IllustrationSPEEDOMETER 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
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
What owners actually said
175 reportsCHEVY 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. …
Read full complaint
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
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
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 ALER…
Read full complaint
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
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 BUR…
Read full complaint
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 METALLIC PARTICLES AND IMMEDIATELY PLUGGED THE FILTER. NOW, I WAS FACED WITH REPLACING MOST OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $1000.00. THE MECHANIC TOOK PITY ON ME AND EXTENDED ME A DISCOUNT, BUT THE PRICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS HIGHER. THE VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS VEHICLES WITH A/C AND NEVER HEARD OF THIS, UNTIL IT HAPPENED AND I BEGAN TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FOUND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONGST GM AIR CONDITIONING. *JB
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.