39 of the 200 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Suburban 2500 are about the engine — 20% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
39
Complaints
20%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
ENGINE
THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID: 07V521000. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHY?
NHTSA complaint #10864580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
ENGINE
I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BOTH HWY AND CITY. THE SUBURBAN WILL GO INTO REDUCED ENGIN AND LOSE ALL ITS POWER AND SPEED. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AND IT'S FINE TO GO FOR MAYBE A MILE AND IT DOES IT AGAIN. THEY CAN NOT PIN POINT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS . IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10823383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,204. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017
NHTSA complaint #10701706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE BROKE AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10476574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER SO LONG IGNORING THE SMELL IN MY CAB, I DECIDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT BENNY'S EXHAUST IN BRISTOL, TN, AND FOUND THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA SOMETIME CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE PASSENGER CAB AREA. THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR ON BOTH SIDES. THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REGISTERED IN ANY STATE THAT HAS EMISSIONS TESTING, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS. I AM FORCED TO REGISTER IT TO NON-TESTING STATES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS AFFECTS ALL YEARS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH GM, WHY WON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER. AFTER SOMEONE SPENDS SEVERAL TENS OF THOUSANDS ON A VEHICLE, WHY ISN'T SAFETY THE STANDARD GM SHOULD MEASURE ITSELF UP TOO. ENGINEERS, ARE YOU MAKING SURE PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE IS BUILT INTO ALL YOUR VEHICLES. I WON'T BUY GM NO MORE AFTER OWNING GM ALL MY LIFE.
NHTSA complaint #10456455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 11/17/11 *BF UPDATED 11/23/11.
NHTSA complaint #10419677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EIGHT MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER WAITING 15-30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AND RUN SMOOTHLY. UPDATED 10/26/11
NHTSA complaint #10414668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K2500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE 2001 MODEL SUBURBAN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR HIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10392890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA . THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR. CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD WORSEN LEADING TO EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ESCAPING HOT EXHAUST GAS COULD LEAD TO FIRE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD THINK THE EPA WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT EFFECTS ON VEHICLE EMISSIONS. THE LEAKING EXHAUST GAS IS NOT PASSED THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE LEAKING GAS IS ALSO NOT SAMPLED BY THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND COULD EFFECT THE SENSORS INPUT TO THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I SEE BY DOING SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS TOPIC THAT THE BOLT FAILURE AND LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE BROKEN BOLTS YET.
NHTSA complaint #10379624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID#07V521000, THE 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500 IS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL BY GM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DESCRIBED PROBLEM OF VEHICLE ENGINE STALLING AND NOT OPERATIVE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH GM AND GM'S LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD, CALIFORNIA. BOTH REFUSED TO HONOR THIS RECALL. PLEASE HELP BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10356139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST BOLTS BREAKING 0N 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH 6.0 ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10355435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE, ENCLOSED WAS A WARNING/ALERT MESSAGE TO REFER TO GM TBS # 03-01-38-019A AFTER REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFAULT ON 17 VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS 2002 TO 2004. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHEVY AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AS I NOW WILL NEED TO PAY WELL OVER $1000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER IF THIS IS NOT FIX BECAUSE HAD THE BELT BROKE WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO TAKEN OUT THE SERPENTINE BELT WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10343522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2009 MY 01 CHEVY SUBURBAN WOULD STALL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES FROM MID AUGUST 09 TO 9/15/09 AT WHICH TIME WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEN 3 MORE TIMES BETWEEN 9/15 AND 10/15/09. DURING THIS PERIOD WE FOUND A RECALL NOTICE (GM RECALL NO. 06083) FOR A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COVERING 2001 SUBURBANS, BUT NOT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE RECALL DETAILED THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER ON 10/15/09 AND I INSISTED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BE REPLACED. TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10298832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500. 42,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR WHEN DRIVING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES CAR STARTS AFTER READING OTHER POSTS HAD CRANK SENSOR REPLACED TODAY VERY STRESSING AND DANGEROUS. -- NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10291788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500. 42,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR WHEN DRIVING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES CAR STARTS AFTER READING OTHER POSTS HAD CRANK SENSOR REPLACED TODAY VERY STRESSING AND DANGEROUS. -- NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10291788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED; AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CODE WAS DISCOVERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 07V521000( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON CONTACT HE WAS ADVISED THAT BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,441. UPDATED 10/27/09 *CN UPDATED 10/28/09.
NHTSA complaint #10286299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 K2500 SUBURBAN ENGINE DIES ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING (NEITHER SPUTTERING NOR MESSAGES ON THE DASH). AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING BETWEEN A FEW SECONDS AND A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WILL START. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AT ANY SPEED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS ALL POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES IS LOST WHEN THE ENGINE DIES. THESE RANDOM STALLS HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES - MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. APPARENTLY LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION. IS GM JUST GOING TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10284150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE INTERSTATE, I EXPERIENCED FULL POWER LOSS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE TURNED, JUST DIDN'T FIRE. NO SPUTTER, NO DASH LIGHTS, JUST AN INSTANT SHUT DOWN. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. FORTUNATELY, THIS EXPERIENCE WAS ON AN NOT SO CROWDED AND STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. I FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A TURN, IN AN INTERSECTION, OR ANY SITUATION WHERE THE LACK OF POWER STEERING COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS THE LATEST IN A FEW RELATED. WHAT STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AS INTERMITTENT FAILED ENGINE STARTS, HAS PROGRESSED INTO INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLS. INITIAL PROBLEMS WERE START RELATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NORMAL STARTING SOUND, BUT JUST NOT FIRE. IT WOULD THEN START NORMALLY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. I SEE A RECALL FOR THE 2001 VERSION OF MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE/ENGINE TYPE, AND AN INVESTIGATION OPENED ON THE 2002 MODEL. THIS HAS TO BE RELATED. THE CHEVROLET DEALER FAILED TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE THIS WEEK AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CODES POINTING TO THE ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT BLINDLY REPLACE PARTS ON A HUNCH, EVEN WITH THE CAR BEING UNDER A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET STALLED IN A CRITICAL SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10282942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT RANDOM TIMES, APPROXIMATELY EVERY 80 MILES. ENGINE WILL START BACK AFTER A WAIT OF MORE THAN 30 SECONDS. THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE HOT OR COLD, IDLING OR DRIVING AT ANY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10259153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.