CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 · model year

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500

223 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 1500 carries 223 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 SUBURBAN 1500 is service brakes with 42 filings, followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (37) and electrical system (23). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2003 SUBURBAN 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

223
Complaints
6
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

223 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC15
STEERING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
STRUCTURE:BODY6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SEAT BELTS4
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
VISIBILITY4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC3

Recalls (1)

07E10600017/12/2007

WHEELS:HUB

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M

Recent Complaints

20190410SERVICE BRAKES

SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE

Mileage: 190,000

20190410FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE

Mileage: 190,000

20181024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN I START MY TRUCK. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER DRIVING A BIT OR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN, WHERE OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE,

Mileage: 188,000

20180717SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES RUSTING. TWICE IN A MONTH THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER A HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKY FOR ME & OTHERS THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND THEREFORE THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM

Mileage: 190,000

20180601SERVICE BRAKES

WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE LINE BLEW A HOLE AND NO BRAKES. NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. NO HELP WITH THAT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PASS ON RIGHT SHOULDER THREW THE GRASS. ALMOST A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. NEED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND TAKEN CARE OF. PEOPLE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED.

Mileage: 242,000

20180406SERVICE BRAKES

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .

Mileage: 170,630

20180406FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .

Mileage: 170,630

20180406VISIBILITY/WIPER

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY DOWN ...IT'S 7 DAYS INTO MY CAR LEASE AND THERE PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN AND WON'T TRADE ME ANOTHER CAR .

Mileage: 170,630

20180406SERVICE BRAKES

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

20180406ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

20180406FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER HE SAID IT PASSED ROAD INSPECTION TEST ! I'M VERY CONCERNED IT MORE WRONG IF I JAM OR PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN NOT STOP I'M IMMEDIATELY. IM UNSURE WHAT MY ACTUAL MILEAGE IS . THE SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I WENT TO UNCLE ED'S OR EVEN OTHER AUTO SHOPS I DO HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

20180119SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK AND COMPLETED A 3 POINT TURN TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. AS I STARTED GOING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING SLOW, UNDER 15 MPH, WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE: THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE BARELY SLOWED DOWN. I STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES WHICH DID SLOW THE VEHICLE SOME AND I ALSO EMPLOYED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH ENABLED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC, AND NOT JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY, I MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED. THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A RUSTED REAR BRAKE LINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE SINGLE BRAKE LINE FEEDING BOTH OF THE REAR BRAKES HAD BURST IN THE VICINITY UNDER TH

Mileage: 168,651

20171211EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DURING COLD MONTHS ONLY VEHICLE HAS POWER SURGES WHENEVER DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKER CONSISTENTLY TO WHERE IT APPEARS I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS. THE HIGHER THE RPMS, FLICKERING IS MORE FREQUENT. APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION OR RECALL. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TESTING OUT GOOD.

Mileage: 170,000

20170529ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD AND SOMETHING IS NOT SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN CAUSING A PARASITIC BATTERY DRAW KILLING BATTERY I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERY AND AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS OR 4 THE TRUCK DOES NOT START AND 2HEN I TAKE IT TO AUTOZONE THEY SAY ITS DEAD AND GIVE ME A NEW BATTERY AND TRIED LOOKING UP ISSUE AND SEE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES AND WHEN I TOOK TO CHECK ALTERNATOR OR STARTER NOTHING THEY ARE GOOD

20170321STRUCTURE:BODY

NOTICED RECENTLY THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE AIR BAG AND EXTENDING FORWARD TO THE WINDSHIELD.. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

20170321UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NOTICED RECENTLY THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE AIR BAG AND EXTENDING FORWARD TO THE WINDSHIELD.. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

20161108SERVICE BRAKES

A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, RUPTURED BRAKE LINES. LINES BETWEEN PROPORTIONING VALVE AND ABS PUMP RUPTURED AND FAILED COMPLETELY. LINES RUSTED AND FAILED. NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURIES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS OPERATED IN REVERSE {BACKING UP}, SHE THEN SHIFTED TO FORWARD, BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND ROLLED FROM A PARKING LOT INTO A HIGHWAY, FORTUNATELY NO OTHER TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT.

Mileage: 191,000

20160905SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE VEHICLE IS SLOW TO STOP AND DOES NOT STAY STOPPED WHEN NEEDED SUCH AS TRAFFIC LIGHTS, HILLS, STOP SIGNS, ETC.

Mileage: 145,000

20160815ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT GOING DOWN THE HI WAY SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS SOME OF THE TIMES AND LEFT US STRANDED SOMETIMES. GM ACTS LIKE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT THERE IS AMPLE INFO ON THE INTERNET AND EVEN A FIX BUT IT DISABLE THE ATS, IT TURNS OFF THE FUEL TO THE INJECTORS KILLING THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART.

Mileage: 190,000

20160815FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT GOING DOWN THE HI WAY SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS SOME OF THE TIMES AND LEFT US STRANDED SOMETIMES. GM ACTS LIKE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT THERE IS AMPLE INFO ON THE INTERNET AND EVEN A FIX BUT IT DISABLE THE ATS, IT TURNS OFF THE FUEL TO THE INJECTORS KILLING THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RESTART.

Mileage: 190,000

Compare 2003CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 have?
The 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 has 223 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500?
Yes, the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 42 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.