RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Suburban Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 1, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 286 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 1, 2016
Fire reported

THE CIRCUIT BOARD UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED.

NHTSA ID
10852850
Incident
Sep 26, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 15, 2014

LAST YEAR THE ODOMETER AND GEAR SELECTION DISPLAY ON MY 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WOULD GO OUT THEN A WHILE LATER IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE DISPLAY STAYING OFF FOR LONGER AND LONGER TIMES. AROUND DECEMBER 2013, THE DISPLAY WENT OUT PERMANENTLY. I TOOK MY 2002 SUBURBAN FOR THE REQUIRED SMOG TEST ON APRIL 28,2014 AND SINCE THERE WAS NO ODOMETER MILEAGE DISPLAYED ( EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE ODOMETER BUTTON WITH THE ENGINE OFF ), THE TECHNICIAN HAD TO PUT DOWN "NONE" UNDER MILEAGE. THE SITUATION OF NOT HAVING A DISPLAY FOR DISPLAYING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN IS A SAFETY ISSUE! A PERSON MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF REVERSE. ALSO WITHOUT AN ODOMETER, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO ESTIMATE THE MILEAGE WHEN SELLING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588757
Incident
Mar 31, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 2, 2014

WE WE WERE TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 75 MILES WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN. ALL ELECTRICAL STATUS LIGHTS AND THE ENGINE WENT OFF. WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576679
Incident
Dec 29, 2013
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 21, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TODDLER WAS ABLE TO INSERT AND TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE CHILD WAS ALSO ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A RETAINING WALL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHIFTED WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES FOR TOWING PURPOSES. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO LEAVE THE KEYS NEAR CHILDREN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

NHTSA ID
10462582
Incident
May 30, 2012
Mileage
128,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 13, 2010

SPEEDOMETER ON 2002 AND 2003 MODEL OF CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STICKS AT A RANDOM PLACE. WE HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY POLICE FOR DRIVING TOO SLOW. HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325376
Incident
Apr 9, 2010
Mileage
44 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 14, 2008

CAR HAS HAD LIGHTS DIMMING WHEN ELECTRIC DEVICES ARE OPERATING. CAR HAS NEW ALTERNATOR, BELTS, IDLER PULLEY AND BATTERY. CAR WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WITH TURN SIGNAL ON. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND ENTIRE VEHICLE-ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS SHUT DOWN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214782
Incident
Jan 14, 2008
Mileage
86,510 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 26, 2006

STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INDICATORS ON THE DASH COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AND ALSO THE TACH QUIT WORKING. THEN EVERYTHING WOULD START WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THE LAST INCIDENT WAS THE ODOMETER RESET TO "0", SO NOW WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OUR MILEAGE IS AND ALSO THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO JUMPS AHEAD A COUPLE HOURS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER AT THE COST OF $200-$300 AND ALSO $60 FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE OTHER DASH PROBLEMS. I ALSO CALLED GM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT AND TOLD THEM I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER SINCE IT SEEMS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND ALSO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ODOMETER RESETTING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153731
Incident
Mar 15, 2006
Electrical
Filed Feb 24, 2005
Crash reported

TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT THE FOG LIGHTS ON SINCE IT WAS FOGGY OUT AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE DOME OVERRIDE BUTTON TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. THE CONSUMER STRUCK THE BARRIER CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE DEEMING IT UNSAFE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10113021
Incident
Feb 8, 2005
Mileage
33,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 3, 2005
Fire reported

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10109793
Incident
Feb 3, 2005
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 11, 2002

THE CONSUMERS NOTICED THE DAY THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT THE COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON AS THEY TEST DROVE. THE SALESMAN SAID THAT THE GASKET WAS LOOSE AND WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. IN MAY OF 2002 THE COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE MAN AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS HOT AND THE COOLANT EVAPORATED.*SCC

NHTSA ID
568007
Incident
Mar 19, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .