2002 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 33 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 17 | 51.5% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 45.5% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 30.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 2 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2009: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 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 10158869 · 2006-06-02 (June 2, 2006)
2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 8.1L MOTOR RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE DEALERS LOOK AT IT AND THE "CODES" NEVER REFLECT WHAT HAPPENED. I EVEN READ THE CURRENT NHTSA ACTION PE06016 DESCRIPTION TO THE SERVICE TECH (AS I WRITE THIS MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR "ENGINE LOSSES ALL POWER AND DIES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR NO START AND STALLING CONDITIONS") AND DESCRIBED THESE EXACT SYMPTOM AND HE SAID THE CODES DON'T REFLECT THAT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165799 · 2006-08-17 (August 17, 2006)
CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN CERTAIN GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8.1L ENGINES. IN SOME CASES, THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THAT AS RESULT OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160942 · 2006-06-27 (June 27, 2006)
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 4X4 SUBURBAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE REPLACING THE SPEED SENSORS IN THE HUBS BUT THEY ARE STATING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10414668 · 2011-07-22 (July 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EIGHT MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576895 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I HAVE HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S THE GM RECALL. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE TRUCK WILL START BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM OR WITHOUT HAVING ANY BOOST. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NOONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE ASSIST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10576895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243080 · 2008-09-22 (September 22, 2008)
MY 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN 8.1L, HAS BEEN STALLING CONTINUOUSLY. IT STALLS WHEN DRIVING, SLOW, FAST OR EVEN AT A RED LIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, STARTER, ALTERNATOR AND BATTER ALL REPLACED. I HAVE READ ON MANY SITES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243080 at NHTSA ↗