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2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

105 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

120 reports
68,000 miles · Dec 18, 2007
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE LIFTGATE GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE HINGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WIND WAS BLOWING AT THE TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE LIFTGATE GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE HINGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WIND WAS BLOWING AT THE TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10212268

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2007
EquipmentSteering

CLANKING IN STEERING WHEEL / COLUMN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE JUST HOW 2002 SUBURBANS RUN. NOT HAPPY WITH ANSWER, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER, SAME THING, AGAIN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. GUESS WHAT, MAKING APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM IN…

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CLANKING IN STEERING WHEEL / COLUMN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE JUST HOW 2002 SUBURBANS RUN. NOT HAPPY WITH ANSWER, TOOK IT BACK AGAIN, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER, SAME THING, AGAIN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. GUESS WHAT, MAKING APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM IN STEERING, WITH CLANKING AND VIBRATION, CAN HEAR IT AND FEEL MOSTLY WITH ANY TURN OF THE WHEEL....BET IT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT AND 3 DAYS WITH OUT MY VEHICLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207293

89,000 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Structure

THE PLASTIC HINGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW GLASS ON THE SUBURBAN TAILGATE HAS SEPARATED WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY JOINED AND THE WINDOW IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE ON THIS SIDE. IN TALKING TO ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOPS AND A LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY, I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMM…

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THE PLASTIC HINGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW GLASS ON THE SUBURBAN TAILGATE HAS SEPARATED WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY JOINED AND THE WINDOW IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE ON THIS SIDE. IN TALKING TO ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOPS AND A LOCAL AUTO GLASS COMPANY, I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBURBANS. I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS WIND SHEAR UNDER THE GLASS COULD RIP THE GLASS OFF MY VEHICLE AND CREATE A PROBLEM FOR ANYONE BEHIND ME. GIVEN WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOPS, HAS AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM BEEN CONSIDERED OR CONDUCTED AND IS THERE CONSIDERATION OF A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204696

81,000 miles · Aug 26, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE PERMANENTLY FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200795

16,725 miles · Jun 29, 2007
Steering

3RD FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDITE STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2002 CHEVROLET 1/2 TON SUBURBAN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10195014

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2007
EquipmentUnknown Or Other

KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH A/C COMPRESSOR ON 2002 SUBURBAN/TAHOE WITH REAR A/C. DEFECTIVE SYSTEM CAUSES LOUD CHATTER IN BELT TENSIONER DUE TO SLUGS OF LIQUID REFRIGERANT BEING PUSHED INTO THE COMPRESSOR. PROBLEMS FREQUENT ENOUGH FOR GM TO HAVE ISSUED TSB #01139B BUT GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. LITERALLY THOU…

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KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH A/C COMPRESSOR ON 2002 SUBURBAN/TAHOE WITH REAR A/C. DEFECTIVE SYSTEM CAUSES LOUD CHATTER IN BELT TENSIONER DUE TO SLUGS OF LIQUID REFRIGERANT BEING PUSHED INTO THE COMPRESSOR. PROBLEMS FREQUENT ENOUGH FOR GM TO HAVE ISSUED TSB #01139B BUT GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT ARE DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189168

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2007
Steering

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 SUBURBAN. MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN, INDICATING IT IS TIME FOR YET ANOTHER SERVICE TRIP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178899

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2007
Parking Brake

I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE MY 2002 SUBURBAN INSPECTED. THE PARKING BRAKE BAND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE DRUM THIS DECEMBER. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 92K MILES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME YEAR/MAKE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO HAVE HIS PARKING BRAKE REPLACED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 76K …

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I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE MY 2002 SUBURBAN INSPECTED. THE PARKING BRAKE BAND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKE DRUM THIS DECEMBER. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 92K MILES. MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME YEAR/MAKE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO HAVE HIS PARKING BRAKE REPLACED, BUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 76K MILES. CHEVROLET HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT THAT THIS MODEL VEHICLE IS PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM, YET WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178895

58,000 miles · Jan 10, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE TRUCK WOULD RESTART. THE CHEVY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER LONG PERIODS …

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ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE TRUCK WOULD RESTART. THE CHEVY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER LONG PERIODS OF FREEWAY DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS NOT A LOW FUEL ISSUE. I SUSPECT IT IS A CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILING AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178295

60,000 miles · Dec 20, 2006
Visibility

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CREATE A DOUBLE-VISION. PER THE CONTACT THIS CAUSES HER NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE HER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS IN THE PASS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10176650

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.