT TRIED TO RESTART IT, OVER AND OVER, THE RELAY IN THE ECU MAY HAVE FAILED AT THAT TIME. IN THE INTERIM, MY HUSBAND DIED. I REPLACED RELAY/FUSES TODAY 9/14/19, AND VEHICLE STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. ANOTHER MECHANIC BANGED ON FUEL TANK, IT RAN FOR A WHILE, SO HE ADVISED REPLACING PUMP, WHICH IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE AFTER VIEWING YOUTUBE HOW-TO VIDEOS. WITH THE PUMP FAILING SPORADICALLY, AND RESPONDING TO THE VIBRATION OF BEING BANGED, IT SEEMS LIKE FAULTY WIRING OR CONNECTION PROBLEM, OR THAT SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR NOT FULLY SEATED ANYMORE. LOTS OF FOLKS SAY THE CHEVY 1500 IS WIDELY KNOWN FOR FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEMS. GAS GAUGE HAS NOT BEEN ACCURATE EVER. WHEN FULL, IT MAY SHOW EMPTY WHEN TURNING OR HITTING A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. (TRACK BY COMPUTING MPG AND MILEAGE, TO DETERMINE RANGE). IN SHORT DISTANCES, IT SWINGS FULL-> EMPTY->FULL. WIRING DIAGRAM SHOWS TINY FUSE LABELED PRIME, NONE THERE. ABS INDICATOR LIGHTS UP BECAUSE SENSOR CABLE AT RIGHT FRONT TIRE MAY FAIL ON LEFT TURN, OR HARD RIGHT TURN, YET BRAKES ARE FINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH CHEVROLET (155 MARSTON ST, LAWRENCE, MA 01841, (978) 687-3000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE SECOND SEAT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
EXHAUST AND MANIFOLD COVER BOLTS ARE TOO WEAK AND THE HEADS BREAK OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM WITH RACING BOLTS. MUCH BETTER NOW.
ON MARCH 16, 2017, I WAS TRAVELLING ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN MY 2001 SUBURBAN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS SITTING ON A THIN SEAT CUSHION. TWENTY MINUTES INTO THE 40 MINUTE TRIP, I TURNED MY SEAT HEATER OFF. TEN OR SO MINUTES LATER, I SMELLED A HORRIBLE RUBBER/PLASTIC BURNING SMELL. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I LIFTED MY CUSHION AND SAW THAT THE SEAT HAD A BURNED HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND INTO MY SEAT CUSHION. IT WAS WARM, BUT I DID NOT SEE A FLAME. WHEN I GOT HOME IN THE BAY AREA, I CONTACTED GM, AND THEY OPENED A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE. I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP., AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERING THIS AS MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, IN SO MANY WORDS. I ASKED WHAT THE DEALER HAD FOUND, AND SHE COULDN'T TELL ME. I REITERATED TO HER THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER IS NOW GETTING VERY HOT, AND I AM CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THAT. PLEASE NOTE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER IS STILL WORKING IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR. TODAY, I FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NOT INSTRUCTED BY GM TO LOOK INTO THE SEAT TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THIS, ONLY TO TAKE PICTURES, ETC. NOBODY KNOWS WHY IT HAPPENED. HOW CAN THEY DENY ANYTHING WITHOUT DETERMINING THE CAUSE IS MY THOUGHT. AREN'T THEY CONCERNED THEIR SEATS OVERHEAT? SHOULD THEY BE WARNING THE PUBLIC? MY SEATS ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE. INTERESTING TO NOTE WHEN WE PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SERVICE WRITER SAID I SHOULDN'T WORRY SINCE IT IS NOT WORKING NOW BECAUSE A WIRED PROBABLY BROKE (EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY OR MAYBE). I CORRECTED HIM AND SHOWED HIM THAT IT DOES. HE WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT STILL DID. SO, THE QUESTION IS WHY DID IT OVERHEAT. PLEASE ADVISE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT END AND FRONT WHEELS WERE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,654.
WHILE THANKFULLY DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING..PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR, I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE TRANS DOWN TO 2ND THEN 1ST. MECHANIC SAID KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I STOPPED, PUMPED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUID FLOWED FROM UNDER THE TRUCK GENERALLY UNDER WHERE THE DRIVER SITS. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE BROKE AND IS VERY COMMON, AND THAT IT JUST STARTED SHOWING UP A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THESE "C" BODY TRUCKS AGED. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME AND HE SAID THE SAME THING THAT IT'S VERY COMMON AND THAT GM NOW SELLS A KIT FOR A COMPETE BRAKE-LINE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME SO COMMON. A FEW DAYS BEFORE I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON I-81 WITH A CARLOAD FULL OF PEOPLE, HAD THIS HAPPENED AT THAT TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. REVIEWING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE I SEE THIS IS A REOCCURRING COMPLIANT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS, AS THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM ON A AUTOMOBILE THAN BRAKES....CHEVY HAD A RECALL ON MY 98' BUICK FOR A VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING THAT DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO THIS POTENTIAL DANGER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
THREE TIMES I HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. DRIVING TWO TIMES AND HAD JUST ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION THIRD TIME, WHICH WAS TODAY -- SURPRISE!!!! HAD TO SLOWLY DRIVE HOME, YET AGAIN, WITH NO BRAKES!!!!!
BRAKE LINES FAILED TWICE DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION BECAUSE CHEVY USED A INFERIOR STEEL PRODUCT ON ALL TRUCKS FROM 1998 TO 2005. THE DEALER REPAIRED MY 2002 AVALANCHE FOR $600.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES. HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT REPAIR MY 2001 SUBURBAN WHICH HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. GM NEEDS TO RE-CALL ANY VEHICLE OR AT LEAST MAKE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION AT A REDUCED RATE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS NOT DUE TO OWNER ERROR OF WASHING THE FRAME DURING WINTER OR WINTER MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NEW LINES THAT ARE COATED TO RESIST COROSION AND WERE USED TO REPAIR MY AVALANCHE. MY 2001 SUBURBAN BRAKE LINES FAILED IN MOTION WHILE IN TRAFFIC APPLYING THE BRAKE PETAL TO STOP.
PREMATURE REAR SECTION OF BRAKE LINE RUST OUT 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, MODEL 2500, AS I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING INTO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE. THE BRAKES NOW APPEAR TO BE WORKING FINE. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT NEVER TO THE POINT OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANYTHING. ACCORDING TO THE GM DEALER, THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A FAILURE CODE IN THE COMPUTER. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE SAID THE SAME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN EQUIPPED WITH HERCULES ALL TRAC A/T TIRES, SIZE: 265/70R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE TECHNICIAN WHO REPLACED THE TIRE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
THE ABS ACTIVATE WITHOUT REASON WHEN I SLOW TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM BEGAN INFREQUENTLY AND I ATTRIBUTED IT TO POSSIBLE SLIPPERY SURFACE CONDITIONS. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY NOW. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR "SNOW" STATES - LIKE DC AND MARYLAND WHICH ARE JUST ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER FROM WHERE I LIVE AND USE MY SUBURBAN. THIS IS THE SECOND SERIOUS BRAKE ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALL THREE BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER AN APPROXIMATE 18 MONTH PERIOD TWO YEARS AGO AS A RESULT OF SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM (THOUGH NOT ONE I WAS AWARE OF WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED). MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED FROM THESE PROBLEMS. THE NHTSA SHOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS AND EXPAND/INITIATE RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH UPHILL, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
MY SON WAS DRIVING AND REAR ENDED A MAN GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ENGINE BEING PUSHED BACK SEVERAL INCHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SON SUSTAINED MINOR WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK.
DRIVING AT 65 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND FLEW AWAY INTO THE ROAD BEHIND US. THE INSIDE SUN SHADE WAS ALSO SUCKED OUT. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. THE FRAME AND MOTOR ARE INTACT AND STILL OPERATE NORMALLY. SUNROOF WAS MADE BY VERMEULEN-HOLLANDIA, MODEL: TVS S/N 461569. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2002-UP MODELS FROM THEM BUT NOT FOR THIS SERIAL NUMBER. COMPANY NAME IS NOW WEBASTO. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH ON A LOCAL ROAD ON MY WAY FROM DROPPING THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN ONTO MY STREET, AND THE SUBURBAN BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOBODY AHEAD OF ME, AND I SLOWED THE TRUCK GRADUALLY. I THEN IDLED BACK HOME, WITHOUT ANY FUNCTIONALITY IN MY BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION, WE DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUPTURED. ALL MAINTENANCE IS AND HAD BEEN UP TO DATE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. UPON INSPECTION ALL LINE HAD SEVERE CORROSION RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .