IllustrationTHE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE BACK WINDOW ARE SEPARATING FROM THE HINGES. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE WINDOW TO REALIGN AND NOW THERE IS A GAP WHERE YOU CAN FEEL AND HEAR WIND CONSTANTLY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT. OCCURRED AROUND 60,000 MILES. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
1825–50K
3450–75K
3375–100K
37100–150K
25150K+
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
Structure complaints
14 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE BACK WINDOWS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE HINGES. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE WINDOW TO REALIGN AND SHATTER AT ANY TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH ADHESIVE TA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE BACK WINDOWS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE HINGES. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE WINDOW TO REALIGN AND SHATTER AT ANY TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH ADHESIVE TAPE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V037000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
LIFT GATE GLASS HINGES BROKE; CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD NOT NOTICED A GAP IN THE BACK AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. *TR
1.SPEEDOMETER FAIED S DAILY. IT WILL READ 90 MPH WHEN I HAVE JUST BEGAN ACCELERATING. OTHER TIMES IT WILL READ 10 MPH WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. 2. SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT …
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1.SPEEDOMETER FAIED S DAILY. IT WILL READ 90 MPH WHEN I HAVE JUST BEGAN ACCELERATING. OTHER TIMES IT WILL READ 10 MPH WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED, DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. 2. SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. SECOND MIDDLE SEATBELT FASTENER GOT STUCK AND UNABLE TO UNFASTEN SEAT BELT WITHOUT FORCE. HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. 3. PAINT ON RADIO CONTROLS & DASHBOARD IS PEELING OFF - PAINT WAS ORIGINALLY GREY AND NOW SOME AREAS ARE BLACK AND OTHER CLEAR WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING THROUGH WHEN THE RADIO IS IN USE. 4. BRAKES SQUEEK EXCESSIVELY, REPLACED BRAKES & PADS NOISE CEASED FOR A MONTH AND THEN BEGAN AGAIN. 5. REAR ACCESS DOOR RATTLES CONSTANTLY 6. REAR ACCESS DOOR PLASTIC MOLDING ON INSIDE OF DOOR CRACKED 7. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVER CRACKED AND BROKE OFF 8. LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT CASING CRACKED AND FELL OFF 9. STEERING MAKES AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.