2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FIVE TIMES, AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 2 YR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO PULL HIS VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. HE STATED THAT THE CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS APPARENTLY PLAYING WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. HE THEN MOVED THE SHIFT LEVEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD HITTING A POLE AND BENDING HIS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. HE STATED HE DOES NOT THINK THIS VEHICLE HAS A SHIFT INTERLOCK, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE GEAR SHIFTER TO BE MOVED WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKES FIRST. HE STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW THIS EITHER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTERLOCK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION TO DRIVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SEAT DROPPED BACK. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOORS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. RADIO IS NOT WORKING AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING, ALL GAUGE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATES THE DASH BOARD. DEALER REPLACED. ALTERNATOR, RADIO TWICE, DOOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DASH BOARD INCLUDING THE GAUGES AND STILL PERSIST THE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY. *LA

PAINT PEELING FROM DASH BOARD. WITH AIR ON, COULD FLY INTO INFANTS MOUTH AND/OR EYES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIRED NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

BOUGHT 4 BF GOODRICH LONG TRAIL TIRES FOR 2003 1/2 TON CHEVY SUBURBAN 4 WHEEL, IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF USE, TIRES EDGE(S) "BITE" AT HIGH SPEEDS 60-70 MPH CREATING LACK OF CONTROL IN MODERATE WINDS, NOT ONLY WAS CAR PUSHED IN MODERATE WIND BUT ACTUALLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL DANGEROUSLY. *AK

2003 CHEVRLOET SUBURBAN, POSSIBLY OTHER SUVS AND TRUCKS BASED ON THE SAME OR SIMILAR CHASSIS (E.G. SILVERADO) ACCORDING TO PERSONAL RESEARCH: <P> VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITH REGARDS TO STEERING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS AT THE SLIGHTEST INFLUENCE OF "EXTERNAL FORCES" SUCH AS WIND, ROAD GROOVES, ROAD UNEVENESS. FEELS LIKE BUMPSTEER, BUT WITH THE ABILITY OF WIND OR TURBULENCE FROM PASSING LARGE TRUCK TO INDUCE IT. ESSENTIALLY VEHICLE DARTS LEFT AND RIGHT NO MATTER THE STEERING INPUT. DOES NOT OCCUR ON STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROADS. HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOTHING HAS IMPROVED NOR HAS ANY REAL DIAGNOSIS BEEN MADE (THEY REFUSE TO IF YOU INSIST). HAS OCCURED SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. <P> EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH 2002 SILVERADO, DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED ON EDMUNDS.COM: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/[email protected]@.EF12499 <P> OTHER VERY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINTS/ODI: COMPLAINT # 10045857 "CONSUMER PURCHASED 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS REPEADEDLY TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHEN MILD WINDS OCCUR." <P> COMPLAINT # 10058005 "WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT STEERING BECAME LOOSE" <P> COMPLAINT # 10025081 (2003 SILVERADO) "WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL."*AK

GEAR IS EASILY MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BUTTON ON GEAR SHIFT. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THEN, EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE. AFTER STRUGGLING CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. IT HAD NO POWER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A SHORT IN A FUEL PUMP WIRE CAUSED A FUSE TO BLOW OUT, WHICH IN TURN, SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER PUT VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER SHOWED NO FAILURE. HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE HAD BEEN SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK