I HAD MY 2004 CHEV SUBURBAN PARKED IN MY GARAGE. MY 8 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT LISTENING TO THE RADIO. I HAD THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION SO SHE COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO. FROM THE BACK SEAT SHE REACHED UP TO TURN OFF THE RADIO AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVES SIDE REAR DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN THE SUBURBAN ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE THE REAR DOOR CAUGHT ON THE GARAGE DOOR KEEPING IT FROM ROLLING INTO THE STREET, INTO A PEDESTRIAN OR INTO THE HOUSE ACCROSS THE STREET. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I NOTIFIED GM PRODUCT ALLIGATIONS DEPARTMENT, TIM MILLER, ABOUT THE INCIDENT. HE STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE COULD BE PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT USING THE BREAK WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS AS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTS THAT YOU USE THE ACCESSORY KEY POSITIONING TO "LET YOU USE THINGS LIKE THE RADIO, POWER WINDOWS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF". I THINK THAT GM NEEDS TO LOOK AT INSTALLING SOME TYPE OF FEATURE THAT REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE ENGAGED TO SHIFT THE GREAR OUT OF PARK EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION SIMILARY TO STANDARD NO. 102 - TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT - PASSENGER CARS, MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES, TRUCKS, AND BUSES (EFFECTIVE 1-1-68) THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, A STARTER INTERLO
2004 Chevrolet Suburban 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 2004 record →
BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED AT LOW SPEED WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO SPARE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *PH CONSUMER MADE A SEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT (ODI: 10056005). *LA
I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2004 K2500 CHEV. SUBURBAN WITH THE ELECTRIC CAMPER MIRROR OPTION. I HAVE DRIVEN IT TWO WEEKS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER (CONVEX) MIRROR HAS A HUGE BLIND SPOT THAT HIDES ALL CARS AND UP TO MEDIUM SIZE TRUCKS. IT IS DANGEROUS. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO FIX. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY CONFIRMED THERE IS NOT FIX AND ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE SERVICE MANANGER HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS BE CORRECTED. CHEVROLET'S POSITION IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO NOTHING ELSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER AVOIDED A COLLISION BY CONTINUING TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
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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