Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 18 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
WE WENT ON A FISHING TRIP FROM WILSON, NC TO NEW PORT NEWS. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE WITH NO PROBLEM. WE ARRIVED AT THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE AND MY TRUCK CUT OFF. IT CRUNK UP AND ROLLED A LITTLE THEN DIED AGAIN. IT TOOK ME 25 MINUTES TO PARK. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL IT DECIDED TO STAY ON. WE FISHED THEN WE LEFT THE NEXT MORNING. MY TRUCK DROVE GOOD WITH NO PROBLEM. IT NORMALLY TAKES US 2 HRS. TO GET BACK HOME. MY TRUCK STARED CUTTING OFF AGAIN WHEN WE GOT 40 MILES FROM HOME. IT TOOK 4 1/2 HRS. TO GET HOME FROM 40 MILES AWAY. IT WAS SO HOT. MY FAMILY HAD TO WAIT ALONG A HOT, LONG, LONELY HIGHWAY. IT STARTED CUTTING OFF MORE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP CHANGED AND ALSO THE FILTER. IT HASN'T CUT OFF TODAY BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON. IT'S BEEN 3 DAYS SINCE THOSE PARTS WAS REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW WHY MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. IT WAS OFF BEFORE IT STARTED CUTTING OFF. NOW IT STAYS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-60 MPH. A CHARGING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. .UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND ONLY ONE POWER ASSISTED BRAKE APPLICATION, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 06/26/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 07V521000 REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 06/27/12*JB
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS, HEATING UP ENGINE COMPARTMENTS, RELEASES CARBON MONOXIDE, AFFECTS O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS IN SOME STATES. GM NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS 1999-2008 ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. GM MECHANICS DENYING ANY SUCH ISSUES. PLEASE CHECK- IN TO THIS. OUR WHOLE FLEET AND OUR PERSONAL TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR
LEFT-SIDE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF, CAUSING EXHAUST GAS TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIREWALL FROM THE DRIVER. THE ESCAPING EXHAUST CAUSES A 'TICKING' NOISE, WHICH IS WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OWNER (ME). THE VEHICLE IS WELL-MAINTAINED AND IS NEVER USED IN HARSH OR DEMANDING CONDITIONS. PRIMARY USE IS TRANSPORTING FAMILY IN URBAN AREA. THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR SERVICE WORK THAT REQUIRED MANIFOLD TO BE REMOVED. THE MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND EPA ISSUE DUE TO EXHAUST GASES BEING RELEASED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST NEGATIVELY AFFECTING SENSORS AND OTHER VITAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOSSES POWER, REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE SUBURBAN TO THE MECHANIC. CHANGE THE MAF, TPS, AIR FILTERS OTHER SENSORS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS POINTED OUT AS PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE TUNE UP DONE (NEW SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGED, ETC.) THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS HAS BEEN OVER $1000 AND SEEM I WILL BE SPENDING MORE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH SINCE IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN, V8 ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AGO MY CAR BEGAN MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME I HAD BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR! I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND DEALER SAID IT WOULDN'T HURT CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IN JULY OF 2010, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND TOOK IT TO GET REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. $800 LATER I THOUGHT THEY WERE SEPARATE PROBLEMS. I COME TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BOLT ISSUE. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL????? I FEEL DUPED BY GM AND MY GOVERNMENT. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ILLUMINATION CONTINUED UNTIL COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE TANK. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A GRADUAL COOLING LOSS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING IN THE OIL CHAMBERS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000. UPDATED 07/16/08.*LJ UPDATED 07/16/08
SINCE PURCHASING AN 02 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN, 8.1L AND 81K MILES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE RANDOM ENGINE SHUT OFFS WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, CREATING DANGEROUS SAFETY SITUATIONS. THE MOTOR WILL RESTART AFTER A 5 MINUTE REST PERIOD AND RUN FINE, UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE WHICH OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SO FAR BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, CLEANED MAF SENSOR, REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND FAN CLUTCH, CHANGED OIL, CHECKED FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. NO ENGINE FAILURE CODES REPORTED. RESEARCHING INTERNET INFORMATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED A RECURRING SYMPTOM RELATED TO AN INTERMITTENT CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CKP) FAILURE, THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THERE IS A A TIMED RESET WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO RESTART. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
(1) THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE ON INTERSTATE IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON SLIGHT HILL, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. (2) THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON INTERSTATE 10 WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILE LONG WITH VERY NARROW LANES AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS ON EACH SIDE & NO SHOULDERS. BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND NO WAY TO CLEAR THE LANE OR GET TOW VEHICLE. (3) A GOOD SAMARITAN TOWED OUR VEHICLE ABOUT 2 MILES TO FIRST POINT CLEAR TRAFFIC. CHEVY DEALER CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP IN TANK HAD FAILED & REPLACED PUMP. THIS WAS SECOND PUMP FAILURE. THE PUMP PREVIOUSLY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED ON 30 AUG 03. PREVIOUS FAILURE DEALER SAID KEEP FUEL ABOVE 25% & ENGINE WOULD RUN. THE TANK WAS AT 44% WHEN ENGINE QUIT. FUEL TANK WAS TOPPED OFF BEFORE PUMP TESTED, ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT NO PUMP PRESSURE. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IF MORE FAILURES OCCUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. THE EMERGENCY GOOD SAMARITAN TOW OUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA PREVENTED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS IT WAS GETTING DARK.*AK
WHEN DRIVING THE AIR VENT RELEASED TOXIC FUMES. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BECAME SICK AND DIZZY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM *AK *JB
THE VEHICLE IS PRODUCING TOXIC FUMES FROM THE AIR VENTS. THIS CAUSED INJURIES TO DRIVER'S EYES.*AK
ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE COMPLAINT. MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BOX FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *JB
VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM ACCELERATING, MAINTAINING SPEED, OR COMING TO A STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN I LOOSE MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I AM IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT IT MAY SHUTDOWN ON ME WHEN I AM TRYING TO CROSS BUSY TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD......... *JB
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
OIL LEAKS! IST OIL LEAK GREENISH FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER ENGINE SKID PLATE. HAD THAT REPAIRED AT BILLINGS CHEVROLET, AND IT IS STILL LEAKING. TECHNICIAN SAID AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. 2ND LEAK, ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO EXHAUST PIPE WHICH IS GIVING OFF BURNING SMELL IN CABIN. REPAIRED ONCE, AND IT IS STILL LEAKING. SERVICE WAS DONE AT ANDERSON CHEVROLET, MENLO CA. ****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****761300. *AK *JB
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
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