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2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Dec 18, 200768,000 milesAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE LIFTGATE GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE HINGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WIND WAS BLOWING AT THE TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Oct 29, 2007OR

CLANKING IN STEERING WHEEL / COLUMN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE JUST HOW 2002 SUBURBANS RUN. NOT HAPPY WITH ANSWER, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER, SAME THING, AGAIN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. GUESS WHAT, MAKING APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM IN STEERING, WITH CLANKING AND VIBRATION, CAN HEAR IT AND FEEL MOSTLY WITH ANY TURN OF THE WHEEL....BET IT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT AND 3 DAYS WITH OUT MY VEHICLE! *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Oct 2, 200789,000 milesTX

THE PLASTIC HINGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW GLASS ON THE SUBURBAN TAILGATE HAS SEPARATED WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY JOINED AND THE WINDOW IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE ON THIS SIDE. IN TALKING TO ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOPS AND A LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY, I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS. I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS WIND SHEAR UNDER THE GLASS COULD RIP THE GLASS OFF MY VEHICLE AND CREATE A PROBLEM FOR ANYONE BEHIND ME. GIVEN WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOPS, HAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM BEEN CONSIDERED OR CONDUCTED AND IS THERE CONSIDERATION OF A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT? *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Aug 26, 200781,000 milesOH

ABS ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE PERMANENTLY FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *TR

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Jun 29, 200716,725 milesCA

3RD FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDITE STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2002 CHEVROLET 1/2 TON SUBURBAN. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 28, 2007TX

KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH A/C COMPRESSOR ON 2002 SUBURBAN/TAHOE WITH REAR A/C. DEFECTIVE SYSTEM CAUSES LOUD CHATTER IN BELT TENSIONER DUE TO SLUGS OF LIQUID REFRIGERANT BEING PUSHED INTO THE COMPRESSOR. PROBLEMS FREQUENT ENOUGH FOR GM TO HAVE ISSUED TSB #01139B BUT GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT ARE DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. *TR

Parking Brake
Filed Jan 17, 2007GA

I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE MY 2002 SUBURBAN INSPECTED. THE PARKING BRAKE BAND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE DRUM THIS DECEMBER. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 92K MILES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME YEAR/MAKE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO HAVE HIS PARKING BRAKE REPLACED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 76K MILES. CHEVROLET HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT THAT THIS MODEL VEHICLE IS PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. *NM

Steering › Linkages
Filed Jan 17, 2007GA

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 SUBURBAN. MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN, INDICATING IT IS TIME FOR YET ANOTHER SERVICE TRIP. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 10, 200758,000 milesGA

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE TRUCK WOULD RESTART. THE CHEVY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER LONG PERIODS OF FREEWAY DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS NOT A LOW FUEL ISSUE. I SUSPECT IT IS A CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILING AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *JB

Visibility
Filed Dec 20, 200660,000 milesFL

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CREATE A DOUBLE-VISION. PER THE CONTACT THIS CAUSES HER NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE HER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS IN THE PASS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.

Parking Brake
Filed Dec 8, 200654,000 milesNC

THIS IN REFERENCE TO A CLOSED NHTSA ACTION # DP05009. AFTER A PARKING BRAKE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED ON THIS 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 54,000 MILES ON IT, IN NOVEMBER, I LOOKED INTO SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS AND OF THE 3 I FOUND, 2 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ONE IN INDIANA, ALL HAD SIMILAR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR SAFETY NOTICES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR NHTSA SITE, I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED AND CLOSED BUT ONLY APPLIED TO VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS IN AUTOMATIC MODELS TOO, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY GLOSSED OVER BECAUSE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF ROLL AWAY INCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL OUT THERE, AND CHEVY DENIES IT. CHEVY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SERIES WIDE PROBLEM AND FIX IT ON A RECALL BASIS. THE INSULTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THE DEALERSHIP ACTS LIKE IT IS SOMETHING NEW, AND PERHAPS I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING BRAKE ON ALL THE TIME. IT IS NOT NEW, AND I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN AWAY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON IN MY LIFE. AND WE WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS FAILING TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Nov 15, 200670,158 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HOUSTON TOLLWAY AT 65 MPH, MY 2002 SUBURBAN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO STEER CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO LONE STAR CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE BILL WAS 1045.10. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE AND THE FUEL FILTER AND TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH GM VEHICLES DATING BACK TO 1999 MODELS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. MINE HAD ONLY 70158 MI. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. I TALKED TO A CUSTOMER WHO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON HIS 1999 GMC SUBURBAN AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. FAIR IS FAIR AND I EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM THEM. *JB

Tires
Filed Nov 9, 2006MI

GOOD YEAR TIRE FAILURE. BUBBLING OCCURRING ON INTERIOR SIDE WALLS. CUPPING ALSO OCCURRING. I HAVE HAD 9 GOOD YEAR TIRES IN FOUR YEARS ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *JB

Trailer HitchesCrash4 injured1 killed
Filed Sep 20, 200631,663 milesOR

WAS PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN THE STOCK HITCH RECEIVER BROKE OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, CAUSING A DEATH, AND MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

Trailer Hitches
Filed Sep 8, 200670,100 milesGA

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A NEW TRAVEL TRAILER TO BE TOWED BY THE SUBURBAN. AFTER HEARING OTHER STORIES ABOUT HITCH FAILURE I INSPECTED MINE AND NOTICED THE WELDS WERE CRACKING. THIS WAS AFTER THE SECOND TRIP TOWING THE TRAILER, AND A GOOD THING I CHECKED BEFORE OUR NEXT TRIP. ANY WAY I CALLED THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. I ENDED UP BUYING A NEW PUTNAM HITCH TO REPLACE THE OEM ONE. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR REPLACING THEIR FAULTY PART. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Sep 5, 200654,400 milesTX

2002 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70MPH DOWN FREEWAY. WAS ABLE TO GET ENGINE RESTARTED WHILE STILL ROLLING. NO REPAIR MADE YET, SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID MANY POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WOULD BE EASIER TO DIAGNOSE IF IT WOULD NOT START. WIFE'S 2000 MODEL CHEV SUBURBAN HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEM 01/21/2002. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 4, 200666,500 milesMI

LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAUSES PEDAL PUSH BACK AND MINIMAL BRAKING ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS ON SECURE PAVEMENT. *JB

Parking Brake
Filed Jul 12, 2006MO

EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED IT ON 10-15-2005. THE MILEAGE WAS 64095. MILEAGE NOW IS 70129. I WOULD ALWAYS USE THE BRAKE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULDN'T MOVE. NOW I FOUND OUT THAT I NEVER HAD ONE FOR SOME REASON. NEED IT FIXED IF ALL POSSIBLE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 11, 200665,414 milesMI

#5 CYLINDER 1164 MISFIRES. COLLAPSED LIFTER, BROKEN RINGS. THE DEALERSHIP WENT ON FISHING EXPEDITION, CHARGING ME $271.82 FOR UNNECESSARY WORK (NEW SPARK PLUG AND WIRES). WENT FOR SECOND DIAGNOSES, CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THIS TIME INDICATING THE ABOVE. MECHANIC CONTACTED GMPP (EXTENDED WARRANTY),TOLD GMPP THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS ADVISED TO TELL ME TO RETURN TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *NM

Steering
Filed Jan 13, 2004DC

FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED REGARDING TWO VEHICLES WITH OFF CENTER STEERING PROBLEMS.*MR SERIAL NUMBER #[XXX] AND [XXX]. *CB *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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