U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

120 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

98,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 120 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	72	60.0%
Steering behavior	15	12.5%
Engine operation	11	9.2%
Fuel system concerns	9	7.5%
Electrical and battery issues	3	2.5%
Transmission and shifting	2	1.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Fuel/Propulsion System

Parking Brake

Engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes	33
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	21
Fuel/Propulsion System	8
Parking Brake	8
Engine	5
Engine And Engine Cooling	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	5

Service Brakes: 33; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Parking Brake: 8; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 25

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2004: 1; 2006: 10; 2007: 9; 2008: 12; 2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 10; 2012: 12; 2013: 11; 2014: 9; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10162205 · 2006-07-12 (July 12, 2006)

EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED IT ON 10-15-2005. THE MILEAGE WAS 64095. MILEAGE NOW IS 70129. I WOULD ALWAYS USE THE BRAKE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULDN'T MOVE. NOW I FOUND OUT THAT I NEVER HAD ONE FOR SOME REASON. NEED IT FIXED IF ALL POSSIBLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162205 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10167322 · 2006-09-04 (September 4, 2006)

LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAUSES PEDAL PUSH BACK AND MINIMAL BRAKING ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS ON SECURE PAVEMENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 66,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167322 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053925 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)

FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED REGARDING TWO VEHICLES WITH OFF CENTER STEERING PROBLEMS.*MR SERIAL NUMBER #[XXX] AND [XXX]. *CB *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053925 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10178899 · 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 SUBURBAN. MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN, INDICATING IT IS TIME FOR YET ANOTHER SERVICE TRIP. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178899 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10167409 · 2006-09-05 (September 5, 2006)

2002 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70MPH DOWN FREEWAY. WAS ABLE TO GET ENGINE RESTARTED WHILE STILL ROLLING. NO REPAIR MADE YET, SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID MANY POSSIBLE CAUSES AND WOULD BE EASIER TO DIAGNOSE IF IT WOULD NOT START. WIFE'S 2000 MODEL CHEV SUBURBAN HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEM 01/21/2002. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 54,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167409 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10178295 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE TRUCK WOULD RESTART. THE CHEVY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION. IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER LONG PERIODS OF FREEWAY DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS NOT A LOW FUEL ISSUE. I SUSPECT IT IS A CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILING AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221005 · 2008-03-13 (March 13, 2008)

I HAVE AJ 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN W/144K MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IF THE FUEL LEVEL GOT TOO LOW IT WOULD NOT START. IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS HAVE HAD THE INTERMITTENT SHUT OFF PROBLEM LISTED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE HAD IT DO IT ON ROUGH ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. SAME THING, ENGINE STOPS, WAIT 3-5 MINUTES ENGINE STARTS, SEEMS LESS PREVALENT WHEN TANK IS FULL. DEALERSHIP SAYS CHEVY SEES NO OVERALL PROBLEM WITH IT, MY MECHANIC TELLS ME A NEW FUEL PUMP IS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE BUT THE REAL COST IS…

Owner-reported narrative. 143,870 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221005 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10243126 · 2008-09-22 (September 22, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE GAS TANK BRACKETS, USED TO SUPPORT THE GAS TANK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CONTACT REFUSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243126 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10394249 · 2011-04-04 (April 4, 2011)

MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 HAS BEGAN TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY. IT STALLS WHEN FUEL TANK IS LOW AND WHEN TANK IS FULL. LATELY, ITS BEEN DIFFICULT TO CRANK. I HAVE A NEW BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR TESTED FINE, I'VE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE AND IT STILL STALLS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 202,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394249 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10853285 · 2016-04-04 (April 4, 2016)

SOME DAYS MY TRUCK WILL NOT START SOME DAYS IT DOES FOR INSTANCE IT WILL START FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS CONSECUTIVELY AND THEN IT WONT START FOR 2-3 DAYS AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS OF JUST SITTING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR , STARTER , FUEL PUMP AND I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NON RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10853285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227990 · 2008-05-16 (May 16, 2008)

I HAVE A 2002 SUBURBAN THAT SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2002 I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN IT WOULD BE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR LESS THAN A DAY AND I WOULD BE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY. NOW MY WARRANTY IS UP AND MY TRANSMISSION IS BROKE. I HAVE NO REVERSE, AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO DOWN SHIFT ON ANY FORWARD GEAR. I CALLED A TRANS SHOP IN MY AREA AND THEY STATED THAT WITH CHEVY SUBURBANS OF MY YEAR (GIVE AND TAKE 3YEARS BOTH WAYS) THERE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEAL IN THE TRANS …

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227990 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10643380 · 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)

MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN THE SUBURBAN LIKE ALWAYS AND WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. AT THE END OF THE DAY SHE PARKED IT AND IT SAT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. I WALKED OUT TO IT AND FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE I SAW A LARGE PUDDLE UNDERNEATH MY DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN I TURNED ON MY TRUCK THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHEN I SHIFTED INTO GEAR I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE OUT. I CONTACTED GM AND GAVE THEM THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (EA11001) BUT SINCE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN THEIR SYSTEM THEY CANNOT COVER ANYTHING. I SEE THAT THIS ISSUE IS THE SECOND ONE OPENED AND THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643380 at NHTSA ↗