2001 Chevrolet Suburban Complaint Log

I HAD TO REPLACE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE AT 29,000 MILES TO DUE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THESE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED EVERY 4,000 MILES. I ASSUMED THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED POORLY.*AK WELL AFTER REPLACING THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES, I HAVE AGAIN HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. I HAD A GOODYEAR SERVICE TECHNICIAN INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED THE INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS VERY LOOSE. THE INNER TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THIS CAN CAUSE INSTABILITY IN VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A PROBLEM. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT COVER THIS ITEM. I OBTAINED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT INDICATES THESE PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED QUITE FREQUENTLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE FROM CHEVROLET AND THE ANSWERS GIVEN TO ME BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I SAW THE INNER TIE ROD CONNECTION WITH MY OWN EYES AND IMMEDIATELY COULD TELL THERE WAS AN ISSUE. VERY CURIOUS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ISSUES WITH TIRES AND STERRING ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOW I SEE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TIE ROD. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD WARRANT SOME INVESTIGATION.

THE REAR HATCH WAS MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL,AND WAS FALLING OFF. DEALER REPLACED HATCHBACK AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

PARKING BRAKE FAILED. *AK

COMPLAINT REGARDING MANUFACTURING DEFECT- PARKING BRAKE.*MR (NAR) *CB

WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO AN EMBANKMENT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE ROLLBACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WIFE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ACCELERATION, UP TO 100 MPH, AND COULD NOT STOP IT. WE TOOK THE 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THAN, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION WITH A SEVERE ACCELERATION. THE DEALER SERVICE PEOPLE STILL SAY THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *LA

ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *LA

MY ACCELERATOR KEEPS STICKING ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE FLEET MAINTENANCE PEOPLE HERE AT MY WORK AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVROLET FLEET VEHICLES. PLEASE PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS IT IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE! *LA

WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER MOTORIST FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CONSUMER HIT HIM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB

MY VEHICLE, A 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN IS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS LE P265 7OR/16, AND WAS PART OF THE RECALL AS SEEN ON THE FIRESTONE SETTLEMENT WEBSITE, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A LIST OF AFFECTED TIRES TO NHTSA PE00-020. AS STATED ON THE LEGAL NOTICE, "ALTHOUGH FIRESTONE'S RECALL AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS WERE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE SETTLEMENT, IF A MEMBER OF THE CLASS HAS NOT REPLACED, RECALLED OR REPLACEMENT TIRES THAT ARE STILL IN USE ON HIS OR HER VEHICLE, FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THOSE TIRES WITHOUT CHARGE IF THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A FIRESTONE TIRE SERVICE CENTER." WENT TO A FIRESTONE TIRE SERVICE CENTER AND THE STORE MANAGER (ALFONSO) SAID THAT HE "COULD NOT REPLACE" THE TIRES BECAUSE HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL NOTICE, TO THAT PARTICULAR TIRE. SPOKE TO A DIFFERENT MANAGER (DOUG) AND ITS SUPERVISOR (SANDY) AND BOTH OF WHOM ARE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL SITUATION. RECOMMENDED TO CALL 866-345-0360. SHE ALSO TOOK MY INFORMATION DOWN IN ORDER TO RELAY IT TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THE COMPANY FOR CALL BACK. I CALLED THE NUMBER SHE GAVE ME AND RECEIVED RECORDINGS THAT DETAIL WHAT THE SETTLEMENT WEB SITE DESCRIBE. I WOULD LIKE FIRESTONE TO ABIDE BY THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *LA

WE HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2003, WHEN THE GAS LEVEL GOT TO 1/2, THE GAS GAUGE WOULD DROP TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD GO ON, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND THE GAS GAUGE WOULD GO BACK TO 1/2. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP OCTOBER 20, 2003. THEY SAID THEY TESTED, INSPECTED AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME ON OCTOBER 22, 2003. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AGAIN. ON OCTOBER 26, 2003, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THE VEHICLE "SHUT DOWN" WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THERE THEY" REPLACED PCMB FUSE BLOWN AND FUEL SYSTEM CIRCUIT HAD A SHORT TO GROUND, FOUND WIRES AT MODULE BURNED. THEY REPLACED FUEL MODULE, FUEL PUMP RELAY AND FUSES". ON JANUARY 12, 2004, THE VEHICLE AGAIN "SHUT-DOWN" WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT RESTARTED IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, BUT CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IT HAS NOT SHUT DOWN AGAIN. THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT AS THE PROBLEM IS "INTERMITTENT" AND THE PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THEY CAN FIND NO SPECIFIC CAUSE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 12, 2004. THERE IS NO ADVANCE WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO BRAKES, STEERING AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS PROBLEM, A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SQUEAKS RANDOMLY, CAUSING A MAJOR DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING UNTIL I FIGURED OUT IT WAS MY MOVEMENTS, CAUSING THE NOISE. WHENEVER I GET THE CHANCE TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE, IT STOPS FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. DEALER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP TRUCK AND CHECK IT OUT. IF A PROBLEM, THEN HE WOULD ORDER PARTS AND I COULD BRING IT IN AGAIN TO HAVE IT FIXED. I CANNOT LEAVE IT FOR DAYS, SO I HAVE NOT GONE BACK IN.*AK

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN VIN# [XXX] DEALER REPORTED COOLANT LINE FAILURE CAUSED BY FRICTION OF METAL COOLANT LINE RUBBING AGAINST FUEL TANK. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR AND REMOVE/REPAIR CAUSE OF LINE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL TANK. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE FUEL STARTED SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT, MELTING A SEAM, AND CAUSING THE LEAK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

BATTERY CONNECTION CABLES-CABLES WIGGLE LOOSE AND CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM HOWEVER, THEY SAY THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT.

REAR HVAC COOLANT LINES (2) WERE SEVERED CAUSING COOLANT LOSS. MANUFACTURING DEFECT INVOLVING FRAME MOUNTED HVAC LINES THAT PASS AGAINST A FRAME MEMBER JUNCTION. THE LINES WERE PRESSED HARD AGAINST THE FRAME MEMBER JUNCTION WHICH EVENTUALLY ENDS UP SLICING THE HVAC LINES. WHEN REPAIRED, CHEVROLET ROUTED NEW HVAC COOLANT LINES AWAY FROM ALL SAFE POINTS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIORWARNING AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION; LOST ALL FORWARD GEARS ON NJ TURNPIKE AFTER SLOWING DOWN FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. ONLY 16,000 MILES ON VEHICLE; 1 YR 11 MONTHS OLD.

PER THE DEALER REPAIRMAN THE FUEL PUMP/ASSEMBLY ABOVE FUEL TANK "CRACKED" CAUSING LARGE LOSS OF FUEL DIRECTLY UNDER THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER, I STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE INTO A LARGE FUEL SPILL. I QUICKLY REMOVED 4 SMALL CHILDREN FROM THEIR CAR SEATS AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO SECURE THE AREA AND PREVENT IGNITION OF THE FUEL SPILL. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WHICH LUCKILY DID NOT CAUSE HARM/LOSS OF LIFE.

CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP MODULE (CONNECTOR) WAS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO A FUEL PUMP WIRE THAT HAD MELTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *AK GM REPLACED THE 10-AMP FUSE WITH A 20-AMP FUSE. THIS CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. CONSUMER WONDERED WHY THE FUSE DIDN'T BLOW TO PREVENT LEAKAGE. GM DID OFFER A 45/55 SPLIT BUT THE CONSUMER WOULDN'T BE INFORMED OF THE FINDINGS AFTER AN INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETED. *PH *JB

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT HOLD PROPERLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

TRAILER HITCH FAILURE: DEFECTIVE WELDS AT KEY ATTACHMENTS POINTS BETWEEN RECEIVER TUBE AND CROSSMEMBER ALLOWED GUSSET PLATES TO SHEAR UNDER LATERAL LOAD, CAUSING RECEIVER TUBE TO ROTATE 30 DEGREES OFF CENTER. DETACHMENT FROM VEHICLE AND LOSS OF TRAILER WAS IMMINENT WHEN CONDITION WAS NOTICED.*AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED, AND VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS THE LOCAL INSPECTION IN TEXAS. DEALER STATED , "WE WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WE DIDNT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT." *AK

FIRESTONE LOAD RANGE E TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TOWING AIRSTREAM TRAILER. THE TOW VEHICLE WAS A 2001 SUBURBAN. *MR *SCC *PH *NLM

TWICE, CONSUMER NOTICED A LINE OF GAS ON THE GROUND IN PARKING LOT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ONCE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP MODULE CONNECTOR AND ONCE FROM A FAULTY SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT AND THE GAS TANK. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL.

GASOLINE LEAKED FROM TANK UPON FILLING. I HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AND DEALER FOUND THAT INSULATION HAD MELTED ON WIRES ON FUEL PUMP INTERNAL TO FUEL TANK. WAS ADVISED TO KEEP AT LEAST 1/4 FULL TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. BOTH THE LEAK AND MELTED WIRES IMPLY A SAFETY PROBLEM.

ABS MODULE FAILED AT 56K MILES - I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH A FAILURE OF A BRAKING SYSTEM AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. ABS SYSTEM KEPT RUNNING AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. GM DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ENTIRE MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND CHARGED APPROX. $1000 TO FIX IT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

MY FIRESTONE TIRES CAME APART ON MY TRIP TO NEV. I WAS IN A CURVE AT 70MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THE TRED CAME OFF ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE THROWING US INTO A SKID. THE TRED RIPED OUT THE SPLASH GAURD AND THE FENDER MOULDING THEN HITING THE REAR QUARTER AND LEAVING A14 BY 8 INCH DENT. THEN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO LATER THE LEFT FRONT GETS A PLY SEPERATION. I DONT CARE ABOUT THE JUNK TIRES BUT IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING I'M SURE SOMEONE WOULD OF GOTTEN HURT. I DROVE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS SO MY SKILL LEVEL IS A LITTLE BETTER THAN AVERAGE.*AK

THE REAR PASSENGER AS WELL AS FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE NOT EQUIPPED DOOR CHIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK THE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE AND WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN, THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN. THE CHILD NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING CHIMES TO ALERT THE CONSUMER THAT THE DOOR OPENED. *SCC *JB

ON JULY 2ND 2003, WE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON OUR 2001 SUBURBAN. THE FIRESTONE STEEL-TEX TIRES (245/75R16)ONLY HAD 13571 MILES ON THEM AND WE HAD MAINTAINED THE TRUCK AND TIRES ACCORDING TO THE GM SERVICE SCHEDULE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WE WERE HAULING A TRAILER IN THE MOUNTAINS; TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 75 DEGREES. WE EXPERIENCED A WEIRD BUMPY FEELING AND THEN A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARTING TOTALLY FROM THE SIDEWALLS. WE HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO CHANGE THE TIRE; IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIALLY, DEADLY SITUATION. GM IS UNWILLING TO HELP COVER THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES, SO FAR. THEY ONLY WERE WILLING TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE WITH THE EXACT SAME FIRESTONE. WE DID NOT EVEN REQUEST THAT THE TIRES BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO US; WE JUST WANT SOME HELP TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER MAKE OF TIRES. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE; I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE'S NO INHERENT FLAW IN THESE TIRES.*AK

ON JUNE 25TH, 2003, MY WIFE HIT ANOTHER CAR WITH OUR 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS INJURED. MY WIFE SAID THAT SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. OUR SUBURBAN SLOWED BUT DIDN'T STOP. I TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REMEMBER HOW HEAVY THE SUBURBAN WAS AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS SO HEAVY AND NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED, AND MY WIFE WAS TICKETED. EARLY IN MARCH 2005 I WAS DRIVING OUR SUBURBAN AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND MISSED THE OTHER VEHICLE BY INCHES. LUCKILY I AVOIDED HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE AND NOBODY WAS INJURED. I TOOK THE SUBURBAN TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED FLUSHING AND CHANGING THE BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WE DID. LAST MONTH (SEPTEMBER 2005) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SUBURBAN AND THE BRAKES DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE MAKING A 450.00 CAR PAYMENT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL, RESULTING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS IS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THESE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AND REPLACED IN JANUARY 2002. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY 2003. ON 6/11/2003 THE VEHICLE AGAIN SHOWED INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND STEERING. THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO PULSATE, AND A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING OVER ROUGH ROAD, SUCH AS RUMBLE STRIPS. AS THIS IS A THIRD PROBLEM WITH THESE CRITICAL COMPONENTS, THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION. THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER WAS SAID TO BE LOOSE BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE POWER ASSIST DESIGN IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SERVICE WRITERS, SERVICE MANAGERS AND HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS CONCERNING OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE I EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NLM

PARKING BRAKE NOT HOLDING-- GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *NLM

DRIVING 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN WHEN LEFT REAR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE TRUCK . BODY DAMAGE TO TRUCK REAR FENDER . RIGHT REAR TIRE HAS CRACK AROUND TREAD LIKE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS,. *JB

THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE ELECTRICAL OVER HEATING OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE CAUSED THE LEAK. THE WIRES ENTERED THE FUEL TANK CHARGED AND CAUSED THE CAP TO MELT/DEFORM WHICH RESULTED IN THE LEAKAGE. *JB

VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK

TIRE SEPARATION AT 26000 MILES

CRACKING OF CORE SUPPORT CAUSING RADIATOR TO FALL INTO ENGINE

THERE WAS AN ENGINE KNOCKING PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A LETTER THAT CERTIFIED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED, AND FELT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE. *AK THERE WAS A NOISE, RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WERE KNOCKS DURING THE INITIAL START OF THE DAY, AND THE WINDOW WAS NOISY WHILE OPERATING AS THE REGULATOR CABLE WAS LOOSE. *SCC *JB

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF ON FREEWAY WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO BRAKES, STEERING AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS. INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR REPAIR PROBLEM. *JB

THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR. *NLM

WE OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. BEGINNING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP NEARLY CONSTANTLY FOR THREE WEEKS AND THEY CAN FIND NO SPECIFIC CAUSE OR A CURE FOR THE PROBLEM.

STARTING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, OUR 2001 SUBURBAN WOULD "SHUT DOWN" WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD BE RE-STARTED. THIS HAPPENED 15 - 20 TIMES DURING THESE THREE WEEKS. IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP DURING THIS PERIOD AND THE PROBLEM COULD BE REPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON OCCASION. AS OF NOW THERE IS NO CURE AND WORK CONTINUES. IT'S BELIEVED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. TO THIS POINT, THE WIRING FROM THE KEY-SWITCH TO THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN BYPASSED, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, WITH A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS OUT COME. *JB

VEHICLE BURNS 1 TO 2 QUARTS PER 1,000 MILES DRIVEN. HAVE DONE 5 OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS AND GM SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH VEHICLE FAILED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST THE TEST WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY THEREFORE I MUST DO ANOTHER. *JB ASKED GM WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF VEHICLE FAILED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT WERE NOT SURE. GM REFUSES TO FIX OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE AND POSSIBLY BODILY HARM. *JB

THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING INOPERATIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE DESIGN OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PLACED IT IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR. *JB

I AM CONCERNED THERE IS A CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IF WHAT THE LONE STAR CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IS CORRECT AND AN UNUSED EMERGENCY BRAKE IN A 2001 SUBURBAN CAN DESTROY ITSELF AT ANY TIME MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON 3/10/2003 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LONE STAR CHEVROLET FOR ITS 50K MILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT FOR A SQUEALING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN THE BREAKS WERE APPLIED. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES. ON THEIR FIRST CALL, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS TO BE GLAZED OVER, CAUSING THE NOISE. I TOLD THEM TO FIX IT, A STANDARD WEAR REPAIR ITEM. LATER, THE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AGAIN TO SAY THE MECHANIC FOUND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE BROKEN,NOT HOLDING AGAINST THE DRUM, WHICH CAUSED, THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE TO THE POINT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. WHEN I ASKED HOW THAT COULD BE SINCE I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING VEHICLE, HE SAID THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS A TOTALLY SEPARATE SYSTEM FROM THE REGULAR BRAKES. I POINTED OUT SEVERAL FACTS TO HIM: 1)I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON TO DRIVE THE CAR EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS IN THEIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. 2)I HAVE NEVER (NOT ONCE) ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE AND I ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE CERTAIN ITS NOT ON WHEN ITS RETURNED FROM REPAIRS. 3)THE CAR PASSED ITS ANNUAL INSPECTION DURING 12/2002 WITH THE INSPECTION DONE BY THEIR FACILITY. THERE WAS NO MENTION ABOUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT WORKING THEN. IN LIGHT OF THESE ISSUES, I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE TO EXPLAIN HOW A PART THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED GOT A DRUM THAT IS SO BADLY SCORED AND WORN THAT IT NO LONGER WORKS AND WHY THE PROBLEM WASN'T NOTICED DURING DECEMBER. HE THEN SAID NORMAL ROAD VIBRATIONS CAN CAUSE THE PARTS TO SLIP OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE DAMAGE AT ANY TIME, AND IT WAS NOT DAMAGED DURING DECEMBER. HE WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THEIR MECHANICS SAW THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. *NLM

ABS MODULE FAILED AT 40,200 MILES WITH NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE. GM DID REFUND 50% OF THE REPAIR COST AS THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON. *JB

THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MUFFLER AND OR VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY HAD TAKEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BUT WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY THEN STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE SYSTEM IN WHICH AIR WOULD SURROUND THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO WORSEN EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE MOTOR GOING BAD. *AK *SC *JB