2002 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
286 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 194 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 286 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 131 | 45.8% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 21 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 42 |
| Service Brakes | 41 |
| Parking Brake | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 |
| Tires | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 42; Service Brakes: 41; Parking Brake: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18; Tires: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 43 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 24
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 92 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 60 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2002: 26; 2003: 47; 2004: 28; 2005: 60; 2006: 24; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 10; 2011: 8; 2012: 18; 2013: 9; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 131 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 21 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 10005130 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF DOWN WHILE IN MOTION, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM ACCELERATING, MAINTAINING SPEED, OR COMING TO A STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN I LOOSE MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I AM IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT IT MAY SHUTDOWN ON ME WHEN I AM TRYING TO CROSS BUSY TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD......... *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013998 · 2003-04-05 (April 5, 2003)
POPPING NOISE AND CLINKING FELT IN STEERING AND EXCESSIVE PLAY. IT IS HARDER TO TURN TO THE RIGHT-LITERALLY YOU FEEL THE WHEEL GOING AROUND MUCH FURTHER THAN IF TURNING TO THE LEFT, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND FIXED LOWER CLEARANCE ARMS (WHICH HAD EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE). PICKED IT UP AND FELT THE SAME CLINKING AND HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN!! I RETURNED IT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A TEST DRIVE-HE ONLY HAD TO TURN OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRON…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008354 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP CUTS OFF AT 3/4 FULL. WHEN I TRY TO FILL IT ALL THE WAY, IT OVER FLOWS ONTO THE GROUND AFTER THE PUMP CUTS OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER (TEAM CHEVROLET) SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TANK. THEY SAY IT IS THE GAS STATION I AM USING OR I SHOULD JUST HOLD THE GAS NOZZLE MYSELF UNTIL IT IS FULL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018161 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THE CAN'T GET NO GAS AT ALL DUE TO FUEL TANK IS NOT VENTILATE. DEALER NOTIFIED MANY TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015181 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE COMPLAINT. MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BOX FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059648 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019174 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
OCCASIONALLY, THE RADIO LOCKS OUT, INDICATING A LOSS OF POWER FROM THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079660 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
2 SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED. THEN, CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 2 SECONDS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND IT COULD BE DUE TO FUEL INJECTION OR FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NOT FAILURE WAS FOUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134745 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ON OUR 2002 SUBURBAN. RANDOM FAILURES OCCURRED WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AT LOW SPEED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND, PULSED AND VIBRATED. MALFUNCTION OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS CORROSION ISSUE SURROUNDING ABS SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE. SPEED SENSORS WERE REMOVED AND AREAS CLEANED OF ALL CORROSION AND RUST. ELECTRICAL READINGS IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF ONE SIDE (320MVAC PLUS) BUT DID NOT IMPROVE SECOND SENSOR (LESS THAN 200MVAC). FURTHER EVALUATION OF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134745 at NHTSA ↗