2003 GMC Suburban 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 GMC Suburban, 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
- Brakes225.0%
- Heating & air conditioning112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
- Steering112.5%
- Tires & wheels112.5%
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
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 3RD IN A 2003 SUBURBAN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, I FELT I WAS A SAFE DISTANCEE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON 635 IN DALLAS AND A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I REACTED VERY QUICKLY, I FELT LIKE THE BRAKES DID NOT REACT CORRECTLY AND I RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS IN DISBELIEF THAT THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURED. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE SUBURBAN AND ATTRIBUTED THE DELYED STOPPING TIME TO THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THAT ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD (2) SITUATIONS WHERE I NEEDED TO HIT THE BRAKES VERY QUICKLY AND BOTH TIMES I FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I JUST NOTICED THAT GM PUT OUT A RECALL FOR 2002 SUBURBAN AND WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED WITH THE 2003 SUBURBAN. THANKS, STEVE BURKE. *JB 3770 PALLOS VERDAS DR DALLAS, TX 75229 214.335.5523. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND TWO SECONDS LATER VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
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
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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
UPON INSPECTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED TIRE SIDEWALL WERE DRY ROTTED. FIRESTONE AND CHEVROLET, LT245/75R16LE. *AK
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 .