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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
68,577 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

NORMAL OPERATION ABS CYCLING WHEN INCHING TO A STOP,ON HWY OPERATION ABS CYCLES EVEN WHEN BRAKING AND THERE ARE NO ADVERSE CONDITIONS PROBLEM IS SPORADIC AT BEST FOR CONSEQUENCES IT HAS NOT BUT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT. HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL, SENSORS FOR ABS WERE REPLACED. PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT.*CW

NHTSA ODI #10302548

120,000 miles · Dec 7, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 LOSES ACCELERATION POWER ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. ONCE BRAKE IS APPLIED VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS AND HAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY IN OCCURRENCES. HAPPENED AUG…

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2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 LOSES ACCELERATION POWER ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. ONCE BRAKE IS APPLIED VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS AND HAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY IN OCCURRENCES. HAPPENED AUGUST 2007 , AND DEC. 2007, SEPT. 2009 AND NOVEMBER 2009. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED ON COMPUTER. GM MECHANICS CAN NOT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM UNLESS IT HAPPENS TO THEM. GM REFERS US TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IN REPAIRS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET DETAILING THIS PROBLEM BUT GM DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOTICED THAT 2001 CHEVY SUBURBANS HAVE HAD A RECALL OF CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THAT SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO MY VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM POSES A TREMENDOUS LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS OR IN MOUNTAIN AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294697

27,600 miles · Nov 7, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAD A NEARMISS, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MY GARAGE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOPPED. I HAD TO APPLY OVER 100 POUNDS OF PRESSURE FOR ABOUT 40 FEET BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291292

101,932 miles · Sep 11, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES ERRATIC OPERATION LESS THAN 5 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283654

112,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OF 5MPH ON A DRIED PAVEMENT, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE ENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED OF 5MPH ON A DRIED PAVEMENT, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE ENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER; HOWEVER, HE IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E106000, WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10280606

65,000 miles · Apr 27, 2009
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. HE STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS PERFECTLY IN TACT FROM THE OUTSIDE; HOWEVER, FROM THE INSIDE IT WAS SMEARED AND DISPLAYED DOUBLE VISION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $100.00. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. HE STATED THAT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS PERFECTLY IN TACT FROM THE OUTSIDE; HOWEVER, FROM THE INSIDE IT WAS SMEARED AND DISPLAYED DOUBLE VISION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $100.00. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $300. THE MIRROR HAS BEEN DISTORTED FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 05/15/09 *BF UPDATED 05/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10266863

65,000 miles · Mar 25, 2009
Parking Brake

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED AN UNSPECIFIED COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION, BUT THE FA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED AN UNSPECIFIED COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION, BUT THE FAILURE WORSENED AFTERWARDS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ISSUE OCCURRED EVERY TIME HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263013

74,652 miles · Jan 27, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS LIGHT ON-DEALER SAYS $1500 TO REPAIR, HE SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR IT SO AM NOW DRIVING A CAR THE HAS NO ABS PROTECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256459

160,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Fuel System, Other

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE GAS TANK BRACKETS, USED TO SUPPORT THE GAS TANK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE GAS TANK BRACKETS, USED TO SUPPORT THE GAS TANK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10243126

84,500 miles · Sep 19, 2008
Steering

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VERY HEAVING STEERING REQUIRING GREAT EFFORT. I MADE A HARD U-TURN AND THEN FOUND THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT TOOK BOTH HANDS AND A LOT OF FORCE TO STEER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. NO DASH MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ON. AT REPAIR, THE STEERING PU…

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SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VERY HEAVING STEERING REQUIRING GREAT EFFORT. I MADE A HARD U-TURN AND THEN FOUND THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT TOOK BOTH HANDS AND A LOT OF FORCE TO STEER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. NO DASH MALFUNCTION LIGHTS WERE ON. AT REPAIR, THE STEERING PUMP SHAFT HAD SHEARED WHERE IT NECKS DOWN FROM ABOUT 3/4" TO 3/8" DIAMETER. AN INTERNET SEARCH PROVIDES MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP WITH A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE VARIABLE EFFORT STEERING FEATURE. I VERY MUCH DON'T LIKE THE RESULTING LACK OF ROAD FEEL AND AM PURSUING THAT PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER. THIS SUDDEN STEERING PUMP FAILURE IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242899

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.