Chevrolet Suburban / 2003
2003 Chevrolet Suburban problems
Owners have filed 361 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 23% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes at 17.5%.
Complaints361
Crashes39
Fires5
Injuries77
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 23.0% · 83
Service brakes 17.5% · 63
Service brakes, hydraulic 7.8% · 28
Power train 6.1% · 22
Steering 5.5% · 20
Air bags 5.5% · 20
Vehicle speed control 4.2% · 15
Visibility 3.6% · 13
Severity
Of those complaints, 39 describe a crash, 5 describe a fire, 77 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 29 model years of the Chevrolet Suburban in this data, 2003 sits 10th by complaint volume. 1994 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 11 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 71,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I had the same problem like others with the speedometer in my 2003 Suburban. Early 2007, I had less then 70k on it and when I contacted the dealer, there was no recall. The fix was about $500. Now (2008), gm says they will fix it if the truck has less than 70k. How convenient?! Gm waited until more cars are above 70k and then decides to recall it. Where is nhtsa? This problem has been reported for years. Electrical system
I have a 2003 chevy Suburban with 46,000 miles and the speedometer not working. I called the dealer and he said it is a common problem but I am still going to have to pay to fix it. The speedometer was reading 120 miles per hour and I was going less than 50 miles per hour. I researched this problem on the internet and I found hundreds of other people with the same problem in tahoes and silverados. Electrical system · reported at 46,500 miles
My electric is all messed up ,works don't,radio turns on after driving awhile,4x4 sometimes works,airbag light ,they wanted 150 to reset,I talk to so many same problem,same year ,online,I bet there is recall ,there must be I paid a lot for this truck to,when get cold out wont start,nothing works,I'm disabled,so it's hard for me to do anything,it's all about money,so many with same problem online. Electrical system · reported at 45,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Chevrolet Suburban years
1999 861 complaints · 30.0% service brakes, hydraulic 2000 382 complaints · 14.9% service brakes, hydraulic 2001 543 complaints · 17.9% service brakes, hydraulic 2002 352 complaints · 20.7% service brakes, hydraulic 2004 265 complaints · 27.2% electrical system 2005 161 complaints · 23.6% electrical system