40 of the
1,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Suburban 1500
are about the doors, latches and locks —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT A SAFETY ISSUE ON A 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN. SHARP EDGES ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE HANDS OF PASSENGERS. THE CHROME FINISH IS DELAMINATING FROM THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES CAUSING SHARP KNIFE LIKE EDGES AS NOTED ON SEVERAL 2007 GM MODELS IN DEFECT INVESTIGATION REPORT EA10004. MY 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THE SHARP EDGES ON THE DOOR HANDLES IN MY 2008 SUBURBAN WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE SHARP EDGES HAVE CAUSED DEEP CUTS TO THE HANDS OF MY WIFE, AND HER MOTHER, AS WELL AS MINOR CUTS TO OTHERS. THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF BLEEDING FROM THESE INJURIES. DOORS HANDLES INHERENTLY CARRY GERMS, AND BECAUSE THE INJURIES ARE CAUSED BY THESE DOOR HANDLES, THE RISK IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER. BASED ON THE RESEARCH I HAVE PERFORMED ON THE SUBJECT, THIS IS A MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED, AND IS NOT ISOLATED TO 2007 MODELS ALONE. I HAVE FILE A COMPLAINT THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE MATTER. IF GM IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DANGEROUS HANDLES, THEN I WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURIES AT MY OWN EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10654226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GM DESIGNED THIS CAR WITH A NO KEY ENTRY FOR THE REAR HATCH. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERNAL MANUAL UNLOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE HATCH. IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. ON TOP OF THIS, THE REAR HATCH LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS. THIS EITHER LOCKS THE HATCH IN PLACE, OR LEAVES IT UNABLE TO BE LOCKED. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT IS UNSAFE, AND COSTING THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS UPWARDS OF A $400 REPAIR JUST TO CORRECT IT AT THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10548062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE SECOND ROW WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED EITHER BY THE INSIDE UNLOCK MECHANISM OR THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON. HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK IN FROM THE INSIDE WHICH WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF HAVING A CARSEAT BACK THERE. SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WHERE I NEEDED TO GET MY CHILD OUT IN A HURRY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10524759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE OF POWER ASSISTED DOOR LOCKS. DOORS WILL NOT OPEN WITH POWER SWITCH. SOLENOID HAS BURNT OUT. GM HAS RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH FAULTY PARTS MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. REPLACED FIRST SOLENOID THAT WAS CLOSE TO BEING UNDER WARRANTY. THE THREE OTHER UNITS THAT HAVE NOW FAILED WILL COST $90.00 EACH TO REPLACE. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NTSB AND GM BUT THE REFUSE TO DO A MANUFACTURERS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10494805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. ALL OF THEM GOES OUT AT SOME TIME. I'M NOT ABLE TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY OR ANYTHING. I'M AFRAID THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN I'M NOT ABLE TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT OR EVEN TO GET MY KIDS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR A RECALL. PLEASE HELP! THESE POWER LOCK ARE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10475476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND TWO OF OUR OUTER DOOR HANDLES CAME OFF UNDER WARRANTY AND THE THIRD RIGHT AFTER NOW THE FOURTH HAS COME LOOSE. JUDGING BY MANY FORUMS FOUND ON GOOGLE THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. I FIND THIS ALSO TO BE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE LITTLE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT GET OUT THE CAR BY THEMSELVES IN THIS PROBLEM HINDERS THE DOOR FORM OPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN AN EMERGENCY THIS COULD BECOME A LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT OF THESE CARS. I REALLY HOPE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10411535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT EACH COMPONENT HAD ITS OWN MODULAR BUT REPLACING THE MODULAR FOR EACH COMPONENT HAD NOT CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #10407576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE POWER LOCK MECHANISM BECAME INOPERABLE AND PREVENTED AN OCCUPANT FROM ENTERING OR EXITING FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A MANUAL KEY LOCK FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10406857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD ONLY OPEN WHEN PULLING THE LATCH MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10400666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD, THREE (3) OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND WERE REPLACED. NOW THE FOURTH ONE HAS STOPPED WORKING. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AFTER MAKING THEM AWARE OF IT. THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS IS CONSTANT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN AN INFERIOR PART. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE EVENT OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS. 1. THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE DOOR AND THE REMOTE FAIL TO UNLOCK DOORS 2. THERE ARE NO KEY HOLES ON THE REAR DOORS TO UNLOCK THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH 3. THIS WILL LEAD TO ENTRAPMENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED IN A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10397020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVE REPLACED 3 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, EACH SEVERAL MONTHS APART. I TRANSPORT SEVERAL OF MY GRAND KIDS AND ASSUME THAT I HAVE LOCKED THE DOORS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCK ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PLUGGER IS NOT WORKING. THIS COULD LEAD TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN OPENING THE DOOR AND FOLLOWING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10392357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 CHEVY SUBURBAN CURRENTLY HAS 57,000 MILES. STARTING AROUND 30,000 MILES THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS STARTED TO STOP WORKING. NOW THE PASSENGER FRONT, PASSENGER REAR, AND DRIVERS SIDE READ DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THEY DO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHILE PUSHING THE SWITCH ON DOOR OR USING THE REMOTE. TOOK TO DEALER TODAY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE $875.00. RESEARCHED THE ITEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING AND FREQUENT PROBLEM OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, YET GM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE CHILDREN AS THE DOORS TO DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND THEY CAN BE UNLOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I THINK THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, THE HIGH NUMBER OF REPAIRS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE FOR THIS, THE HIGH COST TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IT CAN CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10390100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BACK PASSENGER ACTUATOR IN DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING. WHEN THESE GO OUT , THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH HANDLE OR REMOTE. IF A CHILD OR PERSON WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FIRE OR ACCIDENT, THEY COULD NOT GET OUT. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS ABOUT $400/DOOR TO FIX AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ALL FOUR WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT. 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN.
NHTSA complaint #10386104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE A 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. FIRST THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WENT OUT THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A MONTH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOORLOCK STOPPED WORKING. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS NOW SINCE CHEVY HAD CHANGED THE LOCKING WIRING TO AN NEW DESIGN IN 2009 AND THE 2008 WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT APPEARS CHEVY KNOWS THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO FESS UP TO IT. THE LOCK NOT WORKING DOES CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY ARE AUTOMATIC AND ARE EXPECTED TO WORK FOR THAT SAFETY CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10383136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPLACE THE HANDLES YET THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT HANDLES BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLES WERE POORLY MANUFACTURER AND A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 12/19/11
NHTSA complaint #10377208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAD TO CHANGE A REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE AND THE SENSOR CONTROL WAS BROKEN. WE TOOK THE TIRE OFF AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE. WHEN RETRIEVING THE SPARE WE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING IT OFF THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER WINCH. AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE SPARE TIRE FOR 30 MINUTES WE GOT IT RELEASED AND WHEN WE TRIED TO HOIST THE WINCH BACK UP, IT WOULD NOT GO UP. WE TRIED REPEATEDLY FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. WE HAD TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE TIRE WINCH HOLDER PART SO IT WOULDN'T HANG DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN CALLING ALL MORNING TO TRY TO FIND THE PART AND DRAPER CHEVROLET SAID THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART BUT MAINLY WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE TRYING TO RETRIEVE THE TIRE. MY INCIDENT IS DIFFERENT SINCE IT WOULDN'T GO BACK UP. DRAPER CHEVROLET DID NOT HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK AND I HAVE BEEN CALLING SALVAGE SHOPS AS WELL WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING WITHOUT A SPARE AND I DRIVE 60 MILES A DAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE OTHER TIRES SENSOR STEM BROKE ON ITS OWN. WHEN CALLING DRAPER CHEVROLET THEY SAID THE PART COST $170.42 NEW BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK. I WORK 8:30 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. MONDAY THRU FRIDAY AND CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF THIS ON THE WEEKEND. WHICH THIS WEEKEND IS CHRISTMAS DAY. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY PREDICAMENT AND CAN HELP ME IN SOME WAY TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. I COME FROM A GENERAL MOTORS FAMILY AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO COUNT ON GENERAL MOTORS DOING THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10371824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABOUT ONCE EVERY 7-8 MONTHS THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500 FAIL. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE AT TIMES. IN CASE OF A FIRE OR ACCIDENT YOU CAN REMAIN TRAPPED INSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THEM SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIVE ACTUATORS FROM AC DELCO TAKE TURNS GOING BAD. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT LEAST 2X IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10359906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, INSIDE DOOR HANDLES CUT HANDS AND FINGERS OF FAMILY MEMBERS. GM DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY REPAIRS TO THE HANDLES AND WANTS TO CHARGE FOR THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10352481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.