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2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

31 reports with mileage · 2 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
80,000 miles · Dec 3, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OUR 2002 CHEVROLET K2500 SUBURBAN'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SLIP (TRIGGER) AT LOW SPEED, WHICH WAS NOT NEEDED, NEARLY CAUSING A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. NO BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS TO SHOW FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN ROLLING TO A STOP. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE…

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OUR 2002 CHEVROLET K2500 SUBURBAN'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SLIP (TRIGGER) AT LOW SPEED, WHICH WAS NOT NEEDED, NEARLY CAUSING A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. NO BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS TO SHOW FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN ROLLING TO A STOP. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369030

67,000 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Electrical System

2002 SUBURBAN 2500 8.1 FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. VEHICLE DIED ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. ALMOST CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. DUE TO THE SENSOR FAULT NEVER BEING STORED IN THE FAULT CODES. THE 2001 8.1 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON WHY HASN'T THE 2002 IT…

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2002 SUBURBAN 2500 8.1 FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. VEHICLE DIED ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. ALMOST CRASHED INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. DUE TO THE SENSOR FAULT NEVER BEING STORED IN THE FAULT CODES. THE 2001 8.1 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON WHY HASN'T THE 2002 ITS THE SAME PART NUMBER? THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE THE OLD PART. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360979

130,000 miles · Sep 14, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST BOLTS BREAKING 0N 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH 6.0 ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355435

163,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE…

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A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE, ENCLOSED WAS A WARNING/ALERT MESSAGE TO REFER TO GM TBS # 03-01-38-019A AFTER REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFAULT ON 17 VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS 2002 TO 2004. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHEVY AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AS I NOW WILL NEED TO PAY WELL OVER $1000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER IF THIS IS NOT FIX BECAUSE HAD THE BELT BROKE WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO TAKEN OUT THE SERPENTINE BELT WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343522

91,418 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX A/T TIRES, LINE SIZE LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE CHORDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX A/T TIRES, LINE SIZE LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING SEPARATION FROM THE CHORDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 500. THE VEHICLE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,418.

NHTSA ODI #10340363

41,000 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500. 42,000 MILES. ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR WHEN DRIVING. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES CAR STARTS AFTER READING OTHER POSTS HAD CRANK SENSOR REPLACED TODAY VERY STRESSING AND DANGEROUS. -- NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291788

20,000 miles · Sep 16, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2002 K2500 SUBURBAN ENGINE DIES ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING (NEITHER SPUTTERING NOR MESSAGES ON THE DASH). AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING BETWEEN A FEW SECONDS AND A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WILL START. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AT ANY SPEED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD,…

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MY 2002 K2500 SUBURBAN ENGINE DIES ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING (NEITHER SPUTTERING NOR MESSAGES ON THE DASH). AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING BETWEEN A FEW SECONDS AND A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WILL START. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AT ANY SPEED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS ALL POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKES IS LOST WHEN THE ENGINE DIES. THESE RANDOM STALLS HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES - MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. APPARENTLY LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION. IS GM JUST GOING TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284150

78,000 miles · Sep 5, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE INTERSTATE, I EXPERIENCED FULL POWER LOSS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE TURNED, JUST DIDN'T FIRE. NO SPUTTER, NO DASH LIGHTS, JUST AN INSTANT SHUT DOWN. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, PUT IT IN PARK A…

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WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON THE INTERSTATE, I EXPERIENCED FULL POWER LOSS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE TURNED, JUST DIDN'T FIRE. NO SPUTTER, NO DASH LIGHTS, JUST AN INSTANT SHUT DOWN. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. FORTUNATELY, THIS EXPERIENCE WAS ON AN NOT SO CROWDED AND STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. I FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A TURN, IN AN INTERSECTION, OR ANY SITUATION WHERE THE LACK OF POWER STEERING COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS THE LATEST IN A FEW RELATED. WHAT STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AS INTERMITTENT FAILED ENGINE STARTS, HAS PROGRESSED INTO INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLS. INITIAL PROBLEMS WERE START RELATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NORMAL STARTING SOUND, BUT JUST NOT FIRE. IT WOULD THEN START NORMALLY ON THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPT. I SEE A RECALL FOR THE 2001 VERSION OF MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE/ENGINE TYPE, AND AN INVESTIGATION OPENED ON THE 2002 MODEL. THIS HAS TO BE RELATED. THE CHEVROLET DEALER FAILED TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE THIS WEEK AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CODES POINTING TO THE ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT BLINDLY REPLACE PARTS ON A HUNCH, EVEN WITH THE CAR BEING UNDER A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET STALLED IN A CRITICAL SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282942

83,000 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT RANDOM TIMES, APPROXIMATELY EVERY 80 MILES. ENGINE WILL START BACK AFTER A WAIT OF MORE THAN 30 SECONDS. THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE HOT OR COLD, IDLING OR DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259153

70,444 miles · Sep 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN WITH AN 8.1L ENGINE. AFTER ONLY A WEEK IT WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AT DIFFERENT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT DID THIS 3 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. I THEN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 2001 MODELS. WHY HAS THIS PART NOT BEEN RECALLED ON T…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET 2500 SUBURBAN WITH AN 8.1L ENGINE. AFTER ONLY A WEEK IT WOULD SUDDENLY STALL AT DIFFERENT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT DID THIS 3 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. I THEN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 2001 MODELS. WHY HAS THIS PART NOT BEEN RECALLED ON THE 2002 MODEL IT HAS THE EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE SENSOR FROM THE FACTORY AS THE 2001 HAD. THIS FAILURE CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN AN SUV OF SUCH SIZE. WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS THERE IS NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING, AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243592

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

2

EA07013 · Trailer Hitch Receiver Failure

Opened Sep 14, 2007 · Closed Sep 12, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Trailer Hitches

COMPLAINT REPORTS ALLEGE POOR WELD QUALITY AND/OR BENDING OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER.THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INCLUDED ANALYSIS OF MANUFACTURER AND AGENCY INCIDENT REPORTS, REVIEW OF POLICE REPORTS, ANALYSIS OF THE AGENCY'S FATAL ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM, A VEHICLE OWNER SURVEY, INSPECTION OF TOW VEHICLES/HITCHES AND ANALYSIS OF FAILED PARTS.INCIDENTS OF WELD FAILURE WERE RARE AND ASSOCIATED WITH VERY LOW-SPEED DRIVING (TURNING, BACKING AND SUDDEN STOPPING).INCIDENTS OF BENDING WERE ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROPER TRAILER HITCH ADJUSTMENT OR OVERLOADING. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FILE FOR ADDITION INFORMATION.

PE07025 · Trailer Hitch Receiver Failure

Opened May 14, 2007 · Closed Sep 14, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Trailer Hitches

GM PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DATA REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE TRAILER HITCH.ODI REVIEWED THAT AS WELL AS OTHER DATA PROVIDED BY PEER MANUFACTURERS.BASED ON OUR REVIEW, ODI FINDS THE NEED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-013) FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT AND STUDY OF THIS ISSUE.