Total Complaints
8 filings
GMC SUBURBAN · model year
2003 GMC SUBURBAN
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003GMCSUBURBAN carries 8 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 2003 SUBURBAN is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (1) and steering (1). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 SUBURBAN. 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.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
Recalls (1)
03V09400007/03/2003
STRUCTURE
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EX
Recent Complaints
20090212FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
Mileage: 7,000
20090212EQUIPMENT
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
Mileage: 7,000
20090212EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
JUNE 2006 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE WE NORMALLY USE FOR MAINTENANCE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WE DID NOT PURSUE THIS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE - BIG MISTAKE! IN JANUARY 2009 THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AND AGAIN WE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL PUMP CANNOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS THIS WAS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. WE WERE ADVISED TO USE THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FILL FUEL TANK. WE HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES BOTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30MTHS. *TR
Mileage: 7,000
20070813STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
20070813ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
20050830CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 3RD IN A 2003 SUBURBAN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, I FELT I WAS A SAFE DISTANCEE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON 635 IN DALLAS AND A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I REACTED VERY QUICKLY, I FELT LIKE THE BRAKES DID NOT REACT CORRECTLY AND I RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS IN DISBELIEF THAT THE ACCIDENT HAD OCCURED. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE SUBURBAN AND ATTRIBUTED THE DELYED STOPPING TIME TO THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THAT ACCIDENT, I HAVE HAD (2) SITUATIONS WHERE I NEEDED TO HIT THE BRAKES VERY QUICKLY AND BOTH TIMES I FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I JUST NOTICED THAT GM PUT OUT A RECALL FOR 2002 SUBURBAN AND WAS CURIOUS IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED WITH THE 2003 SUBURBAN. THANKS, STEVE BURKE. *JB 3770 PALLOS VERDAS DR DALLAS, TX 75229 214.335.5523. *JB
20040609TIRES:SIDEWALL
UPON INSPECTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED TIRE SIDEWALL WERE DRY ROTTED. FIRESTONE AND CHEVROLET, LT245/75R16LE. *AK
20040426SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND TWO SECONDS LATER VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. *AK
Mileage: 38,000
Compare 2003GMCSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN have?▼
The 2003 GMC SUBURBAN has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
Yes, the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL and STEERING.
Is the 2003 GMC SUBURBAN 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.