50 of the 1,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
50
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE CHECKING THE BRAKES AND REMOVING ONE OF THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT HELD THE STEERING STABILIZER BAR WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE BOLTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10938801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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IT'S MAKE A WEIRD SOUND WHEN TURNING THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON THER DASH STATIONARY I CAME OUTSIDE TO START UP THE VEHICLE IS NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH
NHTSA complaint #10864706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE SEALTBELT RESTRAINT LOCKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THIS HAD TO HAVE BEEN KNOWN DURING AND AFTER VEHICLE PRODUCTION .THE SEATBELTS WITH PASSENGERS TRRDTRAUNEF TRAVELS TO FAR FORWARD WHICH WOULD END UP IN DEATH OR VERY BAD HEAD AND NECK INJURIES BECAUSE THE SEATBELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD OR FORWARD MOMENTUM IS STOPPED VERY SUDDENLY! I HAVE TRIED TO CAUSE A LOCK ACTION BY PULLING ON SEATBELTS VERY QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY WITH VEHICLE SITTING PARKED AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING TO SLAM THE BRAKES TO CAUSE A FAST LOCK ON SEATBELTS AND NO AFFECT WAS APPARENT TO SAFELY RESTRAIN ADULTSADULTS,CHILDREN,OR EVEN NEWBORNS IN THE CAR SEATSEAT.THIS IS UNSAFE AND WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE THIS WILL LEAD TO DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH!
NHTSA complaint #10863898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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EXHAUST BOLTS BROKEN AND CAUSING A LEAK MAKING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS ALSO. STEERING STABILIZERS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #10809860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE DASHBOARD HAS THREE SEVERE LONG CRACKS THAT RUN INTO WHERE THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY AND ONE THAT RUNS VERTICALLY STRAIGHT UP TO THE STEERING WHEEL.THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT. THE EDGES ARE VERY SHARP. A PIECE HAS CRACKED AND FELL INTO THE A/C VENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE DASH COULD CUT THE AIRBAG AS IT PASSES BY THE SHARP EDGES OR SHARP EDGES COULD SEVERELY CUT DRIVER OR PASSENGER AS AIRBAG PUSHED BROKEN DASH INTO PASSENGER OR DRIVER.THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10722388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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10/11/2 BRAKES FAILED PLUS PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND PARKING BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FOUND UPON DEALER INSPECTION. REPLACED DISC BRAKES AND HAD PARKING BRAKE SHOE INSTALLED. 11/09/12 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REVEALED IGNITION PROBLEM. NEW IGNITION WIRE SET INSTALLED. 01/29/13 DASH CLUSTER FAILED, HAD NO HORN, NO HEADLIGHTS, NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, NO SPEED CONTROL , NO STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS FOR CONTROL BUTTONS, NO SPEEDOMETER READING, NO RADIO. REPLACED DASH CLUSTER. 05/05/14 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STRANDED WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MISFIRE MESSAGES ON DEALER EQUIPMENT READING. 06/16/14 STRANDED AGAIN , VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. 07/15/14 STRANDED AGAIN , VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. REPLACED STARTER RELAY. 02/16/15 DRIVER HEATED SEAT COMING ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ITS OWN. 4 WD ENGAGED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING AND MADE DRIVING UNCONTROLLED. AWD ENGAGED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING ON DRY SMOOTH ROAD. STRANDED, WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE AT DEALER AGAIN TODAY FOR THIS LIST OF PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10683661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD CRACK OVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. NO ACCIDENT, ORIGINAL OWNER, CRACK JUST OCCURRED AND PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO INSTRUMENT PANEL. CRACK IS RUNNING VERTICAL FROM SEAM IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD UP TO DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT PANEL AREA WHERE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCATED.
NHTSA complaint #10662157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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HAD SERVICED THE TRANSFER CASE AND HAD TAKEN IT BACK TWICE NOW BESIDES A NOISE LIKE THAT OF A POWER STEERING PUMP GOING BAD ( WHINING ) , HAD A TURNING CLUNK NOISE COMING AND AT A STOP LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE, GOT TO PARK IT AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING .BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC WILL WORK ON IT SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN 30 DAYS. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING DO TO THE TRANSFER CASE.
NHTSA complaint #10654073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DROVE IT HOME FROM OVER TWO HOURS AWAY, DROVE IT ALL AROUND THE DAY BEFORE, NO PROBLEMS. THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BYPASS AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT IT OFF AND ONCE I TURNED IT BACK OVER IT WAS JUST FINE. SO I CAUTIOUSLY STARTED DRIVING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD ONLY THIS TIME IT STALLED THEN REGAINED POWER AND QUICKLY SHUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT WAS FINE, IT DID THIS TO ME 5 TIMES WITHIN 5 MILES. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWO OF THOSE TIMES BY OTHER VEHICLES, ONCE WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD. I AM GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE ON TWO LANE ROADS WITHOUT ROOM TO PULL OVER.
NHTSA complaint #10639720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP THAN SOME GRINDING SO I LISTENED AND IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT TIRE. I JACKED IT UP THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WHEN U FREELY TURNED THE WHEEL U HEARD GRINDING FROM THE BEARINGS BEING NO GOOD. I THINK THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY IS OUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM 2007NFOR THEM THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 07E106000 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS TRUE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10629662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10514721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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HAVE 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 4WD 5.3 ENGINE A/T. WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OUT & LOST ALL STEERING/BRAKES. 131,589 MILES ON ODOMETER AT TIME. MANAGED TO COAST VEHICLE ONTO SHOULDER, WAITED 2 MINUTES, STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN, PULLED OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC JUST TO MAKE IT 2 BLOCKS BEFORE STALL OUT AGAIN. REPEATED THIS PROCESS SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I FOUND A GAS STATION. SUSPECTING WATER IN GAS, ADDED 1 BOTTLE OF GAS LINE ANTI-FREEZE. DROVE REST OF WAY HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. REPLACED FUEL FILTER, PCV VALVE, AIR FILTER, SPARK PLUGS, AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY JUST TO HAVE STALL OUT THE VERY NEXT DAY. NO CODES ARE DISPLAYED IN MESSAGE CENTER IN DASH BOARD. STALLS OUT RANDOMLY WITHOUT A PATTERN. WAIT 1-2 MINUTES THEN WILL START AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10505113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM MY HOME ( APPROXIMATELY GOING 5 MPH) AND MY STEERING WHEELED LOCKED TO THE RIGHT AND I SIDE SWIPED 2 PARKED VEHICLES. I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, WAS SEAT BELTED, NOT ON MY CELL PHONE NOR WAS I TEXTING...MY FULL ATTENTION WAS ON DRIVING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING FOR A FEW SECONDS. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BELTS FOR ANY SIGNS OF LEAKS OR WEAR, BUT THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF A MALFUNCTION. MY GREAT CONCERN IS , WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN...WHY DID IT HAPPEN AND IF THOSE PEOPLE WERE GETTING INTO THEIR CARS...I MOST PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM!
NHTSA complaint #10475726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT COMES ON AND TRUCK SLOWS TO LESS THAN 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING STOP WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. 1ST INCIDENT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED AND NOTHING CAME BACK WRONG. I THINK THE WIRING TO THE THROTTLE IS POSSIBLY TO BLAME. IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAN COME ON. I HAVE A HUNCH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE & FINDING THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT IT & IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. "TYPICAL"!! I AM VERY DISPLEASED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I LOVE MY SUBURBAN. I SUGGEST AN INVESTIGATION & RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM.I ASK THAT CHEVY TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR QUALITY & REPAIRS THE PROBLEM PRONTO! OH, AND THE POWER SEATING FUSE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED THE LITTLE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX, NOW THE SEATS WON'T WORK & NEITHER DOES THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. THE WIRING DONE ON THIS TRUCK IS CHEAP! THE PARTS ARE CHEAP! NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER!
NHTSA complaint #10452049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A LOW SPEEDS THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM CAME ON AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS A PLASTIC ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE RING WITH WIRES ATTACHED TO THE STEERING SENSOR WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VIN ON ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.
NHTSA complaint #10398492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WENT TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER SERVICE DEPT. TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING MECHANISM - SEVER CLUNKING, RATTLING FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE REP STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBURBANS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE, STARTING AT ABOUT 32K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10327327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE; DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DEFECTS; HEAD LAMPS & LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. BIGGEST ISSUE IS TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT WAS NIGHT-TIME DRIVING WITH LITTLE OR NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE. OTHER FAMILY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR GOES OUT GRADUALLY, AS THE LIQUID THAT DEFROSTS THE MIRROR GOES BAD AND LEAKS INTO THE MIRROR. THIS MIRROR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AT THE COST OF $400+. THIS MIRROR IS ALSO A HAZARD AS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO USE THE MIRROR TO ADEQUATE LANE AND TRAFFIC MANEUVERING. THE STEERING COLUMN ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AS OF TODAY'S DATE, TO CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10326202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2001 SUBURBAN COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND THE STEERING STOPS WHEN I AM AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, IF I AM MAKING A TURN, BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, OR COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I TOOK IT TO MANY PLACES TO HAVE IT TESTED AND THEY ALL STATED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE NOTHING WAS DETECTED. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WHEN IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS AND THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS THE ONLY CAR YOU HAVE TO HAUL YOURSELF AND KIDS AROUND IN. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERYDAY AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR AMERICANS TRYING TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10315728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WE OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CURRENT MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AT 20,000 MILES. AT SOME POINT AFTER 36000 WE STARTED NOTICING A "CLUNKING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN WE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. I AN EMPLOYED AT A SCHOOL AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED ON 3 OF IT'S 2004 CHEVROLET 1500 SUBURBANS, EACH WITH JUST OVER THE 36,000 WARRANTY MILEAGE. EACH COST ABOUT $370.00 TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10284502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT FAILED. THE CONTACT PAID $270 FOR PARTS AND ALMOST $200 FOR LABOR TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 56,244. UPDATED 08/05/09.
NHTSA complaint #10273087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.