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2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 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

151 reports with mileage · 24 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

175 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

WE HAVE A 2003 SUBURBAN AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS FAILING TO TELL THE CORRECT SPEED IT IS GOING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GM, I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT CHEVY/GM PRODUCTS BUT WILL RECONSIDER WHEN I TRADE IN DUE TO THE LACK OF SAFETY RECALLS WHEN NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10193346

51,000 miles · May 30, 2007
Power TrainSuspension

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH TRACTION CONTROL. CONTROL CUTS IN WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN FROM SIDE ROAD ONTO MAIN HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY SLOW TO ALMOST A STOP UNTIL TRANSMISSION CATCHES UP AND VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES. DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF SENSORS IN WHEELBEARING AND THE WHEELBEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED.…

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2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH TRACTION CONTROL. CONTROL CUTS IN WHEN MAKING SHARP TURN FROM SIDE ROAD ONTO MAIN HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY SLOW TO ALMOST A STOP UNTIL TRANSMISSION CATCHES UP AND VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES. DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF SENSORS IN WHEELBEARING AND THE WHEELBEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A DEFINITE HAZARD WHEN ENTERING A HIGH SPEED (55 MPH OR HIGHER) HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE ROAD. I COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ABOUT THIS. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEM ON SEVERAL VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192041

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2007
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HAS QUIT WORKING IN. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME HAVE EVEN FILED LAWSUITS. THIS ITEM IS EXTREMELY COSTLY AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT, NOR DO I FEEL THAT I SHOULD. I THI…

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HAS QUIT WORKING IN. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME HAVE EVEN FILED LAWSUITS. THIS ITEM IS EXTREMELY COSTLY AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT, NOR DO I FEEL THAT I SHOULD. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188660

68,500 miles · Apr 21, 2007
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP REGISTERING THE VEHICLE'S SPEED AND GO PAST THE MAXIMUM SPEED (120MPH IN THIS CASE). WHEN YOU STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER USUALLY STOPS ON APPROXIMATELY 80 OR 90 MPH DEPENDING ON THE SPEED YOU WERE ORIGINALLY TRAVELING. ALSO, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE AC…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP REGISTERING THE VEHICLE'S SPEED AND GO PAST THE MAXIMUM SPEED (120MPH IN THIS CASE). WHEN YOU STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER USUALLY STOPS ON APPROXIMATELY 80 OR 90 MPH DEPENDING ON THE SPEED YOU WERE ORIGINALLY TRAVELING. ALSO, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE ACCURATE READING. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN GO DOWN TO ZERO, OR MAX OUT AT 80 AND STAY THERE. IT TAKES SEVERAL DAYS FOR THE SPEEDOMETER TO GO BACK DOWN TO ZERO, OR SEVERAL TIMES CRANKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO GET THE SPEEDOMETER TO GO BACK TO ZERO, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR ON THE IGNITION COMPONENTS AND STARTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188508

40,000 miles · Apr 15, 2007
Electrical System

ABOUT 18 MONTHS I HAD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE 03 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I WAS TOLD THEN THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING WITH CHEVROLET BRAND CLUSTERS. WELL, APPARENTLY IT IS. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. ONLY NOW, ALL OF MY STEPPER MOTORS NEED REPLACEMENT THIS TIME. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS 60 MPH,…

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ABOUT 18 MONTHS I HAD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE 03 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I WAS TOLD THEN THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING WITH CHEVROLET BRAND CLUSTERS. WELL, APPARENTLY IT IS. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. ONLY NOW, ALL OF MY STEPPER MOTORS NEED REPLACEMENT THIS TIME. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS 60 MPH, BUT MY SPEEDOMETER MEASURES 120 MPH. I WILL GET THIS FIXED THIS WEEK, BUT I BELIEVE CHEVROLET OUGHT TO RECALL THESE. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE OR TALK TO ENOUGH REPAIR SHOPS, YOU WILL QUICKLY FIND OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM. AS SUCH, YOU WILL ALSO SEE VENDORS ONLINE, OR EBAY ETC SELLING REPAIR SERVICES. TO ME, ANY MISREADING OF SPEEDOMETER IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND OUGHT TO BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187975

25,000 miles · Apr 13, 2007
Power TrainSteering

2003 SUBURBAN 1500 4WD , RATTLE AND CLUNK IN STEERING COLUMN, NOTHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING JUST CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS 26000 MILES ON IT, BUT WAS OVER 3 YEARS OLD. CURT WARNER CHEVROLET SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM... NO WARRANTY OR RECALL. IN FACT HE PULLED A U-JOINT AND SHAFT FROM HIS DESK TO SHOW ME WH…

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2003 SUBURBAN 1500 4WD , RATTLE AND CLUNK IN STEERING COLUMN, NOTHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING JUST CLUNKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS 26000 MILES ON IT, BUT WAS OVER 3 YEARS OLD. CURT WARNER CHEVROLET SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM... NO WARRANTY OR RECALL. IN FACT HE PULLED A U-JOINT AND SHAFT FROM HIS DESK TO SHOW ME WHAT THE NOISE WAS COMMING FROM IN THE COLUMN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187834

55,000 miles · Apr 7, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHEN VEHICLE HAD 55,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187250

15,000 miles · Mar 20, 2007
Interior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

1.SPEEDOMETER FAIED S DAILY. IT WILL READ 90 MPH WHEN I HAVE JUST BEGAN ACCELERATING. OTHER TIMES IT WILL READ 10 MPH WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. 2. SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT …

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1.SPEEDOMETER FAIED S DAILY. IT WILL READ 90 MPH WHEN I HAVE JUST BEGAN ACCELERATING. OTHER TIMES IT WILL READ 10 MPH WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. 2. SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. SECOND MIDDLE SEATBELT FASTENER GOT STUCK AND UNABLE TO UNFASTEN SEAT BELT WITHOUT FORCE. HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. 3. PAINT ON RADIO CONTROLS & DASHBOARD IS PEELING OFF - PAINT WAS ORIGINALLY GREY AND NOW SOME AREAS ARE BLACK AND OTHER CLEAR WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING THROUGH WHEN THE RADIO IS IN USE. 4. BRAKES SQUEEK EXCESSIVELY, REPLACED BRAKES & PADS NOISE CEASED FOR A MONTH AND THEN BEGAN AGAIN. 5. REAR ACCESS DOOR RATTLES CONSTANTLY 6. REAR ACCESS DOOR PLASTIC MOLDING ON INSIDE OF DOOR CRACKED 7. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVER CRACKED AND BROKE OFF 8. LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT CASING CRACKED AND FELL OFF 9. STEERING MAKES AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10185686

78 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Exterior Lighting

WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED THE HAZARDS FLASH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184477

69,500 miles · Mar 5, 2007
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH HAS EXPERIENCE SEVERAL EPISODES OF SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. USUALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL MALFUNCTION WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDING UP OR STOPPING. AFTER 1-2 DAYS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GRADUALLY RETURN TO BASELINE. THE MALFUNCTION HAS CAUSED ME…

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH HAS EXPERIENCE SEVERAL EPISODES OF SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. USUALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL MALFUNCTION WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDING UP OR STOPPING. AFTER 1-2 DAYS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GRADUALLY RETURN TO BASELINE. THE MALFUNCTION HAS CAUSED ME TO ASSUME THAT I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN I WAS WHICH HAS RESULTING IN A HIGH RISK FOR ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184228

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.