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2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

105 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

120 reports
135,000 miles · Oct 6, 2011
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH THE TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH THE TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. ..UPDATED 10/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ONLY. THE BRAKE SHOES FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, DRAG AND WEAR OUT COMPLETELY, EVEN IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL IS NEVER USED. UPDATED 10/21/11

NHTSA ODI #10428903

135,000 miles · Aug 14, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THEM WITH STAINLESS LINES BECAUSE I KNOW THEY ARE NOT SAFE. IT'S A COSTLY LABOR INTENSIVE REPAIR . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419402

148,301 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE PARKING A TRAVEL TRAILER INTO A STEEPLY-SLOPED DRIVEWAY AFTER A 300-MILE TOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY ABOARD, NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS UNCOMMONLY LONG. FOLLOWING DAY, DEPARTED WITHOUT THE TRAILER FOR A SHORT DRIVE AND AGAIN NOTICED A LOW PEDAL. DROVE ABOUT THREE MILES WITH EXTREME CAUTION, AND ON ARRIVAL FOUND BRAKE…

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WHILE PARKING A TRAVEL TRAILER INTO A STEEPLY-SLOPED DRIVEWAY AFTER A 300-MILE TOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY ABOARD, NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS UNCOMMONLY LONG. FOLLOWING DAY, DEPARTED WITHOUT THE TRAILER FOR A SHORT DRIVE AND AGAIN NOTICED A LOW PEDAL. DROVE ABOUT THREE MILES WITH EXTREME CAUTION, AND ON ARRIVAL FOUND BRAKE FLUID FLOWING FROM BEHIND THE DRIVER'S-SIDE ROCKER PANEL. SLOWLY NURSED THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALER; DURING THIS DRIVE THE BRAKE ALARM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO COLLISION OR INJURY IN THIS CASE. BRAKE PIPES WERE FOUND TO BE ALL DEEPLY CORRODED AND BREACHED; ELECTED TO REPLACE ALL AT A COST OF $1130. SUBMITTED AS A CASE IN EA11001: VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOV 2001 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WHICH IS PROPERLY INCLUDED IN THE SALT BELT WITH WEST VIRGINIA AND DC/MARYLAND, AND HAS BEEN IN NEW JERSEY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413901

78,650 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS THE PEDAL DROPS NEAR THE FLOOR AND THE ABS CAUSES IT TO KICK BACK AND PULSATE THIS HAPPENS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS CAUSING GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH A RECALL WHERE THEY SPRAYED ANTI CORROSION STUFF ON AN ABS SPEED SE…

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I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS THE PEDAL DROPS NEAR THE FLOOR AND THE ABS CAUSES IT TO KICK BACK AND PULSATE THIS HAPPENS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS CAUSING GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH A RECALL WHERE THEY SPRAYED ANTI CORROSION STUFF ON AN ABS SPEED SENSOR AS A FIX. THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO AT 40K MILES NOW I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN @ 78K MILES AND GM SAYS THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO PERFORM IT AGAIN OR COME UP WITH A MORE PERMANENT FIX. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413803

178,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Electrical System

2002 SUBURBAN JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH OR NOTHING IT JUST STOPS. AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. CHANGED INJECTORS FUEL FILTER PUMP AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN CHANGED THE FLEX FUEL SENSOR. SOME ONE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THIS IN THE FUTURE IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE SO YET. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERN…

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2002 SUBURBAN JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH OR NOTHING IT JUST STOPS. AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. CHANGED INJECTORS FUEL FILTER PUMP AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN CHANGED THE FLEX FUEL SENSOR. SOME ONE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THIS IN THE FUTURE IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE SO YET. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MAYBE ITS A COMMUTER PROBLEM OR SOMETHING ELSE BUT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT SOON. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409137

160,000 miles · May 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES ARE FAILING DUE TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ABS VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000, SERV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES ARE FAILING DUE TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ABS VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER REMOVED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEANED THE SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS, APPLIED RUST INHIBITOR AND GREASED THE MOUNTING SURFACE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR IT A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN 2005 WITHOUT HER CONSENT. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS UNTIL 2011. THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE WHEN IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE INITIAL RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. UPDATED 07/29/11

NHTSA ODI #10399776

202,000 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 HAS BEGAN TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY. IT STALLS WHEN FUEL TANK IS LOW AND WHEN TANK IS FULL. LATELY, ITS BEEN DIFFICULT TO CRANK. I HAVE A NEW BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR TESTED FINE, I'VE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE AND IT STILL STALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394249

90,171 miles · Jan 24, 2011
Parking Brake

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL; THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE BRAKE WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 05V16…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL; THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE BRAKE WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 05V161000 BUT THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,171.

NHTSA ODI #10378463

120,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER A SPAN OF SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER E…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER A SPAN OF SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,988.

NHTSA ODI #10375364

114,346 miles · Dec 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 LT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,346.

NHTSA ODI #10372228

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.