NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
120 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 22, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-IMPACT MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURY ("CERVICAL STRAIN" - WHIPLASH) AND INJURY TO BOTH KNEES (WHICH HI…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-IMPACT MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURY ("CERVICAL STRAIN" - WHIPLASH) AND INJURY TO BOTH KNEES (WHICH HIT THE DASH BOARD UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL). MY VEHICLE IS "TOTALED", SO NO REPAIR IS POSSIBLE TO REMEDY THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. WE HAVE A CLAIM FILED WITH CHEVROLET AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239409
48,333 miles · Jul 15, 2008
Exterior Lighting
LOW DIM HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SOMETIME IT WILL COME BACK ON AND IT WON'T COME ON AT ALL, BUT CAN HIT THE FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD IT WILL COME BACK ON, NOW IT DON'T WORK AT ALL, HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHT ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234420
45,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LS WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT, I ENCOUNTERED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST UNTIL I REACHED A SPEED OF 30MPH., I WOULD PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPT TO RE-START THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RE-START, ACCELERATE TO…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LS WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT, I ENCOUNTERED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST UNTIL I REACHED A SPEED OF 30MPH., I WOULD PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPT TO RE-START THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RE-START, ACCELERATE TO 70 MPS. THIS WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENT OVER AND OVER THROUGH MY TWO DRIVING TRIP. THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF TIME THE ENGINE FAILED WAS 14. THIS CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION, BECAUSE WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, I HAD NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING OR THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN ME LOCATING THE ROAD SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY! I CONTACTED THE DEALER I USE REGULARLY AND THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF THIS. HOWEVER, AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THROUGH FORUMS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT MY DESTINATION AT 1000 US HIGHWAY 1 PH: (772) 567-8371 , VERO BEACH, FL 32960 MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY JULY 14, 2008 AT 8:30AM. AGAIN I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO LOCATED A DOCUMENT CALLED,"NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION # PE06016 CLOSED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE 2002 VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MOVED FROM 1997-2008. HOW DO I GET THIS RESOLVED AND AT NO COST TO ME? JUST MAYBE THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER FROM MY MANY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERSHIPS, THE LAST IS NOT THE USUAL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME TO HELP ASSIST ME IN FIXING THE VEHICLE AND THE COST TERMS IF NEED. THANK YOU. MARK DEEHL *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234088
68,000 miles · May 16, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE A 2002 SUBURBAN THAT SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2002 I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN IT WOULD BE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR LESS THAN A DAY AND I WOULD BE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY. NOW MY WARRANTY IS UP AND MY TRANSMISSION IS BROKE. I HAVE NO REVERSE, AND IT DOES N…
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I HAVE A 2002 SUBURBAN THAT SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2002 I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN IT WOULD BE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR LESS THAN A DAY AND I WOULD BE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY. NOW MY WARRANTY IS UP AND MY TRANSMISSION IS BROKE. I HAVE NO REVERSE, AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO DOWN SHIFT ON ANY FORWARD GEAR. I CALLED A TRANS SHOP IN MY AREA AND THEY STATED THAT WITH CHEVY SUBURBANS OF MY YEAR (GIVE AND TAKE 3YEARS BOTH WAYS) THERE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEAL IN THE TRANS THAT IT WEARS TOO SOON AND TRANS OIL LEAKS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - THE OWNER DOES NOT EVEN NOTICE IT - BECAUSE IT GETS BLOWN AWAY WHILE DRIVING. THIS TO ME SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FACT THAT WHEN I CALLED THE TRANS SHOP (ATOMIC TRANSMISSIONS) THEY NEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT HAPPENED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227990
100,000 miles · May 6, 2008
VisibilityInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A ROCK CRASHED INTO HER WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND PRODUCED PIECES OF GLASS ON THE FRONT SEATS AND DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCES GLASS PIECES. AS OF MAY 6, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A ROCK CRASHED INTO HER WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND PRODUCED PIECES OF GLASS ON THE FRONT SEATS AND DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT HAVE PRODUCES GLASS PIECES. AS OF MAY 6, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10226864
77,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Parking Brake
2002 SUBURBAN PARKING BRAKE HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AT 77K MILE. NOW THEY HAVE BEGUN LOCK AND HAVE TO BE RESET A COUPLE TIMES TO GET THEM TO RELEASE. A LOUD SQUEAL ACCOMPANIES BEFORE IT RELEASES. PARKING BRAKE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR. TRUCK STILL HAS ORIGINAL DISK BRAKES ALL AROUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225242
85,500 miles · Mar 31, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LEFT ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER DRIVING WHILE MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT AND DECELERATED IN SPEED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND GET OUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY TIRE, I SAW A SMALL FIRE INSIDE THE TIRE. …
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MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LEFT ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER DRIVING WHILE MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT AND DECELERATED IN SPEED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND GET OUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT MY TIRE, I SAW A SMALL FIRE INSIDE THE TIRE. MY CAR WAS TOWED 55 MILES TO NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER. I HAD MY LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, HUB, ROTOR, BRAKE HOSE, BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS. A NEW LEFT FRONT TIRE AND $2,700 MY CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN. ALL THE TECHNICIANS THAT SAW MY CAR WERE AMAZED THAT I DIDN'T LOSE THE TIRE. THEY WERE AMAZED TO SEE IT HANGING ON BY A THREAD. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKE CALIPERS AND HUB. I DO NOT TRUST THE RIGHT SIDE SO I AM REPLACING THAT CALIPER AS WELL. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY A MOM DRIVING ON A TRIP WITH HER YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS IS A DEFAULT IN HE CAR AND ITS BRAKES AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. MY CAR HAD 85,500 AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222940
143,870 miles · Mar 13, 2008
EquipmentFuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE AJ 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN W/144K MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IF THE FUEL LEVEL GOT TOO LOW IT WOULD NOT START. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS HAVE HAD THE INTERMITTENT SHUT OFF PROBLEM LISTED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE HAD IT DO IT ON ROUGH ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. SAME THING, …
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I HAVE AJ 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN W/144K MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IF THE FUEL LEVEL GOT TOO LOW IT WOULD NOT START. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS HAVE HAD THE INTERMITTENT SHUT OFF PROBLEM LISTED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE HAD IT DO IT ON ROUGH ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. SAME THING, ENGINE STOPS, WAIT 3-5 MINUTES ENGINE STARTS, SEEMS LESS PREVALENT WHEN TANK IS FULL. DEALERSHIP SAYS CHEVY SEES NO OVERALL PROBLEM WITH IT, MY MECHANIC TELLS ME A NEW FUEL PUMP IS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE BUT THE REAL COST IS THE LABOR TO TAKE THE FUEL TAKE OFF AND REPLACE IT. TOTAL $900-1100, THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS ESPECIALLY FOR A PROBLEM GM KNOWS IT HAS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221005
68,000 miles · Jan 21, 2008
Steering
WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE STEERING RESISTS VERY STRONGLY A TURN TO THE RIGHT IN THE FIRST 10-20 DEGREES OF STEERING WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT OF STRAIGHT. THE STRENGTH OF RESISTANCE IS VARIABLE, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SITTING STILL, THERE IS A SLIGHT ?HITCH? OR NOTHING AT ALL. AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES, THE AMOU…
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WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE STEERING RESISTS VERY STRONGLY A TURN TO THE RIGHT IN THE FIRST 10-20 DEGREES OF STEERING WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT OF STRAIGHT. THE STRENGTH OF RESISTANCE IS VARIABLE, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SITTING STILL, THERE IS A SLIGHT ?HITCH? OR NOTHING AT ALL. AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES, THE AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE INCREASES TO A MAX AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH, WHERE IT TAKES AN ?ARM WRESTLE? FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. IT RESISTS, FIGHTS BACK, THEN WITH A LOT OF MUSCLE ? POPS THROUGH THIS RESISTANCE AND FEELS PERFECTLY NORMAL. THE HARD MUSCLE PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENT RELEASE MAKES THE TRACK OF THE CAR TEND STRAIGHT, AND THEN JERK RIGHT. WHEN THE CAR HAS THIS MALFUNCTION, IT REQUIRES THE MOST PHYSICAL POWER TO PULL THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. SUCCESSIVE TURNS TO THE RIGHT ARE EASIER AND EASIER, UNTIL AFTER ABOUT 4-5 CYCLES TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING IS ?NORMAL.? SYMPTOMS ARE GONE WITHIN 1 MILE OF DRIVING. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT ALSO IS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS COLD. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO BOTH. IT RESISTED TURNS TO THE RIGHT IN THE MORNING, AND EQUALLY AS MUCH THAT EVENING RETURNING HOME FROM WORK. IT HAS SHOWN UP IN THE SUMMER, BUT MORE OFTEN IN THE WINTER. IT DOES NOT DO IT EVERY DAY. I DESCRIBE IT AS PERMANENT, PERSISTENTLY INTERMITTENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND LEFT DAYS AND WEEKS AT A TIME. AT THE LAST INCIDENT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR. FREQUENCY OF MALFUNCTION DECREASED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TAKE NORMAL STEERING COMMANDS IS IN ITSELF HAZARDOUS. ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS OF CONTROL IS SEVERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215539
82,000 miles · Jan 18, 2008
Structure
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE LIFT GLASS SEPARATED AND THE GLASS WOULDN'T CLOSE. YOU HAD TO MANUALLY LINE IT UP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BUT GM WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE CUSTOMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY OVER $800 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215395