FaultScore

2003 Chevrolet Suburban window and wiper problems

13 of the 361 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 49,615 miles.

B

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Glass, Side/Rear 4 30.8%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2 15.4%
Visibility 2 15.4%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 1 7.7%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 1 7.7%
Windshield 1 7.7%
Rear Window 1 7.7%
Rear Window Wiper/Washer 1 7.7%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1992 18 3.3%
1993 45 8.3%
1994 176 32.3%
1995 53 9.7%
1996 44 8.1%
1997 37 6.8%
1998 54 9.9%
1999 47 8.6%
2000 24 4.4%
2001 14 2.6%
2002 10 1.8%
2003 13 2.4%
2004 10 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 388,000 miles Fontana, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR WINDSHIELD DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 388,000.

NHTSA complaint #11351024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Little Rock, AR

VISIBILITY

I INITIALLY NOTICED A PROBLEM CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW AND ALSO NOTICED THE HINGE CONNECTING THE WINDOW TO THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE APPEARED TO BE CRACKED OR BROKEN. EVEN THOUGH I RARELY USE THE WINDOW, EVENTUALLY THE HINGE COMPLETELY BROKE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW PULLED COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW IS RAISED UP SO THERE IS A LARGE SPACE BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE GLASS COULD EASILY BECOME FULLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FALL OFF, POSSIBLY WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. IT SEEMS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN, THAT THE HINGE IS DEFECTIVE BUT GM WILL NOT ADMIT THIS AND, THEREFORE, WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10406292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,407 miles SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT STOP WORKING. FUSE MUST BE REMOVED TO STOP WIPERS FROM CONSTANTLY OPERATING. INTERMITTENT FEATURE DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10258693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Darien, CT

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HINGES SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #10235280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles French Village, MO

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SAME DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES AND EACH TIME THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUNROOF LEAKED, A BLOWN FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE CONNECTION, THERE WAS A RATTLE COMING FROM THEE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. UPDATED 10/24/07.

NHTSA complaint #10202370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,230 miles Brookline, NH

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

PASSENGER SIDE, GLUED-ON HINGE TO HATCHBACK GLASS FAILED. HINGE SEPARATED FROM GLASS CAUSING GLASS TO FALL TOWARD CHILD, STANDING NEAR REAR OF VEHICLE. GLASS IS A LARGE, HEAVY PANEL AND SHOULD BE SECURED WITH MORE RELIABLE MATERIAL. SEARCH OF INTERNET (TO FIND PROPER FIX TO PROBLEM) FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND LITTLE SATISFACTION FROM DEALERSHIP. MY DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH ANY GLASS RELATED ISSUES. COST $900 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10172986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles Midlothian, VA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE BACK LIFTGATE WINDOW ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND WAS SITTING IN THE SHADE ON A NICE WARM BUT NOT HOT DAY. I WAS ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HEAR THE LOUD NOISE. NOBODY WAS NEAR THE CAR AND NO KNOWN OBJECT HIT THE GLASS TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK. GLASS PIECES WERE THROWN ~10 FEET FROM THE CAR AND SOME GLASS WAS ALSO INSIDE THE CAR. THE FRAME OF THE WINDOW WAS STILL LATCHED BUT WAS BENT OUTWARD. THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS WERE EXTENDED. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER ITS WARRANTY PERIOD BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT AS A WARRANTY CLAIM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T VERIFY THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T HIT THE WINDOW. I SUSPECT THERE MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW OR INSTALLATION FLAW THAT PLACED TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE WINDOW. A NEW WINDOW WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED AT THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10126096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,800 miles Bremerton, WA 1 injured

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE WITH THE REAR HATCH OPEN (RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE BACK) THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY SORT OF CONTACT OR APPARENT CAUSE. OWNER WAS INJURED BY EXPLODING GLASS.

NHTSA complaint #10116765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgewater, MA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE CONSUMER WENT TO LOCK THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER SINCE THE WINDOW COULD HAVE INJURED THE BACK PASSENGERS.

NHTSA complaint #10106636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Spring, TX

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SUN VISOR WAS DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING SUN VISOR FELL DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10102039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Tynan, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT, "THERE WAS NO OBJECTS THAT HIT THE WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10076048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northglenn, CO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10061536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Slidell, LA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

WHILE PARKED REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10037666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chevrolet Suburban problems

← Full 2003 Chevrolet Suburban report