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2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

151 reports with mileage · 24 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

7 reports
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221,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineParking Brake

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 221,000.

NHTSA ODI #10592464

103,581 miles · Aug 30, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM NOW, I WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WANT $280 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SENT IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, BUT THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN ASKED ME TO TAKE THE SUBURBAN HOME, BUT ONE BLOCK IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IM SO FRUSTRATED, AND I SPENT SO MUCH ON TAXI GOING BACK…

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I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM NOW, I WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WANT $280 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE SENT IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, BUT THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN ASKED ME TO TAKE THE SUBURBAN HOME, BUT ONE BLOCK IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IM SO FRUSTRATED, AND I SPENT SO MUCH ON TAXI GOING BACK AN FOURTH. AND NO ONE KNOWS THE PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT JUST DIES. WHEN I PULLED OFF I PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO GO ONE MORE MILE AND BAM IT DID IT AGAIN. WHY CANT ANYONE FIGURE IT OUT? WHY AREN'T THERE ANY RECALLS? I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE DIED. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION? WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF AT 69MPH I PRESSED THE BRAKE WHICH MADE IT HARDER AND HARDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES OR ANYTHING TO DESCRIBE THE ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR THAT I MIGHT SLAM INTO SOMEONE ELSE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS NO DETECTION OF MISFIRE OR ANYTHING, IT JUST DIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422689

171,239 miles · May 2, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED ON OUR 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN. IT INDICATED MORE GASOLINE WAS IN THE CAR THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398554

95,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1/2 TON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READING ON GAUGE. RAN OUT OF FUEL MULTIPLE TIMES. AT FIRST FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READ 1/8 TANK, NOW EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READS 1/4 TANK. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET AS COST WOULD BE TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME. JUST BEING AWARE OF HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE USED. N…

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2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1/2 TON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READING ON GAUGE. RAN OUT OF FUEL MULTIPLE TIMES. AT FIRST FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READ 1/8 TANK, NOW EMPTY WHEN GAUGE READS 1/4 TANK. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET AS COST WOULD BE TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME. JUST BEING AWARE OF HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE USED. NO INJURIES OR CRASHES, BUT THIS COULD LEAD TO SOMETHING SERIOUS ON THE ROAD OR EXPRESSWAY IF THE ENGINE WERE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398495

100,000 miles · Mar 21, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ENGAGED, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE AS WELL AS A FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10392298

65,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN I THINK IT IS CALLED THE CLUSTER WHERE THE SPEEODOMETER AND THE FUEL GAGE ARE LOCATED. FUEL GAGE DOES NOT WORK AND SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK . AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON TWICE TOOK TO VEHICLE TO DEALER THEY CHANGED FRONT SENSOR AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON A MONTH LATER 06/20/2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339991

121,000 miles · Oct 31, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

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. …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10172298

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.