15 of the
361 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban are about the
throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
82,525 miles.
F
15
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
1493.3%
Cruise Control
16.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Chevrolet Suburban year
VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP FROM A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30MPH AND BRAKES FAILED SUDDENLY TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP A NORMAL RATE. DRIVER NEEDED TO SWERVE OFF ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO SIDE CURVE. NOT WARNING SIGN OR LIGHT WAS LIT BEFORE INCIDENT. CLEAR YELLOWISH FLUID DRAINED FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NEAR DRIVER'S DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10640675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa FE Springs, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE 2003 SUBURBAN 1500, THAT KEEPS GETTING A ERROR MESSAGE "REDUCE ENGINE POWER". THE VEHICLE WILL ALL OF SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING, REDUCE SPEED AND I CAN'T ACCELERATE ABOVE 25-30MPH. I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF FOR 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE IT RESETS, HOWEVER IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN! IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE MY KIDS OR MY WIFE DRIVE IT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL HAVE THIS HAPPEN. STRANGELY, WHEN WE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WE CAN USE THE "CRUISE CONTROL" FEATURE WHEN WE REACH 25MPH AND USE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACCELERATE THAT WAY WITH MINIMAL OCCURRENCES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO "2 CHEVY DEALERS AND 3 MECHANICS" NEITHER CAN TELL US WHAT'S WRONG! THIS IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ON CAR, AND WE KNOW THIS A "SAFETY HAZARD" AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEBODY HAS TO LOOK INTO THIS! I ONLY HOPE SOMEONE WHO READS THESE COMPLAINTS HAS THE POWER TO HELP ME AND EVERYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10427490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sprin Grove, PACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 26OCT. 2010 I HAD A THROTTLE BODY REPLACE ON A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. A DAY LATER MY WIFE AND I TOOK THE SUBURBAN OUT TO GO SHOPPING . I RETURNED TOTHE PARKING LOT TO PULL UP TO THE DOOR TO LOAD UP. AS I WAS CIIRCLING AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT THE ENGINE OF THE SUV RED LINED ,THIS CAUGHT ME TOTALLY OFF GAURD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO THI SUV, IT DID NOT STOPPED . THE END RESULT WAS THAT I HIT A LIGHT POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY IN INSURANCE COMPANY SENT A INVESTIGATOR OUT TO LOOK A THE SUV , HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT REDLINED , HE GAVE ME A CALL AND SAID I HAD A ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. LATER ON I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT INSTALLED AND PROFORMED THE WORK .THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY A DEFECTED AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBILE FOR THE ACCCIDENT. THEY SAID THAT GM WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10369316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesDalton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 MPH. THEN, WE TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL, BUT SPEEDOMETER STAYS AT 45MPH. OCCURS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE ONCE FOR DRIVING TO SLOW. CORRECTED BY TURNING CAR ON AND OFF THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN A ROW.
NHTSA complaint #10325594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesMagnolia, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 CHEVY Z71 SUB SPEED ODOMETER IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. WILL WORK ONE DAY AND BE OFF BY MORE THAN 80MPH THE SAME DAY. GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENT AS WELL AS TICKETS AS WE HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT SPEED WE ARE TRAVELING.
NHTSA complaint #10256516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesBattle Creek, MICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REVVING OF ENGINE TO POINT OF SCREECHING TIRES. SOMETIMES FEELING OF BEING IN NEUTRAL FOR A SECOND THEN CLUNK IN TRANNY/REAR END? ACTS AS ENGAGEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL INCREASING SPEED, NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE BY HITTING BRAKE. COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING. NEXT TIME PUTTER "LOCKED OUT" TECH'S. PUTER REPLACED. WORKED GOOD FOR TWO WEEKS. ENGINE REVVED, HIT PATCH OF ICE, TOTALED OUT Z-71. THANK GOD, NO INJURIES. FIGHTING IT FOR APPX 16000 MILES. 72000 TO 88000.
NHTSA complaint #10252711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,176 milesDouglasville, GACrash4 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE: 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN CRASH: AS VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN (IN A NEIGHBORHOOD) SPEED LIMIT APPROX 25, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO HIGH RATE OF SPEED (CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED) CAUSING DRIVER LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD HITTING A MAILBOX, TELEPHONE POLE AND FINAL IMPACT (T-BONED) WITH A PARKED FORD F150 EXTRA CAB PICKUP TRUCK SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY WITH A LAWN TRAILER ATTACHED. SUBURBAN ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER IMPACT PUSHING BOTH VEHICLES (AND THE TRAILER) APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. NO AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENTS EVEN THOUGH FRONT BUMPER WAS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE PICKUP TRUCK AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK OR HOLD. BOTH VEHICLES TOTAL LOSS INJURIES: ALL 4 PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DRIVER - BROKEN NOSE FROM MIRROR KNOCKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM IMPACT WITH TELEPHONE POLE, SEVERE CHEST/ABDOMEN BRUISING CONTACT WITH STEERING WHEEL, MULTIPLE CUTS AND ABRASIONS FROM FLYING DEBRIS & GLASS. PASSENGER BACK LEFT - CUTS & ABRASIONS FROM GLASS & DEBRIS AND BRUISING FRONT PASSENGER - DEEP TISSUE/BONE BRUISING ON BOTH LEGS,AND RIGHT KNEE, BRUISING ON BOTH ARMS AND CHEST. PASSENGER BACK RIGHT - BRUISING ON KNEES AND FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10219340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesMary Esther, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEED ODOMETER IS MALFUNCTIONING. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP IT READS 30 MPH AND WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL GO TO 120MPH AND SOMETIMES PAST THAT. VEHICLE JUST HIT 50000 MILES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SAFEY PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND SPEEDING TICKETS CAUSED BY A KNOWN MALFUNCTION IN GM VEHICLES. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND SHOULD NOT BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10213531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bradenton, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN- RACING SPEEDOMETER- BOUNCING FROM 0 TO 120, NOW STUCK PAST 120. NO WAY TO DETERMINE SPEED. MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM-- BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET- BIG BUCKS TO REPLACE UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #10193476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesAustin, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVREOLET SUBURBAN THAT HAS A FAULTY, RACING SPEEDOMETER. I JUST SAW A NEWS REPORT ON CBS TELEVISION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST MY CAR. NOW I SEE MANY CARS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY RACES TO A VERY HIGH AND INCORRECT SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10189798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OLD Hickory, TN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS THEN STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I AM TOLD BY DEALER AND OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10186174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesFrisco, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDODOMETER ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IS FAILING. I HAVE INQUIRED THE DEALER ABOUT A RECALL, REPAIR, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE READ THAT THE SPEED ODOMETER HAS BEEN FAILING FOR MANY GM OWNERS BUT GM WILL NOT RECALL THE DEFECTIVE ODOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #10185793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesKingsburg, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER QUITS REGISTERING SPEED OF VEHICLE AT TIMES, THE ODOMETER CONTINUES TO WORK. NEXT TIME DRIVING VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER WORKS. DEALER SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER WILL QUIT AND I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE. I DO FEEL THAT A NON WORKING SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10169658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesRuidoso, NM
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER GEAR FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06.
NHTSA complaint #10146966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Patterson, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS IT STUCK. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE OR WHEN THE CLUSTER PANEL HEATED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10143955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.