2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

31 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 78,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling9
000
Service Brakes4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine4
000
Electrical System4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Tires1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 2017150,000 milesNJ

HAD MY TRUCK LOOKED AT BY ALL AMERICAN CHEVROLET IN 2014 AFTER I READ YOUR ARTICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WHILE THEY SAID THE LINES LOOKED RUSTY UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, THINGS LOOKED OK. THE GM EXEC [XXX] WAS ESTIMATING A $500 REPAIR COST, AND FIGURED IT WAS NO BIG DEAL WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT TO THAT POINT. I ALSO READ THAT GM SAID IF A PROBLEM OCCURRED I'D NOT LOSE BRAKING BECAUSE IT WAS A DOUBLE SYSTEM, AND THAT I WOULD ALSO GET AN INDICATION ON THE DASH OF A PROBLEM. SADLY OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY 2016, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE, AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE REPAIR WAS NOT THE $500 ESTIMATED BY GM IT WAS OVER $2,000. "..G.M. DOES NOT COMMENT ON OTHER AUTOMAKERS? RECALLS, [XXX], A SPOKESMAN FOR G.M., WROTE IN AN EMAIL. [XXX] GM ADDED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAD DEVELOPED A PARTS KIT LAST YEAR FOR THE BRAKE LINES..." ?THESE ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH DEALERS AND THE AFTERMARKET,? HE SAID. ?BASED ON TIME STUDIES, THE REPAIR INCLUDING LABOR SHOULD COST ABOUT $500. WE CAN ONLY SUGGEST HOW MUCH LABOR TIME THE REPAIR SHOULD TAKE.? I ALSO RECEIVED NO WARNING ON THE DASH OF THE TRUCK WHEN THE LINES FAILED, AND THE FLUID WAS POURING ONTO THE ROAD, I COULD SEE A TRAIL OF IT BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD KEPT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WELL MAINTAINED AND I DOWNSHIFTED THE TRUCK TO STOP AND HAD IT TOWED BY AAA TO THE SHOP. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS OR WHO AT GM SHOULD I SPEAK WITH? WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED I NEEDED TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY AND THE COST WAS OVER $2200. [XX

Engine
Filed May 12, 201677,600 milesCO

THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID: 07V521000. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHY?

Electrical System
Filed Mar 20, 2016141,946 milesNJ

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN TWO WEEKS THAT NEARLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW AND INTERSTATE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE GLIDE TO THE SERVICE LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE HAPPENED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSED HAZARDOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE INVOICE WHICH INCLUDES THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS REQUIRED. REVIEWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE A NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE IF IT WOULD HELP GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED IF I SEEK LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY RELIEF. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 25, 2015113,204 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,204. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

Electrical System
Filed Apr 2, 2014GA

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I HAVE HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S THE GM RECALL. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE TRUCK WILL START BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM OR WITHOUT HAVING ANY BOOST. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NOONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN FINDING OUT HOW I CAN GET MY TRUCK FIXED AS I AM A MOTHER OF 4 AND THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM BLESSED FOR HAVING NOT BEING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT OR ACCIDENT PERIOD DUE TO THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE. THANKS. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2014162,282 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE LINES BURST AND A LOSS OF FLUID CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE IT TOOK A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED PROBABLY DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BEFORE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $4000. THAT'S RIGHT FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 10, 201392,000 milesMD

LAUNCHING BOAT AT THE RAMP WHEN BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I LOST ALL PEDAL. UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN THE SAME SPOT AS MY 2005 2500 HD CHEVY. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 25, 2012151,000 milesND

AFTER SO LONG IGNORING THE SMELL IN MY CAB, I DECIDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT BENNY'S EXHAUST IN BRISTOL, TN, AND FOUND THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA SOMETIME CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE PASSENGER CAB AREA. THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR ON BOTH SIDES. THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REGISTERED IN ANY STATE THAT HAS EMISSIONS TESTING, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS. I AM FORCED TO REGISTER IT TO NON-TESTING STATES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS AFFECTS ALL YEARS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH GM, WHY WON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER. AFTER SOMEONE SPENDS SEVERAL TENS OF THOUSANDS ON A VEHICLE, WHY ISN'T SAFETY THE STANDARD GM SHOULD MEASURE ITSELF UP TOO. ENGINEERS, ARE YOU MAKING SURE PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE IS BUILT INTO ALL YOUR VEHICLES. I WON'T BUY GM NO MORE AFTER OWNING GM ALL MY LIFE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 22, 201170,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EIGHT MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER WAITING 15-30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AND RUN SMOOTHLY. UPDATED 10/26/11

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 25, 201168,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K2500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE 2001 MODEL SUBURBAN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR HIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 3, 201080,000 milesIA

OUR 2002 CHEVROLET K2500 SUBURBAN'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SLIP (TRIGGER) AT LOW SPEED, WHICH WAS NOT NEEDED, NEARLY CAUSING A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. NO BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS TO SHOW FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN ROLLING TO A STOP. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 18, 201067,000 milesNV

2002 SUBURBAN 2500 8.1 FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. VEHICLE DIED ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. ALMOST CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. DUE TO THE SENSOR FAULT NEVER BEING STORED IN THE FAULT CODES. THE 2001 8.1 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON WHY HASN'T THE 2002 ITS THE SAME PART NUMBER? THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THE OLD PART. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Sep 14, 2010130,000 milesNJ

EXHAUST BOLTS BREAKING 0N 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH 6.0 ENGINE. *TR

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jul 15, 2010163,000 milesWI

A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE, ENCLOSED WAS A WARNING/ALERT MESSAGE TO REFER TO GM TBS # 03-01-38-019A AFTER REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFAULT ON 17 VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS 2002 TO 2004. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHEVY AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AS I NOW WILL NEED TO PAY WELL OVER $1000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER IF THIS IS NOT FIX BECAUSE HAD THE BELT BROKE WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO TAKEN OUT THE SERPENTINE BELT WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

Tires
Filed Jun 28, 201091,418 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX A/T TIRES, LINE SIZE LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE CHORDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 500. THE VEHICLE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,418.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Nov 10, 200941,000 milesVA

2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500. 42,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR WHEN DRIVING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES CAR STARTS AFTER READING OTHER POSTS HAD CRANK SENSOR REPLACED TODAY VERY STRESSING AND DANGEROUS. -- NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 16, 200920,000 milesCO

MY 2002 K2500 SUBURBAN ENGINE DIES ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING (NEITHER SPUTTERING NOR MESSAGES ON THE DASH). AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING BETWEEN A FEW SECONDS AND A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WILL START. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AT ANY SPEED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS ALL POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES IS LOST WHEN THE ENGINE DIES. THESE RANDOM STALLS HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES - MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. APPARENTLY LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION. IS GM JUST GOING TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 5, 200978,000 milesCO

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE INTERSTATE, I EXPERIENCED FULL POWER LOSS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE TURNED, JUST DIDN'T FIRE. NO SPUTTER, NO DASH LIGHTS, JUST AN INSTANT SHUT DOWN. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. FORTUNATELY, THIS EXPERIENCE WAS ON AN NOT SO CROWDED AND STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. I FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A TURN, IN AN INTERSECTION, OR ANY SITUATION WHERE THE LACK OF POWER STEERING COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS THE LATEST IN A FEW RELATED. WHAT STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AS INTERMITTENT FAILED ENGINE STARTS, HAS PROGRESSED INTO INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLS. INITIAL PROBLEMS WERE START RELATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NORMAL STARTING SOUND, BUT JUST NOT FIRE. IT WOULD THEN START NORMALLY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. I SEE A RECALL FOR THE 2001 VERSION OF MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE/ENGINE TYPE, AND AN INVESTIGATION OPENED ON THE 2002 MODEL. THIS HAS TO BE RELATED. THE CHEVROLET DEALER FAILED TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE THIS WEEK AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CODES POINTING TO THE ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT BLINDLY REPLACE PARTS ON A HUNCH, EVEN WITH THE CAR BEING UNDER A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET STALLED IN A CRITICAL SITUATION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 17, 200983,000 milesTN

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT RANDOM TIMES, APPROXIMATELY EVERY 80 MILES. ENGINE WILL START BACK AFTER A WAIT OF MORE THAN 30 SECONDS. THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE HOT OR COLD, IDLING OR DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 27, 200870,444 milesCA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN WITH AN 8.1L ENGINE. AFTER ONLY A WEEK IT WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AT DIFFERENT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT DID THIS 3 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. I THEN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 2001 MODELS. WHY HAS THIS PART NOT BEEN RECALLED ON THE 2002 MODEL IT HAS THE EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE SENSOR FROM THE FACTORY AS THE 2001 HAD. THIS FAILURE CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN AN SUV OF SUCH SIZE. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS THERE IS NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING, AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. *TR

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20117000Routine
20105100Routine
20091000Routine
20087000Routine
20062000Routine
20056010Routine
200420010Routine
200321000Routine
2002 — this page33000Routine
200134000Routine
20007000Routine
199912000Routine
19981000Routine
19971000Routine
19961000Routine
19954000Routine
19945000Routine

Compare every Suburban 2500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.