2003 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WAS AUDIBLE WHILE RUNNING. I AM NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER, SO I WROTE THE NOISE OFF AS NORMAL. A FEW DAYS LATER HOME MY WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED UP AND THE CLUTCH WAS BURNING UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING A NEW COMPRESSOR, DRYER-RECEIVER, ORIFICE FILTER, AND A RECHARGE AND I SHOULD BE ALL SET. NOT THE CASE, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS FILLED WITH M…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166485 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE LEFT REAR STRUT HAD WORN INTO THE REAR FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY AND MADE A PINHOLE SIZED PUNCTURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUNCTURED FUEL LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE LEFT REAR STRUT WAS FUBBING ON THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THE TIRE WERE OUT OF ROUND. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167821 at NHTSA ↗

SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED. SHOWS 120 MPH, EVEN WHEN SHUT DOWN. IT SLOWLY BEGAN TO GO FROM ZERO AT STARTUP, TO 35 AT STARTUP, TO 70 AT STARTUP AND NOW TO 120. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH CHEVY AND DEALERS ARE AWARE OF. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171513 at NHTSA ↗

CHEVY SUBURBAN 2003 LT 1500 FLEX FUEL V8. DEVELOPED FUEL TANK LEAK. REMEDY IS TO REPLACE FUEL TANK. GASOLINE DRIPPING DOWN BACK SIDE OF FUEL TANK. POTENTIAL FIRE/SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. VEHICLE MILEAGE 120K. AGE LESS THAN 48 MONTHS. NO COLLISIONS EXCEPT MINOR TO REAR BUMPER. COST OF REPAIR OVER $1,000.00. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172298 at NHTSA ↗

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IN 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. SPEEDOMETER IS PRODUCING INACCURATE READINGS. WILL READ 0 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WILL ALSO READ HIGHER SPEEDS WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $550. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 84,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172914 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SPECIFICALLY, UNDER LOAD (UP HILLS, ACCELERATING, ETC...) WHEN GAS IS GIVEN, THE CAR STALLS. THE TACH STILL READS A NUMBER, AND ALL CABIN ELECTRONICS REMAIN ACTIVE, WITHOUT SHOWING ANY HINT OF A PROBLEM (NO SPIKE, DIMMING OF LIGHTS, ETC...) ENGINE JUST DIES. (AGAIN, THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS [40-80 MPH.]) NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A FAILURE ELECTRONICALLY [IE, NO "MESSAGES."] THE ONLY DISCERNIBLE SYMPTOM IS SLUGGISHNESS ON THE PART OF THE AC…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173298 at NHTSA ↗

THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING (GETS STUCK AND REPORTS IN ACCURATE SPEEDS OR STICKS BELOW 0 MPH) ON MY 2003 SUBURBAN WITH ONLY 59000 MILES. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THAT GM ISSUED A TSB BUT NO RECALL EVEN WITH THE MANY REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS OF SAFETY CONCERNS. I AM TOLD THE REPAIR COST WILL BE $500-$700. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A BAD A/C COMPRESSION COSTING $1K AND INTAKE GASKETS $320 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE. I THOUGHT GM BUILT BETTER QUALITY PRODUCTS THAN TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173329 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS RECENTLY PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING . THE PATROLMAN CLOCKED MY @68 MPH IN A 45 MPH SPEED ZONE. MY SPEEDOMETER SHOWED 52 MPH. NOW 2 WEEKS LATER IT READS 75 MPH PARKED IN MY DRIVE. I CAN BE DRIVING 30 MPH AND MY SPEEDOMETER WILL READ 105-100 MPH OR DRIVING SOMEWHERE AROUND 50-60 MPH AND IT WILL BE PEGGED OUT ABOVE 120 MPH. I AM READING ON THE INTERNET AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174259 at NHTSA ↗