2002 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10162080 · 2006-07-11 (July 11, 2006)
#5 CYLINDER 1164 MISFIRES. COLLAPSED LIFTER, BROKEN RINGS. THE DEALERSHIP WENT ON FISHING EXPEDITION, CHARGING ME $271.82 FOR UNNECESSARY WORK (NEW SPARK PLUG AND WIRES). WENT FOR SECOND DIAGNOSES, CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THIS TIME INDICATING THE ABOVE. MECHANIC CONTACTED GMPP (EXTENDED WARRANTY),TOLD GMPP THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS ADVISED TO TELL ME TO RETURN TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 65,414 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162080 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 10167729 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A NEW TRAVEL TRAILER TO BE TOWED BY THE SUBURBAN. AFTER HEARING OTHER STORIES ABOUT HITCH FAILURE I INSPECTED MINE AND NOTICED THE WELDS WERE CRACKING. THIS WAS AFTER THE SECOND TRIP TOWING THE TRAILER, AND A GOOD THING I CHECKED BEFORE OUR NEXT TRIP. ANY WAY I CALLED THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH OUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. I ENDED UP BUYING A NEW PUTNAM HITCH TO REPLACE THE OEM ONE. I THINK GM SHOULD REIMBUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168762 · 2006-09-20 (September 20, 2006)
WAS PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN THE STOCK HITCH RECEIVER BROKE OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE, CAUSING A DEATH, AND MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE WHOLE FAMILY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31,663 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173006 · 2006-11-09 (November 9, 2006)
GOOD YEAR TIRE FAILURE. BUBBLING OCCURRING ON INTERIOR SIDE WALLS. CUPPING ALSO OCCURRING. I HAVE HAD 9 GOOD YEAR TIRES IN FOUR YEARS ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173006 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.