10 of the 352 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban are about the electrical system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 115,000 miles.
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CIRCUIT BOARD UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED.
NHTSA complaint #10852850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LAST YEAR THE ODOMETER AND GEAR SELECTION DISPLAY ON MY 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WOULD GO OUT THEN A WHILE LATER IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE DISPLAY STAYING OFF FOR LONGER AND LONGER TIMES. AROUND DECEMBER 2013, THE DISPLAY WENT OUT PERMANENTLY. I TOOK MY 2002 SUBURBAN FOR THE REQUIRED SMOG TEST ON APRIL 28,2014 AND SINCE THERE WAS NO ODOMETER MILEAGE DISPLAYED ( EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE ODOMETER BUTTON WITH THE ENGINE OFF ), THE TECHNICIAN HAD TO PUT DOWN "NONE" UNDER MILEAGE. THE SITUATION OF NOT HAVING A DISPLAY FOR DISPLAYING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN IS A SAFETY ISSUE! A PERSON MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF REVERSE. ALSO WITHOUT AN ODOMETER, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO ESTIMATE THE MILEAGE WHEN SELLING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10588757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE WE WERE TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 75 MILES WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN. ALL ELECTRICAL STATUS LIGHTS AND THE ENGINE WENT OFF. WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10576679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A TODDLER WAS ABLE TO INSERT AND TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE CHILD WAS ALSO ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A RETAINING WALL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHIFTED WITHOUT ENGAGING THE BRAKES FOR TOWING PURPOSES. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO LEAVE THE KEYS NEAR CHILDREN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
NHTSA complaint #10462582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER ON 2002 AND 2003 MODEL OF CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STICKS AT A RANDOM PLACE. WE HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE BY POLICE FOR DRIVING TOO SLOW. HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.
NHTSA complaint #10325376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HAS HAD LIGHTS DIMMING WHEN ELECTRIC DEVICES ARE OPERATING. CAR HAS NEW ALTERNATOR, BELTS, IDLER PULLEY AND BATTERY. CAR WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WITH TURN SIGNAL ON. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND ENTIRE VEHICLE-ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS SHUT DOWN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ENGINE STARTED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10214782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INDICATORS ON THE DASH COMING ON WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AND ALSO THE TACH QUIT WORKING. THEN EVERYTHING WOULD START WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THE LAST INCIDENT WAS THE ODOMETER RESET TO "0", SO NOW WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OUR MILEAGE IS AND ALSO THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO JUMPS AHEAD A COUPLE HOURS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER AT THE COST OF $200-$300 AND ALSO $60 FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE OTHER DASH PROBLEMS. I ALSO CALLED GM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT AND TOLD THEM I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER SINCE IT SEEMS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW AND ALSO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ODOMETER RESETTING.
NHTSA complaint #10153731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT THE FOG LIGHTS ON SINCE IT WAS FOGGY OUT AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE DOME OVERRIDE BUTTON TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. THE CONSUMER STRUCK THE BARRIER CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE DEEMING IT UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10113021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10109793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER THROUGH THE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN, AND COULDN'T GIVE THE CONSUMERS A REASON WHY THE FUSE HAD BLOWN, ALSO THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD AS SOMETHING IS SHORTENING OUT, THE TIME CLOCK IS NOT KEEP PROPER TIME. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #568007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.