← New search

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
54,000 miles · Dec 8, 2006
Parking Brake

THIS IN REFERENCE TO A CLOSED NHTSA ACTION # DP05009. AFTER A PARKING BRAKE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED ON THIS 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 54,000 MILES ON IT, IN NOVEMBER, I LOOKED INTO SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS AND OF THE 3 I FOUND, 2 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ONE IN INDIANA, ALL HAD SIMILAR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS. W…

Read full complaint

THIS IN REFERENCE TO A CLOSED NHTSA ACTION # DP05009. AFTER A PARKING BRAKE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED ON THIS 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 54,000 MILES ON IT, IN NOVEMBER, I LOOKED INTO SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS AND OF THE 3 I FOUND, 2 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ONE IN INDIANA, ALL HAD SIMILAR PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR SAFETY NOTICES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR NHTSA SITE, I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED AND CLOSED BUT ONLY APPLIED TO VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS IN AUTOMATIC MODELS TOO, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY GLOSSED OVER BECAUSE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF ROLL AWAY INCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM IS STILL OUT THERE, AND CHEVY DENIES IT. CHEVY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SERIES WIDE PROBLEM AND FIX IT ON A RECALL BASIS. THE INSULTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THE DEALERSHIP ACTS LIKE IT IS SOMETHING NEW, AND PERHAPS I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING BRAKE ON ALL THE TIME. IT IS NOT NEW, AND I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN AWAY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON IN MY LIFE. AND WE WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY IS FAILING TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175562

70,158 miles · Nov 15, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HOUSTON TOLLWAY AT 65 MPH, MY 2002 SUBURBAN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO STEER CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO LONE STAR CH…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HOUSTON TOLLWAY AT 65 MPH, MY 2002 SUBURBAN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO STEER CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO LONE STAR CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE BILL WAS 1045.10. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE AND THE FUEL FILTER AND TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH GM VEHICLES DATING BACK TO 1999 MODELS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. MINE HAD ONLY 70158 MI. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. I TALKED TO A CUSTOMER WHO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON HIS 1999 GMC SUBURBAN AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM AND WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. FAIR IS FAIR AND I EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM THEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173559

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2006
Tires

GOOD YEAR TIRE FAILURE. BUBBLING OCCURRING ON INTERIOR SIDE WALLS. CUPPING ALSO OCCURRING. I HAVE HAD 9 GOOD YEAR TIRES IN FOUR YEARS ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173006

31,663 miles · Sep 20, 2006
Trailer HitchesCrashInjury

WAS PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN THE STOCK HITCH RECEIVER BROKE OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, CAUSING A DEATH, AND MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168762

70,100 miles · Sep 8, 2006
Trailer Hitches

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A NEW TRAVEL TRAILER TO BE TOWED BY THE SUBURBAN. AFTER HEARING OTHER STORIES ABOUT HITCH FAILURE I INSPECTED MINE AND NOTICED THE WELDS WERE CRACKING. THIS WAS AFTER THE SECOND TRIP TOWING THE TRAILER, AND A GOOD THING I CHECKED BEFORE OUR NEXT TRIP. ANY WAY I CALLED THE D…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A NEW TRAVEL TRAILER TO BE TOWED BY THE SUBURBAN. AFTER HEARING OTHER STORIES ABOUT HITCH FAILURE I INSPECTED MINE AND NOTICED THE WELDS WERE CRACKING. THIS WAS AFTER THE SECOND TRIP TOWING THE TRAILER, AND A GOOD THING I CHECKED BEFORE OUR NEXT TRIP. ANY WAY I CALLED THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. I ENDED UP BUYING A NEW PUTNAM HITCH TO REPLACE THE OEM ONE. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR REPLACING THEIR FAULTY PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167729

54,400 miles · Sep 5, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

2002 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70MPH DOWN FREEWAY. WAS ABLE TO GET ENGINE RESTARTED WHILE STILL ROLLING. NO REPAIR MADE YET, SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID MANY POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WOULD BE EASIER TO DIAGNOSE IF IT WOULD NOT START. WIFE'S 2000 MODEL CHEV SUBURBAN HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEM 01/21/2002. …

Read full complaint

2002 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70MPH DOWN FREEWAY. WAS ABLE TO GET ENGINE RESTARTED WHILE STILL ROLLING. NO REPAIR MADE YET, SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID MANY POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WOULD BE EASIER TO DIAGNOSE IF IT WOULD NOT START. WIFE'S 2000 MODEL CHEV SUBURBAN HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEM 01/21/2002. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167409

66,500 miles · Sep 4, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAUSES PEDAL PUSH BACK AND MINIMAL BRAKING ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS ON SECURE PAVEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167322

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2006
Parking Brake

EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED IT ON 10-15-2005. THE MILEAGE WAS 64095. MILEAGE NOW IS 70129. I WOULD ALWAYS USE THE BRAKE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN T…

Read full complaint

EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED IT ON 10-15-2005. THE MILEAGE WAS 64095. MILEAGE NOW IS 70129. I WOULD ALWAYS USE THE BRAKE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULDN'T MOVE. NOW I FOUND OUT THAT I NEVER HAD ONE FOR SOME REASON. NEED IT FIXED IF ALL POSSIBLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162205

65,414 miles · Jul 11, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

#5 CYLINDER 1164 MISFIRES. COLLAPSED LIFTER, BROKEN RINGS. THE DEALERSHIP WENT ON FISHING EXPEDITION, CHARGING ME $271.82 FOR UNNECESSARY WORK (NEW SPARK PLUG AND WIRES). WENT FOR SECOND DIAGNOSES, CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THIS TIME INDICATING THE ABOVE. MECHANIC CONTACTED GMPP (EXTENDED WARRANTY),TOLD GMPP THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE …

Read full complaint

#5 CYLINDER 1164 MISFIRES. COLLAPSED LIFTER, BROKEN RINGS. THE DEALERSHIP WENT ON FISHING EXPEDITION, CHARGING ME $271.82 FOR UNNECESSARY WORK (NEW SPARK PLUG AND WIRES). WENT FOR SECOND DIAGNOSES, CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THIS TIME INDICATING THE ABOVE. MECHANIC CONTACTED GMPP (EXTENDED WARRANTY),TOLD GMPP THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS ADVISED TO TELL ME TO RETURN TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162080

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2004
Steering

FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED REGARDING TWO VEHICLES WITH OFF CENTER STEERING PROBLEMS.*MR SERIAL NUMBER #[XXX] AND [XXX]. *CB *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10053925

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.