26 of the
200 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Suburban 2500
are about the electrical system —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
ENGINE LIGHT ON VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH/SPUTTERS WHILE GOING DOWN ROAD. TOOK TO 3 MECHANICS INCLUDING GM DEALER. ALL STATED EMISSIONS CODES. 1ST MECHANIC REPLACED PURGE VALVE. LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SAME MECHANIC DID SMOKE TEST AND REPLACED PURGE VALVE STATING IT MUST HAVE BEEN FAULTY. LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CHEVY DEALER REPLACED PURGE VALVE. LIGHT CAME BACK ON. LAST MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL SENSOR. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THEY STATED IT NOW NEEDS A PURGE VALVE. IN ADDITION, DASH STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON BUT DOES NOT GO OF WHEN BUTTON PUSHED. DVD PLAYER ALSO SEEMS TO BE CONSTANTLY WHIRRING. HOWEVER, MAIN CONCERN IS STILL THE ENGINE LIGHT THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX AFTER I'VE SPENT OVER $1K FOR SEVERAL PURGE VALVES, SMOKE TEST AND FUEL SENSOR. THESE PROBLEMS ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO RESOLVE!
NHTSA complaint #11149515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE GAS GAUGE READ ERRATICALLY AND INCORRECTLY FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS. THEN THE ENGINE DIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PARKED THE VEHICLE ONE DAY AND FAILED TO RESTART. I DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD BLOWN. A NEW FUSE LASTED 30 SECONDS BEFORE BLOWING IN ITS TURN. ON REMOVING THE GAS GAUGE SENDER/FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM THE GASOLINE TANK, I NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE WIRES WERE FUSED TOGETHER. SEPARATING THE WIRES TOOK SOME EFFORT AND REVEALED THAT THE INSULATION ON BOTH WIRES HAD COMPLETELY ABRADED WHERE THEY CONTACTED EACH OTHER SUCH THAT THE BARE WIRES INSIDE TOUCHED EACH OTHER AND SHORTED OUT THE CIRCUIT. THE INSULATION ON ONE OF THE WIRES HAD OVERHEATED AND PARTIALLY MELTED OFF THE WIRE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE (1/2 INCH) FROM THE POINT OF CONTACT. REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP/GAS GAUGE SENDER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE ENTIRE UNIT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK OF THE VEHICLE, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SHORT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A SPARK THAT WOULD IGNITE THE GASOLINE IN THE GASOLINE TANK. IN THE PURPLE WIRE PHOTO, ONE CAN SEE HOW THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE GREY WIRE ABRADED THE INSULATION DOWN TO THE BARE WIRE INSIDE. IN THE GREY WIRE PHOTO, ONE CAN SEE BOTH A COMPARABLE ABRASION DOWN TO THE BARE WIRE AND ALSO PARTIAL MELTING OF THE WIRE INSULATION, TO THE POINT THAT ADDITIONAL BARE WIRE SHOWED. THE METAL WIRES DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MELTED OR FUSED; ONLY THE INSULATION DID THAT. BUT THE INSULATION MELTING AND FUSION, AS WELL AS THE TWO SAFETY FUSES THAT BLEW, ARGUE THAT THE ABRASION OF THE INSULATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE WIRES INSIDE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. THE ENTIRE UNIT IS SPRING LOADED SUCH THAT IT IS IN CONTACT WITH BOTH THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM OF THE GASOLINE TANK. SINCE THE TANK FLEXES SLIGHTLY IN NORMAL USE, THE WIRES FLEX AS WELL, RUBBING EACH OTHER ALWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10938873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10850622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED TO SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT POWERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.
NHTSA complaint #10783463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10576895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE CIRCUITS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WIRES BECOMING MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA complaint #10479658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN OUR SUBURBAN AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SHE HAD TO COAST OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. TRUCK STARTED AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS AND WORKED FINE FOR 2 MORE DAYS. IT THEN DIED 2 MORE TIMES IN ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING. IT AGAIN STARTED FINE AFTER 4 TO 5 ATTEMPTS. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THERE WAS A RECALL OF OTHER 2001 MODELS WITH THE 8.1L BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY SEQUENCE. THIS PART IS FAULTY AND PUT MY WIFE'S LIFE IN DANGER. THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL 8.1L CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THIS IS A ISSUE AND THERE ARE TONS OF THREADS ON MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10463563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SPEEDOMETER READS ERRONEOUSLY HIGH AND OFTEN EXCEEDS 100 MPH READINGS WHILE MY GPS READS AT 70MPH. THERE IS NO TIME AT WHICH INDICATED SPEED READINGS CAN BE TRUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #10424594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GM SIDE TERMINAL BATTERIES HAVE DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS BATTERY ACID TO LEAK OUT OF THE TERMINALS WHEN STRESSES FROM HEAVY CABLES CAUSE SEAL TO FAIL. BATTERY ACID LEAKS ON VEHICLE COMPONENTS BELOW AND HAS BEEN KNOWN TO RUIN BRAKE LINES AND OTHER IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENTS. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY ACID IS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD THESE BATTERIES FAIL SEVERAL TIMES IN MY 99 CHEVY. SUBURBAN K2500 DIESEL. SEE THE LINK FOLLOWING FOR MORE REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM BY OTHERS: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/1999/CHEVROLET/SUBURBAN/BATT TOP TERMINAL BATTERIES DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS THE TERMINAL TO CASE SEAL IS ABOVE THE LIQUID LEVEL OF THE BATTERIES. GM IS THE ONLY MANUFACTURER THAT I KNOW OF THAT USES THE SIDE TERMINAL BATTERIES.
NHTSA complaint #10370313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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).
NHTSA complaint #10360979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WIPER MOTOR FAIL. 2001 SUBURBAN 6.0L V8. WIPER MOTOR FAIL. THE WIPER MOTOR IN MY TRUCK ALWAYS FAILS. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED WAS SEPTEMBER 27TH 2010 DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I ALMOST RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN, AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK. (TECHNICALLY THAT IS A CRASH) THE WIPER MOTOR JUST STOPPED WHILE IT WAS RAINING. LAST YEAR DURING HEAVY SNOW THE MOTOR FAILED AGAIN. I HAD TO PULL OVER FOR AN HOUR UNTIL THE STORM WAS OVER. NOT TO MENTION NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES AS WELL. THIS MOTOR FAILS A LOT I LOST COUNT. THE EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILED WIPER MOTOR ARE RAIN , SNOW, SLEET, SOMETIME THE MOTOR FAILS DURING A SUNNY DAY AND NO MOISTURE IN THE AIR OR FAILED JUST TO CLEAN YOUR WINDOW. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME; GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD FIX THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10359388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: INSERT RECALL NUMBER (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, COMPONENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) PERTAINING TO THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FEATURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH THE INTENT IN BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FEATURE BUT THE RECALL ADVISED HAVING THE MECHANISM DISENGAGED TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE FIRE FROM OCCURRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE $100 REIMBURSEMENT OFFERED IN THE RECALL WAS A SUFFICIENT REIMBURSEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT WAS AN AVERAGE FROM ALL CLAIMS OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.
NHTSA complaint #10343016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUSTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST SHE IS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, WHICH WOULD COST BETWEEN $500-$600. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
NHTSA complaint #10276187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN 8.1 WHEN DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS JUST DIES. STARTS BACK UP 5-15MINS. REALLY SCARY IF YOUR DOING 75 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I AM 99% SURE ITS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. GM HAS A RECALL ON 2001 2500 HD TRUCKS ONLY!!!!I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CRANKSENSOR FROM SOME PEOPLE ONLINE WHO LEARNED THE HARD WAY .WITH TODAY TIMES PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO PAY BIG BUCKS FOR LITTLE PARTS. GM NEEDS TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO ALL 8.1 L REGARDLESS OF YEAR OR MAKE. I FOUND A WEB SITE THAT SOME BOAT MOTORS ARE DOING THE SAME THING 8.1 GM. CHEAP IF YOU FIX IT BEFORE YOUR OUT ON A ROAD TRIP. P.S. I HEARD ABOUT A OPENING ON THE HUMP BUT GM LINE WELDED IT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10264327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 02/2008. POWER SEAT ADJUSTER AND SEAT HEATER QUIT WORKING. PROBLEM FOUND TO BE HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. SUBSTANTIAL BURNING AND MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR PRESENT. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 2/13/09, FOUND SAME HIGH RESISTANCE PROBLEM AT THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN BODY AND REAR HATCH. CAUSED REAR WIPER AND DEFROSTER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. BOTH INCIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT A VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT THAT IS PRODUCED BY CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION. BOTH CONNECTORS HAVE EVIDENCE OF EXTREME HEAT AND LEAD ME TO BE LESS THAN CONFIDENT THAT THESE TWO CONNECTORS ARE THE ONLY ONES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT ARE FAULTY. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SEAT CONNECTOR IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, BUT FIND NO RECORD OF IT AT SAFECAR.GOV AND HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10258853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPEEDOMETER JUMPED FROM APPROX.69 TO 110 AND CONTINUED TO STAY HAYWIRE AND IS NOT READING ACCURATELY. APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM BY CHEVY BUT THEY ARE ONLY REPAIRING IN 7 YEARS 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE I AM AT 4 YEARS AND AT 77,000. I WAS OVER 74K MILES WHEN NOTICE CAME OUT SO EVEN THEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET KNOWN DEFECT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10250850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 WITH 122,000 MILES - THE FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED "ZERO" AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO REGISTER ANY SPEED. IT THEN REGISTERED BETWEEN 120MPH AND 0MPH ALTERNATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10249806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT POWERS THE HEATED SEATS AND POWER DRIVERS SEAT. CONNECTOR IS BURNED AND MELTED. AS A RESULT OF THE SHORT, MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED TWICE. LUCKILY THIS WAS FOUND BEFORE A FIRE OR SERIOUS INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #10244730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN 8.1L, HAS BEEN STALLING CONTINUOUSLY. IT STALLS WHEN DRIVING, SLOW, FAST OR EVEN AT A RED LIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTER ALL REPLACED. I HAVE READ ON MANY SITES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10243080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.