NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 179 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, describing incidents dated January 22, 2002 to April 10, 2019.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 66 complaints
Electrical System 61 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 14 complaints
Structure 14 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 10 complaints
Steering 9 complaints

Of the 179 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 179 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11195482 · Filed April 10, 2019
SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE
ODI #11142362 · Filed October 24, 2018
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…
ODI #11111983 · Filed July 17, 2018
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…

Read all 179 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 mileage at failure

153 of the 179 complaints on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Service Brakes	Median 100,000 miles	Middle half 75,000–155,000 miles	Based on 59 complaints
Electrical System	Median 85,000 miles	Middle half 60,000–100,000 miles	Based on 54 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA #07E106000 · Wheels — Hub · NHTSA notice

Reported December 17, 2007 · FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 130,000 vehicles

Owners notified February 7, 2008

Defect description

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 MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

Safety consequence

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT NATIONAL, CARQUEST WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS OR FORD.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

179 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500.

Service Brakes; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11195482

Incident: April 10, 2019 · Filed: April 10, 2019

SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE

Electrical System

ODI #11142362

Incident: July 1, 2018 · Filed: October 24, 2018

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,

Service Brakes

ODI #11111983

Incident: July 13, 2018 · Filed: July 17, 2018

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

Service Brakes

ODI #11099259

Incident: June 1, 2018 · Filed: June 1, 2018

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.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11083689

Incident: April 6, 2018 · Filed: April 6, 2018

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

Service Brakes; Fuel/Propulsion System; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11083684

Incident: March 30, 2018 · Filed: April 6, 2018

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 .

Service Brakes

ODI #11063827

Incident: January 19, 2018 · Filed: January 19, 2018

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 THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE I WAS GOING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AS EVIDENCED BY THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID SPAYED ONTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND AT EACH POINT WHERE I PUMPED THE BRAKES. I WAS SHOCKED THAT A SINGLE BRAKE LINE BURSTING WOULD LEAVE MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES. WHY IS THERE A FRONT AND REAR RESERVOIR IF THEY DON'T MATTER? THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST A SAFETY ALERT ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL DANGER SO I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TO WATCH FOR THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY FLAW ON MY CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AFTER INSPECTING THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES I HAVE FOUND THAT 100% OF ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOUSE HAS ALREADY QUOTED ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $2,100 OVER THE PHONE, BUT WILL NEED TO SEE THE VEHICLE FIRST TO BE MORE PRECISE IN THEIR ESTIMATE.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11053994

Incident: November 19, 2015 · Filed: December 11, 2017

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.

Electrical System

ODI #10992101

Incident: May 9, 2017 · Filed: May 29, 2017

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

Structure; Unknown or Other

ODI #10967404

Incident: March 20, 2017 · Filed: March 21, 2017

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

Other Chevrolet Suburban 1500 model years

Check your 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Suburban 1500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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