2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Complaints

THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB SHAFT WAS REPLACED. *TC

DOING NORMAL BRAKING, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SOFT PEDAL APPLICATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND A MANUFACTURER SERVICE REP. BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *JB

THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND MOMENTARY WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER BEING INSPECTED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM *TC

THE VEHICLE HAS GOING TO THE SHOP 8+ TIMES FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND DIES OUT. SOME TIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER 5 MINUTES, AND SOME TIMES IT WILL NOT RESTART. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES, ALONG WITH THE MODULE. THEY ALSO HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER, RELAY, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AND FUEL FILTER. THE DEALER HAS FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I VISITED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE PREVIOUS DAY I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 SUBURBAN PURCHASED NEW FROM THE LOCAL DEALER TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. I WAS ADVISED I HAD A LOT OF SLACK AND VIBRATION AT BOTH ENDS OF MY STEERING COLUMN. I HAD LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THIS AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE WHEELS TURNED THEY DID NOT TURN SMOOTHLY, BUT ROUGHLY, AND JUMPED IN THE TURNING PROCESS AS THOUGH IT STOPPED AND STARTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD SINCERE CONCERNS THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAD TO ORDER THE REPAIR PARTS, WHICH WOULD TAKE 3 TO 4 WEEKS. NEVERTHELESS, I WAITED FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. AFTER OVER A MONTH I CALLED TITLE BACK, AND HE AGAIN SAID IT COULD BE 3 OR 4 WEEKS BEFORE THEY COME IN, AND THEY WOULD CALL ME. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS LETTER I NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THESE PARTS WERE RECEIVED. APPARENTLY, THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE WARRANTY REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WHEELS JUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNING. *TC *JB

RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN FOR A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, REPLY ATTN ESTHER CLARK. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND IT TOOK OVER SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENT. SMOKE INCREASED OVER THE NEXT 45 SECONDS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER DUE TO LARGE DITCHES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ENGINE DIED AFTER 35 SECONDS OF SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN A CORNER AND GET OFF THE ROAD. AFTER EXITING THE TRUCK A FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE TRUCK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME 10 MIN LATER AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES. THE ASST. FIRE CHIEF MENTIONED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE HEATING VENT SYSTEM. I CAN PROVIDE NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF THE CHIEF UPON REQUEST. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. TO DATE MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TAKEN ONE WEEK TO RETRIEVE THE TRUCK FROM THE IMPOUND LOT AND CHEVY'S PRODUCT LIABILITY DIVISION HAS NOT HELP WITH ANY EXPENSES INCURRED BY MYSELF INCLUDING $3,800.00 IN TOOL PURCHASES WHICH WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. HELP GETTING A NEW TRUCK OR CAR RENTAL EXPENSES. MY INSURANCE ONLY PAYS 30 PER DAY MY COST ON A TRUCK IS 55.PER DAY. THE CHEVY'S PRODUCT LIABILITY HAS BEEN RUDE AND VERY MATTER OF FACT SPEAKING THAT THE WILL ONLY COVER THE NADA VALUE ON MY TRUCK REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NOTE IS WITH MY BANK. ANY EXPENSES INCURRED WILL ONLY BE LIMITED TO WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS. ON BOTH TOOLS AND AUTO. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN THAT HAS A STEERING /CLUNKING NOISE IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I HAVE CALLED MANY DEALERS AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER, I CHECKED OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SITES AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE PARTS FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. MY DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 4 MONTHS. HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR IS GM DISREGARDING THE DEFECT IN THE PARTS. WHEN WILL MY SUBURBAN BE FIXED, IF AT ALL ? *NM

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK TO THE RIGHT. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT ARE ON BACK ORDER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHEN TURNING A CORNER STEERING COLUMN SHOOK AND MADE A CLANKING NOISE. DEALER STATED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED, AND THEY WERE AWAITING INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.*AK