2003 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED ON MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCT 2003 UNTIL THE SEAT BELT FINALLY OUTRIGHT FAILED, I NOTICED SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE SEAT BELT TENSION LOCKING MECHANISM WOULD APPARENTLY JAM AND EITHER NOT RELEASE FOR PROPER ADJUSTMENT, OR FAIL TO ENGAGE AND TAKE UP EXTRA BELT SLACK. THIS SEEMED TO SELF CORRECT FOR SHORT PERIODS BEFORE RE-EMERGING. FINALLY, THE TENSION MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS LEFT MY SEAT BELT TOTALLY LIMP AND USELESS WITH NO SPRING-LIKE FUNCTION TO TAKE-UP THE EXCESS BELT PORTION AND UNABLE TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN AND SECURE THE DRIVER IN PLACE. I CALLED MY CHEV DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY DESIRE TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ARGUED WITH ME AS TO WHETHER THE SYMPTOM I DESCRIBED WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM OR NOT AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. APPROX. 10 DAYS LATER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT I COULD BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR, BUT THAT THEY WOULD ASSESS CAREFULLY IF ACTUALLY A WARRANTY ITEM OR NOT. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN, THE CHEV DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DECIDED THAT YES - THEY WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR HOWEVER, WAS QUITE LENGTHY IN TIME AND INVOLVED THREE CHEV MECHANICS WHO WORKED IN GRETA FRUSTRATION AND CONFUSION AS TO HOW TO REPLACE THE BELT AND TENSION DEVICE AS THEY HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE IN HOW TO ACTUALLY INSTALL THE NEW PART. I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT A PROPER TECH SUPPORT MANUAL WAS EITHER LACKING OR THEY

POWER TRAIN, LOUD WHINING REGARDLESS OF SPEED COMING FROM REAR Z71 4X4 SUBURBAN, TOOK TO POWER TRAIN SPECIALIST, REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL 552.00. *NM

THIS CONDITION WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE TRAGEDY DETAILED BY THE PARENTS OF LITTLE MILAN HEDMARK. WWW.KIDSANDCARS.ORG . THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS THE BRAKE IF THE KEY MOVED FORWARD JUST ONE POSITION FROM LOCK. A CHILD COULD EASILY ACCOMPLISH THIS JUST BY BEING CURIOUS AND LEFT ALONE FOR ONLY A SECOND. PLEASE MAKE FOLKS AWARE OF THIS. 96' AND LATER MODEL CHEVROLET. *JB

AT START-UP, USUALLY WHEN ENGINE HAS BEEN RUN/WARMED, A "CLICKING" (AS IF THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW/LIFTERS) SOUND IS HEARD FOR 30-PLUS SECONDS. MY CONCERN IS THE LONG-RANGE (I.E., OUT OF WARRANTY) EFFECTS THIS CONDITION WILL HAVE ON THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THE CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO SERVICE REPS AT ANCIRA CHEVROLET, WHO, AT 3-4 OCCASIONS, REPLIED THAT IT IS "NORMAL." *JB

MY WIFE DRIVES A CHEVROLET TAHOE 2003 LS WITH ABOUT 48 000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 90 MPH. I LOOKED AT OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND DECIDED MAY BE I WAS GOING A LITTLE FAST. SO I SLOWED DOWN A BIT. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT UP TO 100. AFTER I PULLING OVER AND STOPPED IT WENT DOWN SLOWLY AFTER I STOPPED. DURING THE NEXT WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND EVENTUALLY STUCK AT THE HIGHEST SPEED. SO I MADE SOME CALLS TO VARIOUS DEALERS , AND WAS TOLD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $500 TO FIX THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WANT TO NOTIFY CHEVROLET. I THINK THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS ONE. YESTERDAY EVENING, THE SPEEDOMETER APPEARED TO BE WORKING AGAIN. THIS TIME I'VE NOTICED IT WILL TRACK ON THE RIGHT SPEED AND THEN HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO SORT OF RESET IT. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED A RODENT HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED A CLIP WAS LOOSE. THE THIRD TIME, THE BATTERY HAD JUST BEEN CHARGED AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, SO IT WAS JUMPED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND WOULD ONLY TRAVEL AT 10-15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, BUT DETERMINED BOTH COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO CODES WERE PRESENT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER GEAR FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE COMPLETELY ERODED FROM SIDE POST. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE NEXT 1,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PADS DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED, CRUSHING THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE FUEL TANK WAS PLASTIC. THE VENT TO THE FUEL TANK WAS BLOCKED AND CAUSED A VACUUM WHICH CRUSHED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 45 MPH, IT SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AN INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, STATING THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME, AND THE VENT FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS RETRO FITTED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS. *AK

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WOULD REGISTER AS GOING 20 MPH OR EVEN UP TO 80 MPH WHEN PARKED. OCCASIONALLY WOULD APPEAR TO TRACK THEN WOULD REGISTER SIGNIFICANTLY TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW (USUALLY TOO HIGH). DROPPED OFF AT DEALER & TOLD IT NEEDED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPLACEMENT BUT WAS ON BACK ORDER NATIONWIDE. CALLED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHO CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT IT IS A "HIGH FAILURE ITEM". INITIAL ATTEMPT AT REPLACING. SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS IS EXPENSIVE. *NM

BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE, OVER A PERIOD OF A MONTH THE CAR FAILED TO START/TURNOVER. AFTER 5 MINUTES & REPEATED ATTEMPTS CAR WOULD FINALLY START. ON FINAL FAILURE DATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN WITH PERIODIC ATTEMPTS OVER 2 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP & FUEL FILTER WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *NM

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WOULD REGISTER AS GOING 20 MPH OR EVEN UP TO 80 MPH WHEN PARKED. OCCASIONALLY WOULD APPEAR TO TRACK THEN WOULD REGISTER SIGNIFICANTLY TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW (USUALLY TOO HIGH). DROPPED OFF AT DEALER & TOLD IT NEEDED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPLACEMENT BUT WAS ON BACK ORDER NATIONWIDE. CALLED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHO CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT IT IS A "HIGH FAILURE ITEM". INITIAL ATTEMPT AT REPLACING IPC FAILED, STILL AWAITING ANOTHER NEW PART & HOPING TO GET VEHICLE BACK SOON. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS IT STUCK. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE OR WHEN THE CLUSTER PANEL HEATED UP. *AK

VEHICLE IS 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, PURCHASES NEW. SPEEDOMETER WON'T READ CORRECTLY; AT FIRST IT WOULD READ 20-30 MPH FAST; THEN IT FINALLY ONLY READS BETWEEN 30-120 MPH; HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH GAS GAUGE; RAN OUT OF GAS WITH TANK SHOWING ALMOST HALF FULL, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION. VERY DANGEROUS. DANGEROUS TO NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE YOUR ACTUAL SPEED. GM REFUSES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH DEALER HAS HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THESE FAILURES. GM MUST BE AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GM DEALERSHIP TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR THE VIBRATION AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. HOWEVER, GM MANUFACTURER WROTE A LETTER TO THE DEALERSHIP , TELLING THEM TO STOP ALL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THEY COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A HUMMING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED ALL THE TIME WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. IF THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF THEN THE CONSUMER COULD NOT HEAR THIS NOISE. *AK *JB

DT: ON OCTOBER 6, 2005 THE POSITIVE POST ON THE BATTERY POPPED OUT OF THE BATTERY WITHOUT ASSISTANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS AN ACID LEAK. THE BATTERY WAS A SIDE POST BATTERY MANUFACTURED BY A. C. DELCO. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A ONE IN A MILLION CASE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

ON BOTH MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, AND 2002 CHEVY K2500 TRUCK, THE GAS GAUGE READS ERRONEOUSLY. TENDS TO GET HUNG UP AT 1/4 TANK, THEN LATER GOES TO EMPTY...AT WHICH TIME I'VE RUN OUT OF GAS! CHEVY REPLACED THE BURB FUEL SENSOR TWICE, AND THE TRUCK ONCE...UNDER WARRANTY. PAST WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT HELP. SAFETY ISSUE: I RAN OUT OF GAS IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, INTERSTATE TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR, HAD TO WEAVE MY DEAD TRUCK THROUGH 70 MPH TRAFFIC TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. VERY DANGEROUS MOVE...LUCKILY WAS NOT REAR-ENDED! HAVE FRIENDS W/ SAME TRUCK...SAME PROBLEM. *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER 300 MILES TRAVEL. HARD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND (FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION DROPPED FROM VEHICLE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN (NEW). DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. SAME PROBLEM ON RETURN TRIP FOUR DAYS LATER, AND SIX MORE TIMES IN THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS. FOUR SEPARATE GM DEALERS, IN TWO STATES, HAVE ATTEMPTED FIX VIA: 1. RE-PROGRAM TCM, 2. REPLACE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID, 3. REPLACE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AND RE-PROGRAM TCM. STILL NOT FIXED.*JB

MY 2003 SUBURBAN WOULD NOT START. I WAS GOING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I PULLED THE PLASTIC COVER OFF THE POSITIVE TERMINAL, THE ENTIRE TERMINAL FELL OUT IN MY HAND. THE ACID POURED OUT OF THE HOLD AND LANDED ON MY HAND. THE POSITIVE POST ON MY AC DELCO BATTERY FAILED AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS, 9 MONTHS. IT HAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THEN THE BATTERY WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED AC DELCO AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD REPLACE OR PRO-RATE THE BATTERY. THEY SAID NO. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS FROM THE ACID LEAKING OUT OF THE HOLE WHERE THE POSITIVE TERMINAL WAS. THE ACID FROM THE BATTERY ATE THE PAINT OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE BATTERY SHELF. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AND INSTALLED IT IN MY SUBURBAN. IN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, IT WAS VERY EASY TO FIND OTHERS WHO HAD AC DELCO BATTERIES AND THEIR POSITIVE POST FAILED. AC DELCO KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CONTINUES TO SELL A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. *JB

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 (52,000 MILES) WITH REAR HATCH. RECENTLY ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE WIND REAR HATCH SNAPPED IN HALF. THIS IS A PLASTIC PIECE BOLTED ON TO THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE. WHEN I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO INQUIRE IF THERE MAY BE A RECALL THE ANSWER WAS NO, BUT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM OFTEN. OFTEN TELLS ME THIS IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED AND NOT AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. IT IS DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. *NM

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES SINCE APRIL. WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS OVER IT JUST DOES NOT START. HE CAME BACK FROM MYRTLE BEACH, AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 80 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND STALLED. HE MANAGED TO COAST OFF THE INTERSTATE, IT THEN STARTED BACK UP WITH ONE ATTEMPT. HE TRAVELED ABOUT 150 MILES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND IT STARTED BACK, THIS TIME IT STARTED AND WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE NEXT EXIT AND FOUND A DEALER WHO TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD MAKE IT BACK TO OHIO IF HE DID NOT DRIVE IT VERY FAST. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE. HE DROVE BACK AT 55 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT DOWN. THE NEXT MORNING HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN FARRIS OHIO WHERE HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE FUEL PUMP, AND SOMETHING HE THINKS IS CALLED A UBECK. HE WAS FRUSTRATED THAT HE SEEMED TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME AT THE DEALER INSTEAD AT HOME.*AK

EXITING ONTO ON RAMP RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED HOWEVER TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE. *JB

MY 5 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS BUCKLED INTO THE SEAT BELT, HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE SEAT BELT PUT HIS LEGS THROUGH THE SEAT BELT, HE UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT TO UNTANGLE AND REBUCKLE, WHEN HE UNFASTENED THE SEAT BELT THE SLACK WENT BACK INTO THE HOLDER, THE SEAT BELT BEING LOCKED WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY RELEASED , THERE WAS NO WAY TO RELEASE COMPLETELY SINCE IT WAS AROUND HIS WAIST AND NO WAY FOR HIM TO GET OUT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SLACK FOR HIM TO MOVE, AS OUR FINGERS WOULD NOT EVEN FIT IN BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT AND HIS WAIST. WE HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. ****THERE NEEDS TO BE A RELEASE BUTTON SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS RELEASE IF THIS OCCURS AGAIN.***** *JB

I HAVE RECENTLY SNAPPED TWO BELTS TO MY AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND WHEN I WENT TO MY PRIVATE GARAGE HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS TELLS ME THAT GM KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT TOLD NO ONE ABOUT IT. *JB NOW I HAVE TO PAY A NEARLY $1,000.00 BILL TO GET IT FIXED AT MY GM DEALER. THIS IS A SHAM. WHY COULDN'T THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND ISSUE A RECALL RATHER THAN A SERVICE BULLETIN? HOW MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS TYPE OF REPAIR, MORE THAN AVERAGE I WOULD BET? CAN YOU PROVIDE ME THOSE NUMBERS? I FIRST NOTICED THE NOISE CREATED FROM THIS PROBLEM LAST YEAR BUT WHEN IT WENT AWAY IN THE WINTER I THOUGHT IT HAD FIXED ITSELF, UNTIL I STARTED USING MY A/C AGAIN THIS SUMMER THEN IT CAME BACK. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NOVEMBER 12, 2003. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN GOING BAD, THE FEATURE RECORD SHOWED IT WAS REPROGRAMMING IT SELF, SHUTTING HER CAR OFF AFTER SHE STARTED IT, UNLOCKING THE DOORS BY ITSELF. SHE ALMOST HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. SHE ALSO STATES THAT THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP HER RPMS WENT UP TO 3000. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SPOKEN TO THE GM SPECIALIST AND THEY COULD NOT HELP EITHER. *JB

THE BACK LIFTGATE WINDOW ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND WAS SITTING IN THE SHADE ON A NICE WARM BUT NOT HOT DAY. I WAS ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HEAR THE LOUD NOISE. NOBODY WAS NEAR THE CAR AND NO KNOWN OBJECT HIT THE GLASS TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK. GLASS PIECES WERE THROWN ~10 FEET FROM THE CAR AND SOME GLASS WAS ALSO INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRAME OF THE WINDOW WAS STILL LATCHED BUT WAS BENT OUTWARD. THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS WERE EXTENDED. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER ITS WARRANTY PERIOD BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT AS A WARRANTY CLAIM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T VERIFY THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T HIT THE WINDOW. I SUSPECT THERE MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW OR INSTALLATION FLAW THAT PLACED TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE WINDOW. A NEW WINDOW WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED AT THE DEALER.

AN INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR CAUSED THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AC UNIT. THIS OCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 46000 MILES. A HOSE ATTACHED TO THE COMPRESSOR COMPLETELY BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE, DISSEMINATING A WHITE CLOUD AND FREON ON THE VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. CHEVROLET CHARGED $1700 TO REPAIR THE AC UNIT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE IDENTICAL INCIDENTS.

2003 CHEVROLET K2500 SUBURBAN WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX LT245/75R16 TIRES. ON FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2005 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENDLY LOST PRESSURE WHILE TRAVELING ON I95 AT 65 MPH, AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES: HOWEVER, I NOTICED THE LOSS OF PRESSURE BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND NO PUNCTURES. THE INSIDE SIDE WALL HAD A 1-1/2" CRACK WHERE THE TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE TIRE HAD 68781 MILES OF TREAD WEAR WITH APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 10000 MILES OF TREAD LIFE LEFT. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT IS EVIDENCED BY THE LONG LIFE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS STILL IN MY POSSESSION.

DT: CONTACT HAD FIRESTIONE WILDERNESS L/E TIRESON 2003 SUBURBAN. ON 5/30/05, GOING 70 MPH RIGHT REAR INNER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. TIRE HAS 2,5000 MILES ON IT. MAXIMUM PRESSURE WAS 34 PSI.TIRES HAD 39 PSI AT THE TIME OF BLOWOUT. NO VIBRATION WAS NOTICED PRIOR TO BLOW OUT. NO VISIBLE BULGING IN THE TIRES. CONTACT STATED THAT NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS PRESENT ON TIRE, BESIDES A VERTICLE SPLIT THROUGH THE TIRE FROM THE RIM THROUGH THE TREAD. NO PROBLEMS WITH TIRES BEFORE AND NO OTHER TIRES WERE DAMAGED. RIGHT REAR TIRE.*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN DECEMBER OF 2003. ON MAY 13, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL RAPIDLY. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT EASILY SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE CAR CAME WITH A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND I HAVE PUT 48,000 MILES ON IT IN THE EIGHTEEN MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED IT. 98% OF THE MILES ON THE ODOMETER ARE HIGHWAY MILES. I HAVE TOWED A BOAT EXACTLY 4 TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2452.00 CHEVROLET HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS & WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE LABOR-$900.00 THERE ARE TWO TECHNICAL SAFETY BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM- #030730028 "DRIVETRAIN "CLUNKS" WHEN STOPPING" AND 00822B, "NO SECOND & FOUTH GEARS AND NO REVERSE"

DT: VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT 5000 MILES, AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CHEVY FIXED IT 3 TIMES, AND IT STILL KEEPS COMING ON. THE LAST TIME, THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR BAGS. AT FIRST GM SAID THE AIR BAG DEFECT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER AND MIDDLE FRONT SEATBELTS REQUIRE AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO SHORT, AND SO IT IS UNSAFE. *TT

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURAN, 4X4. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED 9/2004. IT HAS DEVELOPED A RATTLE/CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STERRING COLUMN. I CALLED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND GREASED, AND OR REPLACED. I WOULD THINK SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS "STEERING" COLUMN PROBLEMS WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. PLEASE HELP!!

WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE WITH THE REAR HATCH OPEN (RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE BACK) THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY SORT OF CONTACT OR APPARENT CAUSE. OWNER WAS INJURED BY EXPLODING GLASS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE OWNER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS OVER CALIBRATED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. ALSO, THE OWNER HAS HAD 11 NEW TIRES IN THE FIRST 12,000 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED A STRAIGHT TRACK ADJUSTMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM *SC 8JB

THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB SHAFT WAS REPLACED. *TC

DOING NORMAL BRAKING, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SOFT PEDAL APPLICATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND A MANUFACTURER SERVICE REP. BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *JB

THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARY WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER BEING INSPECTED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM *TC

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I VISITED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE PREVIOUS DAY I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 SUBURBAN PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LOCAL DEALER TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. I WAS ADVISED I HAD A LOT OF SLACK AND VIBRATION AT BOTH ENDS OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I HAD LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THIS AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE WHEELS TURNED THEY DID NOT TURN SMOOTHLY, BUT ROUGHLY, AND JUMPED IN THE TURNING PROCESS AS THOUGH IT STOPPED AND STARTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD SINCERE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAD TO ORDER THE REPAIR PARTS, WHICH WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4 WEEKS. NEVERTHELESS, I WAITED FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. AFTER OVER A MONTH I CALLED TITLE BACK, AND HE AGAIN SAID IT COULD BE 3 OR 4 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COME IN, AND THEY WOULD CALL ME. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS LETTER I NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THESE PARTS WERE RECEIVED. APPARENTLY, THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE WARRANTY REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WHEELS JUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING. *TC *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS GOING TO THE SHOP 8+ TIMES FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND DIES OUT. SOME TIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER 5 MINUTES, AND SOME TIMES IT WILL NOT RESTART. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES, ALONG WITH THE MODULE. THEY ALSO HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER, RELAY, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AND FUEL FILTER. THE DEALER HAS FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN FOR A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, REPLY ATTN ESTHER CLARK. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND IT TOOK OVER SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENT. SMOKE INCREASED OVER THE NEXT 45 SECONDS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER DUE TO LARGE DITCHES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ENGINE DIED AFTER 35 SECONDS OF SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN A CORNER AND GET OFF THE ROAD. AFTER EXITING THE TRUCK A FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE TRUCK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME 10 MIN LATER AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES. THE ASST. FIRE CHIEF MENTIONED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE HEATING VENT SYSTEM. I CAN PROVIDE NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF THE CHIEF UPON REQUEST. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. TO DATE MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TAKEN ONE WEEK TO RETRIEVE THE TRUCK FROM THE IMPOUND LOT AND CHEVY'S PRODUCT LIABILITY DIVISION HAS NOT HELP WITH ANY EXPENSES INCURRED BY MYSELF INCLUDING $3,800.00 IN TOOL PURCHASES WHICH WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. HELP GETTING A NEW TRUCK OR CAR RENTAL EXPENSES. MY INSURANCE ONLY PAYS 30 PER DAY MY COST ON A TRUCK IS 55.PER DAY. THE CHEVY'S PRODUCT LIABILITY HAS BEEN RUDE AND VERY MATTER OF FACT SPEAKING THAT THE WILL ONLY COVER THE NADA VALUE ON MY TRUCK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NOTE IS WITH MY BANK. ANY EXPENSES INCURRED WILL ONLY BE LIMITED TO WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS. ON BOTH TOOLS AND AUTO. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THAT HAS A STEERING /CLUNKING NOISE IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I HAVE CALLED MANY DEALERS AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER, I CHECKED OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SITES AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. MY DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 4 MONTHS. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR IS GM DISREGARDING THE DEFECT IN THE PARTS. WHEN WILL MY SUBURBAN BE FIXED, IF AT ALL ? *NM

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT ARE ON BACK ORDER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHEN TURNING A CORNER STEERING COLUMN SHOOK AND MADE A CLANKING NOISE. DEALER STATED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED, AND THEY WERE AWAITING INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.*AK

SUN VISOR WAS DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING SUN VISOR FELL DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK *TC

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DEFECTIVE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BARELY ATTACHED BY 1 LOOSE PIN. *BF NO ANSWER REQUIRED - SEE RESPONSE TO ODI REF. NO. 10109124. *MJJ *JB

REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE CONSUMER WENT TO LOCK THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER SINCE THE WINDOW COULD HAVE INJURED THE BACK PASSENGERS.*AK

LOOSE MOTION IN STEERING AND KNOCKING SOUND. HAD TO WAIT ON REPAIR DUE TO DEALER INFORMING US OF BACKORDERS ON INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE. WE ALSO HAD 2 FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE THEIRS REPAIRED. DEALER REPAIRED, BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS.*AK

AT 45 MPH VEHICLE JERKED, AND THE TIRES SQUEALED. VEHICLE MADE IT TO ITS DESTINATION, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ABS BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT.*AK