Chevrolet · Suburban · 2002
4
Recalls
439
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Chevrolet Suburban has 4 recalls and 439 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: service brakes, hydraulic (80 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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 EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy Status
HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
Remedy Status
DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
the brake lines rust and they burst this occurred on my main brake line going to the abs controller I had no brakes from mechanics they say this is a common problem on usa made cars brake lines should never ever rust and burst
When driving at highway speeds or even around town the vehicle randomly jerks to one side or another alignment was just done and was told all was good tires are new Pitman armor place ball joints replaced still having the issue of it darting specially when going around curves it wants to pull vehicle to the ditch and I look like I am driving drunk which I'm not I've had my mechanic try to inspect the issue he couldn't find it I heard they're made possibly be a TSB out for it but it's hidden
Component SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
275/75 r16 tires coming apart on the side walls
Spare tire hoist wire broke and spare tire was released from vehicle on the highway. Vehicle was doing speed limit of 75mph and spare tire barely missed traffic behind vehicle.
The steering pump has plenty of fluid in the reservoir and has been changed regularly. All of the sudden all power assisted steering disappeared when turning to the left making parking nearly impossible causing a great safety concern as this is my only vehicle and now my wife cannot take the truck anywhere. According to other owners, it's a common issue caused by the booster valve sticking shut and when I inquired about repair, I was quoted a part cost of 300 bucks which I don't have at all. Hopefully enough folks report this issue resulting in action taken by NHTSA even though the vehicle is almost 20 years old.
The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, there were cicadas flying towards the front driver side windshield that obstructed the contact's visibility which caused the contact to crash into a utility pole. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance for injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was first towed to a towing yard then towed to an auto body shop where the insurance company deemed it totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had sent out a field representative to inspect the vehicle and retrieved the event data recorder from the vehicle. The failure mileage was 260,000.
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THERE WAS TRAFFIC I WENT TO SLOW DOWN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME MY CAR FISH TAILED I RELEASED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE STILL STILL LOCKED. CAUSED ME TO SLID AT LEAST 30 FEET I WAS ONLY GOING 35. WHICH CAUSED ME SLAM INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER
WHEN DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE ABS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENED IN DRY WEATHER ON A FREEWAY. WHEN THE ABS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED, THE CAR VIBRATED AND ACCELERATED WITH DIFFICULTY AND JERKED. THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING A TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHERE THE BRAKES HAD LOCKED UP THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. THE FIRE COMMANDER WHO EXAMINED THE CAR AFTER PUTTING OUT THE FIRE AND THE MECHANIC WHO IS REPAIRING THE CAR BOTH EXPLAINED THAT IMPROPER ABS ACTIVATION LED TO A RUPTURE IN THE BRAKE LINE, EXPOSING THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID TO THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE LOCKED BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN NHTSA RECALL 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS SYSTEM BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A GM DEALER TWO MONTHS EARLIER (IN JULY) WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE GM DEALER DID NOT MENTION THE RECALL BUT MADE EXTENSIVE (AND EXPENSIVE) REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN IT LED TO THE FIRE. THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME OR THE RIGHT SEASON FOR THE ABS TO DETERIORATE FROM SALT EXPOSURE SINCE THE JULY REPAIRS. MY CAR IS PROBABLY EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS REGISTERED IN VIRGINIA. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED BECAUSE THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, LESS THAN 15 MILES FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MARYLAND. FAIRFAX COUNTY IS FURTHER NORTH THAN MANY PARTS OF MARYLAND AND WEST VIRGINIA. THE REGION HAS THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS, LENGTH OF WINTER SEASON, AND EXPOSURE TO SALT AS WASHINGTON, D.C., WEST VIRGINIA, AND MARYLAND, WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RESIDENTS OF THE AREA FREQUENTLY DRIVE IN THESE STATES, PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MARYLAND, WHERE MANY VIRGINIA RESIDENTS WORK, SHOP, AND SEEK ENTERTAINMENT.
WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE HORN NOTHING HAPPENS, BUT THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE REMOTE MAKES THE HORN GO OFF. IT'S NOT THE HORN UNDER THE HOOD, THAT IS FAULTY, IT IS THE SWITCH INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL BURNED UP. I HAVE ASKED MULTIPLE MECHANICS TO FIX THIS AND THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE DAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIRBAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THEY SAID THAT THEY SEE THIS SWITCH BURN UP ALL THE TIME IN GM STEERING WHEELS. IT WILL COST A LOT IN LABOR AND ALSO PARTS. *TR
PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE IS LOCKING UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENTS AND CALIPER AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT. HAS CAUSE SMALL FIRE.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATING ON THERE OWN WHEN TRYING TO STOP AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH 4 TIMES. I FINALLY PULLED THE ABS FUSE OUT THIS STOPPED IT BUT NOW I HAVE NO ABS IAM IN SOAP LAKE WASHINGTON IT SHOWS A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR A FEW STATES I BOUGHT MY SUBURBAN NEW IN BOISE IDAHO AND NOW RESIDE IN WASHINGTON STATE MY VEHACLE IS EFFECTED EXTREMELY BAD WITH THIS PROBLEM
CHRYSLER CANNOT FIND THE FUEL RAIL IN US OR CANADA. I CANT WALK AND HAD I NOT GOTTEN DISABLED AND HAD TO GO TO CANADA, AT FAMILIES DUE TO CHILD AND I BEING ASSAULTED AND INJURED. HAVE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS SHOWING WE ENTERED COUNTRY DUE TO STATEMENT ABOVE. CAR NOT USED, GARAGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT TURNED ON PERIODICALLY SO CAR WOULD NOT DIE AND FLUIDS CHANGED. WOULD HAVE FILED THE LEMON LAW BACK THEN! I AM LOOKING INTO ARBITRATION ,FTC OR MEDIA. I HAVE CONTACTED MECHANICS FOR RECEIPTS AND TESTIMONY. DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOING OFF , AIR BAG LIGHT,AND GEARS WOULD SWITCH THEMSELVES AND ALL DIALS WOULD GO CRAZY ALL THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE: NEW COMPUTER STARTER CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVAP LEAKS, CHANGED PARTS NO BREAKS WHILE DRIVING, BREAKLINE BROKE GAS CAP, SENSORS MUFFLER TIRES 4 NEW BATTERY PLUS, PLUS, PLUS NOW NO PART, FUEL RAIL DISCONTINUED. CAR CAN GO ON FIRE IF DRIVEN. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 ORIGINAL MILED CHRYSLER CUST. SVC, TOLD ME TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. FUEL RAIL DISCONTINUED , SO THEY WILL GO ON FIRE?? OR SELL FOR SCRAP? CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST MORE THAN 65,000.THIS IS NEGLIGENCE AND U HAVE ENDANGERED MY FAMILY MORE THAN ONCE. MECHANIC SAID LUCKY , CANT DRIVE AT ALL. IN PKG LOT. CANT WALK, NEED CAR. TRADE IT FOR ONE OF SIMILAR VALUE AND MILEAGE. SPENT NEARLY 7,000. FIXING. NOW DISABLED AND DONT HAVE MONEY. ALSO EXPECT REFUND FOR RADIO RECALL.
WHILE REPLACING THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON MY SUBURBAN (SEE TRACKING NUMBER 11066863), I NOTICED THE FUEL LINES GOING TO THE FUEL FILTER WERE ALSO TERRIBLY RUSTED. IT APPEARS THE RUST EMANATES FROM THE PLASTIC CLAMP THAT SECURES THE FUEL LINE TO THE FRAME. THE TUBE NUT THAT GOES INTO THE FILTER APPEARS TO BE FROZEN WITH RUST. SALT AND DIRT ARE TRAPPED IN THE PLASTIC CLAMP AND NUT, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WASH OUT. THE FUEL LINES ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ARE LIKELY TO BE RUSTED, TOO.
BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND BRAKES FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST. I REPLACED THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE. FRONT BRAKE LINE BURST 6 MONTHS AFTER REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE SO RUSTED, I REMOVED AND REPLACED ALL OF THEM AS A PRECAUTION. THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED IN AREAS WHERE THEY WERE CLAMPED, SO THAT SALT AND DIRT COULD NOT BE CLEANED OUT. BRAKE LINES WERE UNPAINTED BARE STEEL.
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY I-476 (PHILADELPHIA PA) WITH THE FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. UPON BRAKING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND PUMPING THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES DID NOT RESULT IN ANY BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER MANAGING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL MORE TIMES, BRAKE FLUID COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AT BOTH THE AREA AROUND THE REAR AXLE AND THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. LATER, INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES FOUND THEM ALL TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. AFTER READING THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES, IT IS GREATLY DISAPPOINTING, TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT NO NOTIFICATION OR RECALL WAS GIVEN. SUCH A SEVERE AND SCARY SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST NOTIFICATION OF CUSTOMERS AND BETTER QUALITY DESIGN/CONTROL OF BRAKING COMPONENTS.
CORRODED AND LEAKING BRAKE LINES. ABS ACTIVATING DURING LOW SPEED BRAKING.
WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED I FEEL A CHATTERING LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED AND THE CAR WON'T STOP UNTIL I LET UP AND RE-APPLY PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. I'VE COME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT MORE THAN ONCE.
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 $500. WE CAN ONLY SUGGEST HOW MUCH LABOR TIME THE REPAIR SHOULD TAKE.? I ALSO RECEIVED NO WARNING ON THE DASH OF THE TRUCK WHEN THE LINES FAILED, AND THE FLUID WAS POURING ONTO THE ROAD, I COULD SEE A TRAIL OF IT BEHIND THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD KEPT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WELL MAINTAINED AND I DOWNSHIFTED THE TRUCK TO STOP AND HAD IT TOWED BY AAA TO THE SHOP. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS OR WHO AT GM SHOULD I SPEAK WITH? WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED I NEEDED TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY AND THE COST WAS OVER $2200. [XXX] [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATION WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2002 Chevrolet Suburban has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 439 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban are service brakes, hydraulic (80 reports), service brakes (65 reports), engine and engine cooling (37 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.