Total Complaints
39 filings
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500 · model year
39 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 2500 carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 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 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 is engine and engine cooling with 11 filings, followed by electrical system (6) and engine and engine cooling:engine (4). 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.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 SUBURBAN 2500, 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.
Total Complaints
39 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
HAD MY TRUCK LOOKED AT BY ALL AMERICAN CHEVROLET IN 2014 AFTER I READ YOUR ARTICLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WHILE THEY SAID THE LINES LOOKED RUSTY UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, THINGS LOOKED OK. THE GM EXEC [XXX] WAS ESTIMATING A $500 REPAIR COST, AND FIGURED IT WAS NO BIG DEAL WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT TO THAT POINT. I ALSO READ THAT GM SAID IF A PROBLEM OCCURRED I'D NOT LOSE BRAKING BECAUSE IT WAS A DOUBLE SYSTEM, AND THAT I WOULD ALSO GET AN INDICATION ON THE DASH OF A PROBLEM. SADLY OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY 2016, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE, AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE REPAIR WAS NOT THE $500 ESTIMATED BY GM IT WAS OVER $2,000. "..G.M. DOES NOT COMMENT ON OTHER AUTOMAKERS? RECALLS, [XXX], A SPOKESMAN FOR G.M., WROTE IN AN EMAIL. [XXX] GM ADDED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAD DEVELOPED A PARTS KIT LAST YEAR FOR THE BRAKE LINES..." ?THESE ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH DEALERS AND THE AFTERMARKET,? HE SAID. ?BASED ON TIME STUDIES, THE REPAIR INCLUDING LABOR SHOULD COST ABOUT $
Mileage: 150,000
THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID: 07V521000. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHY?
Mileage: 77,600
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN TWO WEEKS THAT NEARLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW AND INTERSTATE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE GLIDE TO THE SERVICE LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE HAPPENED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSED HAZARDOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE INVOICE WHICH INCLUDES THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS REQUIRED. REVIEWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE A NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE IF IT WOULD HELP GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED IF I SEEK LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY RELIEF. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR
Mileage: 141,946
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN TWO WEEKS THAT NEARLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW AND INTERSTATE DRIVING, WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE GLIDE TO THE SERVICE LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THESE HAPPENED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAUSED HAZARDOUS CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. ATTACHED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE INVOICE WHICH INCLUDES THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS REQUIRED. REVIEWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH NEEDS TO HAVE A NHTSA INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE IF IT WOULD HELP GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED IF I SEEK LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE OR REGULATORY RELIEF. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR
Mileage: 141,946
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,204. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN
Mileage: 113,204
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,204. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN
Mileage: 113,204
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I HAVE HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT'S THE GM RECALL. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE TRUCK WILL START BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM OR WITHOUT HAVING ANY BOOST. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND NOONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN FINDING OUT HOW I CAN GET MY TRUCK FIXED AS I AM A MOTHER OF 4 AND THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM BLESSED FOR HAVING NOT BEING IN A FATAL ACCIDENT OR ACCIDENT PERIOD DUE TO THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE. THANKS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE LINES BURST AND A LOSS OF FLUID CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE IT TOOK A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED PROBABLY DUE TO A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BEFORE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $4000. THAT'S RIGHT FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR
Mileage: 162,282
LAUNCHING BOAT AT THE RAMP WHEN BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I LOST ALL PEDAL. UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN THE SAME SPOT AS MY 2005 2500 HD CHEVY. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
AFTER SO LONG IGNORING THE SMELL IN MY CAB, I DECIDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT BENNY'S EXHAUST IN BRISTOL, TN, AND FOUND THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA SOMETIME CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE PASSENGER CAB AREA. THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR ON BOTH SIDES. THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REGISTERED IN ANY STATE THAT HAS EMISSIONS TESTING, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS. I AM FORCED TO REGISTER IT TO NON-TESTING STATES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS AFFECTS ALL YEARS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH GM, WHY WON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER. AFTER SOMEONE SPENDS SEVERAL TENS OF THOUSANDS ON A VEHICLE, WHY ISN'T SAFETY THE STANDARD GM SHOULD MEASURE ITSELF UP TOO. ENGINEERS, ARE YOU MAKING SURE PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE IS BUILT INTO ALL
Mileage: 151,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EIGHT MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER WAITING 15-30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AND RUN SMOOTHLY. UPDATED 10/26/11
Mileage: 70,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K2500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE 2001 MODEL SUBURBAN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR HIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
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
Mileage: 80,000
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
Mileage: 67,000
EXHAUST BOLTS BREAKING 0N 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH 6.0 ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
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 V
Mileage: 163,000
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 V
Mileage: 163,000
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.
Mileage: 91,418
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
Mileage: 41,000
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
Mileage: 41,000
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.