2002 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 2500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 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 10172509 · 2006-11-03 (November 3, 2006)
INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALL AND NO START IDENTICAL TO DESCRIPTION IN PE06016
Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187807 · 2007-04-13 (April 13, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 74,500 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. ONCE THE FUEL GAUGE REACHED THE HALF WAY MARK IT WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND REGISTER AN 'EMPTY' READING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192266 · 2007-06-01 (June 1, 2007)
I DRIVE A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN. FREQUENTLY, WHILE I AM DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, I DO NOT HAVE POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I CAN TYPICALLY START UP THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THIS SITUATION FIRST STARTED LAST OCTOBER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT BECAUSE THE CHEVY DEALER WAS BOOKED. THE GARAGE COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THESE UNPREDICTABLE SHUT OFFS AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVY DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193510 · 2007-06-16 (June 16, 2007)
I DRIVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. FREQUENTLY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, IT DID NOT HAVE POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE KEY OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES I COULD START UP THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THIS SITUATION FIRST STARTED LAST FALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHICH COULD FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THESE UNPREDICTABLE SHUT OFFS ,AND I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195291 · 2007-07-04 (July 4, 2007)
VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES STALL 3 TIMES PER DAY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL IN A DAY. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RESULTED WHICH SOMETIMES PRESENTED A CHALLENGE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY OR ROADWAY WHILE COASTING TO A STOP. STALLS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TOWING A 5000 POUND BOAT AND ALSO OCCURED WHILE TOWING A 9000 POUND CAMPER TRAILER. TWO DEALERS LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED FINDING NO CAUSE FOR THE STALLIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195291 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.