2003 Chevrolet Suburban Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Suburban years
- Far more complaints than other years 7th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. That ranks 7th out of 30 Suburban model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (81 complaints, 27%), typically at around 76,731 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 4 fires, 30 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 301owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Suburban problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 81 | 27% | 76,731 | “instrument cluster” (11%) | $810 |
| Service Brakes problems | 63 | 21% | 120,000 | “brake lines” (43%) | $2,850 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 26 | 9% | 82,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 21 | 7% | 15,750 | — | — |
| Steering | 20 | 7% | 19,250 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 18 | 6% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 5% | 82,526 | — | — |
| Visibility | 13 | 4% | 49,615 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 4% | 67,998 | — | — |
| Tires | 11 | 4% | 30,100 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 3% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 3% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 3% | 60 | — | — |
| Equipment | 7 | 2% | 55,700 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | 5,900 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 1% | 127,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 9,950 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | 81,933 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 1% | 108,675 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | 199,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 53,817 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 10 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Chevrolet Suburban recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
Risk: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
Fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Risk: Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
Fix: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; gmc at 1-866-996-9463; or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Structure
Problem: Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
Structure:body:door:hinge and attachments
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles are built with four welds on the rear door upper hinge. On some of these vehicles, one or two of the welds may not be to specification.
Risk: As a result, the door strength may be degraded during a side impact vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the welds on the left rear door upper hinge. If a weld is found out-of-specification, a bolt will be installed to secure the hinge. Owner notification began february 17, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, vehicles, during a 30 degree left angle frontal impact of sufficient severity, a tear could develop in the mid-frame cross member at its attachment to the left frame rail. If the mid-frame cross member tears during frontal impact and produces a sharp edge, contact of the sharp edge with the fuel tank could result in a puncture of the fuel tank and possible fuel leakage.
Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fuel tank shield. Owner notification began february 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Brake line corrosion failure (EA11001) — opened Jan 5, 2011, closed Apr 8, 2015.
- Brake line corrosion failure (PE10010) — opened Mar 30, 2010, closed Jan 5, 2011.
- Parking brake failure (DP05009) — opened Dec 20, 2005, closed May 31, 2006.
- Hydraulic pump failres (EA04012) — opened Apr 30, 2004, closed Feb 28, 2005, led to recall 05V005000.
- Parking brake failure (EA04011) — opened Apr 9, 2004, closed May 10, 2005, led to recall 05V161000.
- Steel wheel rim fracture (PE03026) — opened Jun 12, 2003, closed Nov 3, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 291,000 and at the time of inspection, it was discovered that the odometer was tampered with, and…
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the contact noticed the trailer attached was moving from left to right independently, and the trailer detached from his vehicle. The contact mentioned that he lost control of the vehicle into a parallel…
The cluster of the speedometer
I was driving on the freeway and all of a sudden i had 0% of my brakes and all the brake fluid was gone my emergency brake also failed prior to this i put in brake fluid and it all leaked out within a matter of moments
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 chevrolet suburban. The contact stated that while towing his daughter's vehicle at about 60 mph, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle being towed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a head and lower back injury. The front passenger (his daughter)…
Other Chevrolet Suburban years
← 2002 Suburban · 2004 Suburban →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 43 | 1 |
| 2023 Suburban | 129 | 3 |
| 2022 Suburban | 124 | 4 |
| 2021 Suburban | 199 | 12 |
| 2020 Suburban | 44 | 4 |
| 2019 Suburban | 78 | 3 |
| 2018 Suburban | 83 | 4 |
| 2017 Suburban | 141 | 5 |
| 2016 Suburban | 220 | 6 |
| 2015 Suburban | 430 | 11 |
| 2014 Suburban | 59 | 3 |
| 2013 Suburban | 118 | 4 |
| 2012 Suburban | 101 | 4 |
| 2011 Suburban | 148 | 3 |
| 2010 Suburban | 117 | 3 |
| 2009 Suburban | 106 | 5 |
| 2008 Suburban | 213 | 4 |
| 2007 Suburban | 292 | 4 |
| 2006 Suburban | 23 | 1 |
| 2005 Suburban | 129 | 6 |
| 2004 Suburban | 204 | 4 |
| 2003 | 301 | 5 |
| 2002 Suburban | 286 | 2 |
| 2001 Suburban | 440 | 6 |
| 2000 Suburban | 282 | 8 |
| 1999 Suburban | 634 | 1 |
| 1998 Suburban | 201 | 2 |
| 1997 Suburban | 414 | 2 |
| 1996 Suburban | 360 | 3 |
| 1995 Suburban | 457 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Suburban problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 81 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Suburban model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.