10 of the
361 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban are about the
seat belts — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
18,000 miles.
2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 4WD ROLLOVER RESULTING IN ROOF COMPACTING AND SEAT BELTS FAILING, 3 MAJOR INJURIES;: ALL WEARING SEATBELTS: DRIVER: ROAD BURN, CUT'S, BRUISES, BROKEN RIB. FRONT PASSENGER: SEVERE, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, C2, STAGE 3 SPINAL FRACTURE. WINDOW'S BROKE OUT & CAR LANDED ON RIGHT ARM RESULTING IN ELBOW DISLOCATION, FRACTURE AND MUSCLES TORN FROM THE BONE; BROKEN RIB. 2ND SEAT PASSENGER: 1/2 THROWN OUT OF THE CAR SUSTAINING 3 SPINAL FXS, RIB FX., SCAPULA FX. AND ROAD BURN. 3RD SEAT PASSENGER: THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE INTO THE FAST LANE ON ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SUSTAINING HEAD INJURY, BILATERAL COLLARBONE FRACTURE'S, SCAPULA FX. AND ROAD BURN. CHEVY SUBURBAN'S CANNOT WITHSTAND A ROLLOVER AND CHEVY WAS AWARE OF THIS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A COURT TRIAL. IMPEACH OBAMA OBAMA & HIS CIRCUS FOR DEFYING OUR U.S. CONSTITUTION!
NHTSA complaint #10304978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,176 milesDouglasville, GACrash4 injured
SEAT BELTS
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 13,000 milesShrub OAK, NY
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AT 13,000 MILES AND REPLACED THEM. THE FAILURE REPEATED ITSELF AT 18,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR DEFECT REPAIRS AND ANY FUTURE REPAIRS DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE DEALER STATED RECALL ON SEATBELTS. UPDATED 06/26/07
NHTSA complaint #10189285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesBolling AFB, DC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED ON MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCT 2003 UNTIL THE SEAT BELT FINALLY OUTRIGHT FAILED, I NOTICED SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE SEAT BELT TENSION LOCKING MECHANISM WOULD APPARENTLY JAM AND EITHER NOT RELEASE FOR PROPER ADJUSTMENT, OR FAIL TO ENGAGE AND TAKE UP EXTRA BELT SLACK. THIS SEEMED TO SELF CORRECT FOR SHORT PERIODS BEFORE RE-EMERGING. FINALLY, THE TENSION MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS LEFT MY SEAT BELT TOTALLY LIMP AND USELESS WITH NO SPRING-LIKE FUNCTION TO TAKE-UP THE EXCESS BELT PORTION AND UNABLE TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN AND SECURE THE DRIVER IN PLACE. I CALLED MY CHEV DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY DESIRE TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ARGUED WITH ME AS TO WHETHER THE SYMPTOM I DESCRIBED WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM OR NOT AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. APPROX. 10 DAYS LATER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT I COULD BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR, BUT THAT THEY WOULD ASSESS CAREFULLY IF ACTUALLY A WARRANTY ITEM OR NOT. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN, THE CHEV DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DECIDED THAT YES - THEY WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR HOWEVER, WAS QUITE LENGTHY IN TIME AND INVOLVED THREE CHEV MECHANICS WHO WORKED IN GRETA FRUSTRATION AND CONFUSION AS TO HOW TO REPLACE THE BELT AND TENSION DEVICE AS THEY HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE IN HOW TO ACTUALLY INSTALL THE NEW PART. I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT A PROPER TECH SUPPORT MANUAL WAS EITHER LACKING OR THEY SIMPLY CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW IT VERY WELL. REGARDLESS, SOME THEE HOURS LATER THEY DEEMED THE BELT FIXED - AND TO THEIR CREDIT, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. IN HINDSIGHT, I'M NOT SURE HOW FREQUENT THIS PARTICULAR SAFETY FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN 2003 CHEV SUBURBANS, BUT I DECIDED TO MAKE IT A MATTER OF RECORD IN CASE CHEV NEEDS TO BETTER ADDRESS HOW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SHOULD RESPOND TO SIMILAR CRITICAL SAFETY REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10152512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, GA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
MY 5 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS BUCKLED INTO THE SEAT BELT, HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE SEAT BELT PUT HIS LEGS THROUGH THE SEAT BELT, HE UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT TO UNTANGLE AND REBUCKLE, WHEN HE UNFASTENED THE SEAT BELT THE SLACK WENT BACK INTO THE HOLDER, THE SEAT BELT BEING LOCKED WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY RELEASED , THERE WAS NO WAY TO RELEASE COMPLETELY SINCE IT WAS AROUND HIS WAIST AND NO WAY FOR HIM TO GET OUT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SLACK FOR HIM TO MOVE, AS OUR FINGERS WOULD NOT EVEN FIT IN BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT AND HIS WAIST. WE HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. ****THERE NEEDS TO BE A RELEASE BUTTON SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS RELEASE IF THIS OCCURS AGAIN.*****
NHTSA complaint #10131131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesCerritos, CA1 injured
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT STRAPS IN THE DRIVER'S AND MIDDLE SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW BECOME TIGHT TO THE POINT THAT THE PASSENGER MUST UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT AND REATTACH AS THE RIDE PROGRESSES. ALSO, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS RELEASED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASSIONS SENDING MY DAUGHTER FLYING TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IN HER CAR SEAT ON HARD BRAKING. SECOND, THE AUDIO CONTROLS BEHIND THE CENTER CONSOLE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, EVEN MORE SO WHEN THEY ARE IN USE.
NHTSA complaint #10039401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLE. IF TAPPING ON THE BUCKLE IT WILL RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. MANUFACTURER WON'T DO ANY THING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10030001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vermillion, SD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATED THAT SEAT BELT WILL LOCK UP BEFORE BRAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10026548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Butte, MT
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HAD TO BE CUT TO RELEASE A CHILD FROM THE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10019660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, IN
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE MIDDLE POSITION IN THE 2ND ROW OF SEATS IN A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71 IS UNSAFE FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THERE IS A LEATHER LOOP (INTENDED TO HOLD THE SHOULDER BELT IN PLACE WHEN NOT IN USE) THAT ALTERS THE PATH OF THE SEAT BELT WHEN THE CHILD SEAT IS INSTALLED. OVERTIME THROUGH WEAR AND TEAR OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THIS LEATHER STRAP MAY BREAK. THIS WOULD INTRODUCE MORE SLACK IN THE BELT AND MAKE THE SEAT UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10003201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.