Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 286 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 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 286 · page 1 of 12
the brake lines rust and they burst this occurred on my main brake line going to the abs controller I had no brakes from mechanics they say this is a common problem on usa made cars brake lines should never ever rust and burst
When driving at highway speeds or even around town the vehicle randomly jerks to one side or another alignment was just done and was told all was good tires are new Pitman armor place ball joints replaced still having the issue of it darting specially when going around curves it wants to pull vehicle to the ditch and I look like I am driving drunk which I'm not I've had my mechanic try to inspect the issue he couldn't find it I heard they're made possibly be a TSB out for it but it's hidden
Component SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
275/75 r16 tires coming apart on the side walls
Spare tire hoist wire broke and spare tire was released from vehicle on the highway. Vehicle was doing speed limit of 75mph and spare tire barely missed traffic behind vehicle.
The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, there were cicadas flying towards the front driver side windshield that obstructed the contact's visibility which caused the contact to crash into a utility pole. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance for injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was first towed to a towing yard then towed to an auto body shop where the insurance company deemed it totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had sent out a field representative to inspect the vehicle and retrieved the event data recorder from the vehicle. The failure mileage was 260,000.
The steering pump has plenty of fluid in the reservoir and has been changed regularly. All of the sudden all power assisted steering disappeared when turning to the left making parking nearly impossible causing a great safety concern as this is my only vehicle and now my wife cannot take the truck anywhere. According to other owners, it's a common issue caused by the booster valve sticking shut and when I inquired about repair, I was quoted a part cost of 300 bucks which I don't have at all. Hopefully enough folks report this issue resulting in action taken by NHTSA even though the vehicle is almost 20 years old.
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THERE WAS TRAFFIC I WENT TO SLOW DOWN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME MY CAR FISH TAILED I RELEASED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE STILL STILL LOCKED. CAUSED ME TO SLID AT LEAST 30 FEET I WAS ONLY GOING 35. WHICH CAUSED ME SLAM INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER
WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE HORN NOTHING HAPPENS, BUT THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE REMOTE MAKES THE HORN GO OFF. IT'S NOT THE HORN UNDER THE HOOD, THAT IS FAULTY, IT IS THE SWITCH INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL BURNED UP. I HAVE ASKED MULTIPLE MECHANICS TO FIX THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE DAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIRBAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THEY SAID THAT THEY SEE THIS SWITCH BURN UP ALL THE TIME IN GM STEERING WHEELS. IT WILL COST A LOT IN LABOR AND ALSO PARTS. *TR
PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE AND WAS LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW. UNABLE TO REPAIR IT TO MAKE IT HOLD THE CAR. PROBLEMS GETTING CAR INSPECTED.
WHEN DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE ABS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENED IN DRY WEATHER ON A FREEWAY. WHEN THE ABS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED, THE CAR VIBRATED AND ACCELERATED WITH DIFFICULTY AND JERKED. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING A TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHERE THE BRAKES HAD LOCKED UP THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE FIRE COMMANDER WHO EXAMINED THE CAR AFTER PUTTING OUT THE FIRE AND THE MECHANIC WHO IS REPAIRING THE CAR BOTH EXPLAINED THAT IMPROPER ABS ACTIVATION LED TO A RUPTURE IN THE BRAKE LINE, EXPOSING THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE LOCKED BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN NHTSA RECALL 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS SYSTEM BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A GM DEALER TWO MONTHS EARLIER (IN JULY) WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE GM DEALER DID NOT MENTION THE RECALL BUT MADE EXTENSIVE (AND EXPENSIVE) REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN IT LED TO THE FIRE. THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME OR THE RIGHT SEASON FOR THE ABS TO DETERIORATE FROM SALT EXPOSURE SINCE THE JULY REPAIRS. MY CAR IS PROBABLY EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS REGISTERED IN VIRGINIA. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED BECAUSE THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, LESS THAN 15 MILES FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MARYLAND. FAIRFAX COUNTY IS FURTHER NORTH THAN MANY PARTS OF MARYLAND AND WEST VIRGINIA. THE REGION HAS THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS, LENGTH OF WINTER SEASON, AND EXPOSURE TO SALT AS WASHINGTON, D.C., WEST VIRGINIA, AND MARYLAND, WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RESIDENTS OF THE AREA FREQUENTLY DRIVE IN THESE STATES, PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MARYLAND, WHERE MANY VIRGINIA RESIDENTS WORK, SHOP, AND SEEK ENTERTAINMENT.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATING ON THERE OWN WHEN TRYING TO STOP AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH 4 TIMES. I FINALLY PULLED THE ABS FUSE OUT THIS STOPPED IT BUT NOW I HAVE NO ABS IAM IN SOAP LAKE WASHINGTON IT SHOWS A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR A FEW STATES I BOUGHT MY SUBURBAN NEW IN BOISE IDAHO AND NOW RESIDE IN WASHINGTON STATE MY VEHACLE IS EFFECTED EXTREMELY BAD WITH THIS PROBLEM
CHRYSLER CANNOT FIND THE FUEL RAIL IN US OR CANADA. I CANT WALK AND HAD I NOT GOTTEN DISABLED AND HAD TO GO TO CANADA, AT FAMILIES DUE TO CHILD AND I BEING ASSAULTED AND INJURED. HAVE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS SHOWING WE ENTERED COUNTRY DUE TO STATEMENT ABOVE. CAR NOT USED, GARAGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT TURNED ON PERIODICALLY SO CAR WOULD NOT DIE AND FLUIDS CHANGED. WOULD HAVE FILED THE LEMON LAW BACK THEN! I AM LOOKING INTO ARBITRATION ,FTC OR MEDIA. I HAVE CONTACTED MECHANICS FOR RECEIPTS AND TESTIMONY. DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOING OFF , AIR BAG LIGHT,AND GEARS WOULD SWITCH THEMSELVES AND ALL DIALS WOULD GO CRAZY ALL THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE: NEW COMPUTER STARTER CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVAP LEAKS, CHANGED PARTS NO BREAKS WHILE DRIVING, BREAKLINE BROKE GAS CAP, SENSORS MUFFLER TIRES 4 NEW BATTERY PLUS, PLUS, PLUS NOW NO PART, FUEL RAIL DISCONTINUED. CAR CAN GO ON FIRE IF DRIVEN. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 ORIGINAL MILED CHRYSLER CUST. SVC, TOLD ME TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. FUEL RAIL DISCONTINUED , SO THEY WILL GO ON FIRE?? OR SELL FOR SCRAP? CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST MORE THAN 65,000.THIS IS NEGLIGENCE AND U HAVE ENDANGERED MY FAMILY MORE THAN ONCE. MECHANIC SAID LUCKY , CANT DRIVE AT ALL. IN PKG LOT. CANT WALK, NEED CAR. TRADE IT FOR ONE OF SIMILAR VALUE AND MILEAGE. SPENT NEARLY 7,000. FIXING. NOW DISABLED AND DONT HAVE MONEY. ALSO EXPECT REFUND FOR RADIO RECALL.
BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND BRAKES FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST. I REPLACED THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE. FRONT BRAKE LINE BURST 6 MONTHS AFTER REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE SO RUSTED, I REMOVED AND REPLACED ALL OF THEM AS A PRECAUTION. THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED IN AREAS WHERE THEY WERE CLAMPED, SO THAT SALT AND DIRT COULD NOT BE CLEANED OUT. BRAKE LINES WERE UNPAINTED BARE STEEL.
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY I-476 (PHILADELPHIA PA) WITH THE FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. UPON BRAKING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND PUMPING THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES DID NOT RESULT IN ANY BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER MANAGING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL MORE TIMES, BRAKE FLUID COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AT BOTH THE AREA AROUND THE REAR AXLE AND THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. LATER, INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES FOUND THEM ALL TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. AFTER READING THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES, IT IS GREATLY DISAPPOINTING, TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT NO NOTIFICATION OR RECALL WAS GIVEN. SUCH A SEVERE AND SCARY SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST NOTIFICATION OF CUSTOMERS AND BETTER QUALITY DESIGN/CONTROL OF BRAKING COMPONENTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HUB SENSOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/31/2017*CT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT SMELLED A SMOKE ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,337.
THE REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE FRONT BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME 2009 THE DEALER CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS STATING THAT IS WHY THE FRONT BRAKES DIDN'T WORK HOWEVER THIS FAILURE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST INCIDENT ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES.
THE CIRCUIT BOARD UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED.
THE PARKING BRAKE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE NEW AND NOW I GET A REJECTION STICKER IN THE STATE WHERE I LIVE DUE TO THIS AND THEN HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO REPAIR IT AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL NOT HOLD EVEN ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. VERY DANGEROUS.
BRAKE LINE HAS CORRODED AND RUBBED A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE AND LEADED FLUIDED. HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS RUBBING IN SAME PLACE ON FRAME AGAIN.
BRAKE LINE ROTTED OUT RESULTING IN NEAR COLLISION. SECOND FAILURE IN AUG. OF 2015 BOTH EVENTS WERE A NEAR COLLISION . THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION AS A HAULER FOR MY TRAILER, NOW FEAR TO USE AS ALL LINES LOOK BAD, SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF A NON COROSSIVE MATERIAL. VEHICLE SPENT MOST OF IT'S LIFE IN VERMONT
THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE BY THE BOLT. THE STRAP THEN PIVOTED DOWN ONTO THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE ONLY REASON THE TANK DID NOT HIT THE ROAD IS BECAUSE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE FUEL FILLER HOSES FROM THE GAS CAP.
MY ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE GOING OFF AT SLOW SPEEDS, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT, GOING ABOUT 4-5 MPH, NEED TO KNOW IF MY VIN IS COVERED IN RECALL
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.
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