2003 GMC Suburban Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Suburban years
- Not enough data 8th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Suburban. That ranks 8th out of 10 Suburban model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (2 complaints, 40%), typically at around 38,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 5owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 GMC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 40% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 20% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 20% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 20% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 20% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 20% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 GMC Suburban recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
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
- Parking brake failure (DP05009) — opened Dec 20, 2005, closed May 31, 2006.
- Parking brake failure (EA04011) — opened Apr 9, 2004, closed May 10, 2005, led to recall 05V161000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
June 2006 the fuel pump stopped working when i was driving on the freeway, i was towed to the garage we normally use for maintenance. They replaced the fuel pump we did not pursue this under the original warranty on the vehicle - big mistake! In january 2009 the fuel gauge stopped working and again…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc suburban. The contact stated that he purchased his vehicle brand new and has currently spent over $5,000 in repairs. He has been to the dealer four different times concerning the steering wheel vibrating, shaking, and rocking while driving the vehicle. Each time he…
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 3RD IN A 2003 SUBURBAN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, I FELT I WAS A SAFE DISTANCEE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON 635 IN DALLAS AND A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I REACTED VERY QUICKLY, I FELT…
Upon inspecting vehicle consumer noticed tire sidewall were dry rotted. Firestone and chevrolet, lt245/75r16le. *ak
While driving 65 mph abs warning light came on, and two seconds later vehicle shut off. As a result, power steering and power brakes failed. *ak
Other GMC Suburban years
← 2002 Suburban · 2004 Suburban →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Suburban | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 Suburban | 7 | 1 |
| 2001 Suburban | 5 | 2 |
| 2000 Suburban | 15 | 2 |
| 1999 Suburban | 285 | 1 |
| 1998 Suburban | 100 | 2 |
| 1997 Suburban | 200 | 2 |
| 1996 Suburban | 172 | 3 |
| 1995 Suburban | 227 | 6 |
See all GMC Suburban problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC Suburban?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling, equipment problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 GMC Suburban?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 GMC 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 too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.