2002 Chevrolet Suburban Complaint Log

PARK BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2002 SUBURBAN. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE INABILITY OF PARKING BRAKE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM ON MANY SUBURBANS. ALTHOUGH ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS I SPOKE WITH CONSTANTLY SEE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, GM APPARENTLY DOESN'T CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. NEITHER WARRANTY NOR RECALLS WILL COVER THIS DEFECT.*AK

DT: PROBLEM WITH ABS. IN THE PAST MONTH WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES DID NOT ACTIVATE BUT THE ABS ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *AK *NM

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES FROM 20 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUED TO MOVE. CONSUMER HAD TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ON TO THE CURB TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK

ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2005, A DISTRACTED DRIVER FAILED TO NOTICE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SLAMMED INTO MY 2002 SUBURBAN AT 40-45 MPH AS I DROVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION IN MY HOMETOWN. MY VEHICLE TOOK A DIRECT, FEROCIOUS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S-SIDE FRONT DOOR, BUT THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

(1) UNKNOWN EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. (2)ABS BRAKES COME ON INAPPROPRIATELY AT LOW SPEED MAKING TRUCK STOP POORLY. (3) DEALER WILL START TO CORRECT BY CLEANING ABS SPEED SENSORS (?). WILL CHARGE FOR THIS AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MAY ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS STOPPED BY A BRICK WALL. BOTH MY CHILD AND I WERE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WE BOTH SUFFER FROM SORE NECKS AND BACKS. I DID CONTACT GM'S PRODUCT LIABILITY GROUP AT THE TIME AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM EXISTED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM BECAME SO BAD THAT I HAVE DISCONTINUED USING THE CAR. *NM

FEB.05 WE WERE IN BIG BEAR CA. WITH 4 OR MORE FEET OF FRESH SNOW: COMING DOWN THE HILL IN OUR 2002 SUBURBAN THE BRAKES BECAME VERY SOFT AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES. WE CHECKED THE GROUND UNDER SUBURBAN AND ALL THE BRAKE FLUID WAS ON THE SNOW. WE HAD SUBRUBAN TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER IN REDLANDS BECAUSE THERE IS A "BUMPER TO BUMPER" POLICY ON IT. TOM BELL HAD TO REPLACE THE "BRAKE LINE". WE TOOK A CAB TO THE ONTARIO AIRPORT FOR A RENTAL CAR AND DROVE BACK HOME.

OSCILLATING NOISE IN LEFT FRONT WHEEL MILEAGE IS 40,000 MILES. *JB

PARK BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2002 SUBURBAN. HAVE NEVER USED THE BRAKE WENT TO ENGAGE IT AND THE TRUCK ROLLED AWAY. INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON A COUPLE YEARS OF SUBURBAN'S AND GM DEALERS DO NOT RECOGNIZE IT. *JB

TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT THE FOG LIGHTS ON SINCE IT WAS FOGGY OUT AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF. THE DOME OVERRIDE BUTTON TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. THE CONSUMER STRUCK THE BARRIER CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE DEEMING IT UNSAFE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

A BOLT SECURING THE REAR LEFT BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET ASSEMBLY FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY JAMMMING THE BRAKE AND THE REAR WHEEL WHILE IN MOTION. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND WAS CONTROLLABLE, BUT IF IT HAD OCCURRED AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE THE REAR WHEEL COULD HAVE SUDDENLY SEIZED WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (2002 4WD SUBURBAN Z71). *AK

2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN PARKING BRAKE FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS 1999 THROUGH 2003 GM VEHICLES. MOST OWNERS ARE PROBABLY UNAWARE THEIR VEHICLE HAS THIS DEFECT, SINCE THE TRANSMISSION PREVENTS VEHICLE MOVEMENT WHEN IN PARK. THE PARKING BRAKE ON THESE GM VEHICLES IS A DRUM BRAKE ON THE REAR WHEELS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DRUM, AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR IS COMBINED INTO A SINGLE UNIT ON THESE VEHICLES. PARKING BRAKE PADS ARE MOUNTED ON A CIRCULAR METAL RING, WHICH HAS ABOUT A 2 INCH GAP AT THE TOP. THE RING EXPANDS WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED. UNLIKE TYPICAL DRUM BRAKE PADS, THE CIRCULAR RING IS NOT WELL SECURED TO PREVENT UNDESIRABLE MOVEMENT WITHIN THE DRUM. USUALLY, DRUM BRAKE PADS ARE SECURED BY HEAVY SPRINGS TO KEEP THEM CENTERED WITHIN THE DRUM. ON THESE GM VEHICLES, HOWEVER, THERE IS JUST A SLIDE-IN CLIP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCULAR METAL RING TO WHICH THE PADS ARE ATTACHED. THIS ALLOWS THE BRAKE PADS TO MOVE WITHIN THE DRUM WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT IN USE. ON MY VEHICLE, THE CIRCULAR RING WAS PULLED DOWN BE GRAVITY, RESULTING IN IT CONTINUALLY RIDING AGAINST THE DRUM. THIS WORE OUT THE PADS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CIRCULAR RING TO THE POINT WHERE METAL WAS CONTACTING METAL. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE WEAR TO THE DRUM, REMOVING OVER 1/16 INCH OF METAL. IN FEBRUARY 2003, GM RELEASED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 92-05-26-002A, WHICH CALLS FOR INSTALLATION OF A SPRING CLIP RETAINER TO PREVENT PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ON THE FOLLOWING MODELS: 2002-2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE 1999-2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 2000-2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, TAHOE 1500 2002-2003 CHEVY AVALANCHE 1999-2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 2000-2003 GMC YUKON 1500 GM SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO HOLD WHEN PARKED ON A STEEP SLOPE. A DRIVER COULD PLACE A RUNNING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, SET THE PARKING BRAKE, AND TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, RESULTING IN HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

1) SEVERAL TIME WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES GOING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED HAD THE ANITLOCK BRAKES START ACTIVATING (PULSATING) WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH NO INCIDENT BUT HAD TO PRESS MY FOOT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO STOP. 2) TOOK THE 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN INTO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED. FOUND OUT THE SENSORS WERE CLOGGED WITH DUST FROM BRAKES.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SWERVED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. *AK *EH *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID RESERVOIR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT, IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC TANK HAS CRACKED, AND IS LEAKING FOR THE THIRD TIME.*AK

FAILED INSPECTION. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGING. DEALERSHIP SAID THE BACK OF THE REAR ROTORS HAD RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO RUST ALSO. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS AND BOTH E-BRAKES. ONLY HAVE 27,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HAD JUST BEEN IN FOR A CHECK-UP BEFORE COMING OFF WARRANTY. ROTORS AND E-BRAKES SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACE WITH LOW MILAGE. HAVE SPOKEN TO FOUR OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CAUSING THEM TO GO FORWARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

(1) THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE ON INTERSTATE IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON SLIGHT HILL, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. (2) THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON INTERSTATE 10 WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILE LONG WITH VERY NARROW LANES AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS ON EACH SIDE & NO SHOULDERS. BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND NO WAY TO CLEAR THE LANE OR GET TOW VEHICLE. (3) A GOOD SAMARITAN TOWED OUR VEHICLE ABOUT 2 MILES TO FIRST POINT CLEAR TRAFFIC. CHEVY DEALER CONFIRMED FUEL PUMP IN TANK HAD FAILED & REPLACED PUMP. THIS WAS SECOND PUMP FAILURE. THE PUMP PREVIOUSLY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED ON 30 AUG 03. PREVIOUS FAILURE DEALER SAID KEEP FUEL ABOVE 25% & ENGINE WOULD RUN. THE TANK WAS AT 44% WHEN ENGINE QUIT. FUEL TANK WAS TOPPED OFF BEFORE PUMP TESTED, ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT NO PUMP PRESSURE. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IF MORE FAILURES OCCUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. THE EMERGENCY GOOD SAMARITAN TOW OUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA PREVENTED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS IT WAS GETTING DARK.*AK

THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR 3RD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. IT WAS BROKEN WHEN PURCHASED. *JB

WE HAD TO HAVE PINION & SIDE BEARINGS REPLACED AND THEY RECONDITIONED DIFFERENTIALS. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT PULL HORSE TRAILERS OR A BOAT! *JB

WE HAD TO HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES REPLACED ON OUR 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER USED THE PARKING BRAKE. IT HAD 33,981 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. *JB

SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO EXPLANATION GIVEN BY DEALER OTHER THAN INTERNAL FAILURE WITH RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. ONLY 45,000 MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. *AK

THE RIVETS ON THE DRIVER SEAT ARE LOOSE, THE SEAT MOVES, AND THE NOISE IS ANNOYING. THE ENTIRE TRACK HAS TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *NM THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER REPAIR. *SC THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

ON FRIDAY OCT 1ST. HEADING OUT OF TOWN THE DRIVERS REAR TIRE BLEW OUT -THE TRUCK IS A 2002 SUBURBAN WITH WILDERNESS LE TIRES. THE SIDE-WALL BLEW APART. FORTUNATELYI WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL AND PULL OVER. TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. FIRESTONE SAID THEY WOULD PRO-RATE THE TIRE- NEVER REALLY LOOKING OR RECORDING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. GM IS NOW LOOKING INTO THIS AND IS SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ME. SINCE THEN I PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES (GOODYEAR). FIRESTONE HAS HAD RECALL ON WILDERNESS IN 2001. THE TIRES WERE 2001. ON THIS TRUCK. WE DID KEEP THE TIRE THAT IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

THE TRUCK HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A CLANGING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MOSTLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT IT MAY CAUSE A STEERING COMPONENT TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE NOISE, TO WHICH HE REPLIED THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALLS, AND THE NOISE WAS NOT DANGEROUS/SERIOUS. *AK THE DEALERS TECH INDICATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

1) HEARING LOUD FLUTTERING SOUND ON ACCELERATION (ALMOST LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK ). 2)REAR WHEEL FELT HEAVY, BRAKES NOT RELEASING 3) METAL ON METAL SOUND.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. *JB

DEFECTIVE PARKING BRAKES ON 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. *MR THE ENGINEERS HAD NOT FOUND A WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD REFUSE TO RELEASE AT THE WHEELS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIR CONDITIONER LOST POWER AND HOT AIR CAME OUT FROM THE VENTS AREA. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER4 TO CONTACT ANOTHER SOURCE . AT THIS POINT WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

THE CHILD SEAT HARNESS WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO SEND IN HER CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER A RECALL FOR THE HARNESS STRAPS WAS ISSUED. UPON RECEIVING THE CHILD SEAT BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04C002000 THE LOCKING MECHANISM DID NOT WORK. *TC

THIS CANNOT BE DESCRIBED AS A SINGULAR EVENT OR FAILURE. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I PARK THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WORE OUT PREMATURELY. VIRGINIA STATE POLICE SAFETY INSPECTION REQUIRES AN OPERABLE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. I BEGAN NOTICING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM SHARED BY OTHER 2002 SUBURBAN OWNERS, AND SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH GM REPLACING UNDER WARRANTY. MY LOCAL DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE DESIGN IS FLAWED ALLOWING THE BRAKE SHOE TO CONSTANTLY CONTACT THE HAT ROTOR SURFACE AND WEAR PREMATURELY. BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM, HOWEVER, GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE SHOES AND CLIPS. A NEW CLIP EXISTS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. I AM USING JULY AS THE INCIDENT DATE AS THAT IS WHEN I ORDERED NEW BRAKE SHOES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I INCLUDED THIS COMPLAINT ON A CUSTOMER SERVICE QUESTIONNAIRE AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THERE WAS NO REPSONSE BY GM.*AK

WHEN DRIVING THE AIR VENT RELEASED TOXIC FUMES. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BECAME SICK AND DIZZY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM *AK *JB

2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR WHEN THEN POWER STEERING FAILED THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM SHOULD ALLOW THE DRIVER TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE STEERING EVEN IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE. *NM

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A VACATION ABOUT 30 MI EAST OF PA/OH BORDER. A/C SUDDENLY WENT FROM COLD TO HOT. WE TURNED OFF A/C. WHEN WE TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC, METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT A/C SYSTEM FROM COMPRESSOR, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM AT A COST OF OVER $1700. WANT TO ADD THAT DEALER HAS BEEN VERY NICE ABOUT PURCHASE AND PROBLEMS - THEY EXPLAINED THAT CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

2 SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED. THEN, CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 2 SECONDS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND IT COULD BE DUE TO FUEL INJECTION OR FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NOT FAILURE WAS FOUND. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. HAS BEEN BAD SINCE 36K MILES AND DEALER REFUSES TO TOUCH BECAUSE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FIX IS BUYING NEW CABLES WITH NEW EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL; WHY NEW PEDAL? THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING? *TR

DRIVER SIDE SIDE MIRROR HAS DEVELOPED A SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF IT! *TR

THE PARKING BRAKE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SEEMS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE BRAKE IS SET THE VEHICLE WILL STILL ROLL FORWARD IN GEAR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR I SPOKE TO AT TEAM CHEVROLET IN ALPHARETTA, GA SAID THAT HE SEES THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY DAY. THE WAY HE EXPLAINED IT IS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES CAN RUB SLIGHTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY, AND THIS EVENTUALLY WEARS OFF ALL THE FRICTION MATERIAL FROM THE SHOE AND THE BRAKE WILL NO LONGER WORK. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW, AND THE DEALER SAID BRAKE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNUSUAL AND UNKNOWN TO THEM. *AK *LA

NOTICED NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. CHEVY DEALER INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT A PLASTIC PLUG ON FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD FAILED AND DRAINED ALL OF THE OIL FROM DIFFERENTIAL RESULTING IN FAILURE. CHEVY HAS RE-DESIGNED THE FAULTY PART (OBVIOUSLY AS A RESULT OF MANY FAILURES). FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS REPEATEDLY RETURNED FOR SERVICE BECAUSE OF NO 4X4 FUNCTION. EVENTUALLY, TRANSFER CASE WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT CLUTCHES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED FROM DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. TRANSFER CASE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. SUBURBAN HAD 40,000 MILES UPON INITIAL FAILURE (4,000 OUT OF WARRANTY). CHEVY SENT OWNER A CHECK FOR $600. RECCOMEND THAT ALL SUBURBAN 4X4 OWNERS IMMEDIATELY REPLACE THE PLASTIC PLUG WITH NEW DESIGN (APPROX $23 PART) OR EXPECT FAILURE. CHEVY WILL NOT ACCEPT REPONSIBILITY. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

AT 16000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 50/55 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SUN GEAR AND PLANETARY GEAR FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. *NM *NM

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY REAR PASSENGER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS LE TIRE BLEW OUT ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE ENTIRE SIDE THAT IDENTIFIES THE MAKE OF THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE BLOWOUT AREA TRAVELS IN A PERFECT CIRCLE AROUND THE MANUFACTURER IDENTIFIED AREA. THE TREAD IS STILL IN GREAT CONDITION. I WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST ON MARCH 16, 2004, IF I WAS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT OR EVEN FATALITY. I TRAVEL WITH THIS VEHICLE TO FLORIDA TWICE A YEAR AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPARE AND REMAINING THREE TIRES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTED CASES REGARDING THIS MAKE OF TIRE. ALSO, IS THERE CONTACT INFORMATION TO CONTACT FIRESTONE TIRE? *NM *SC

3RD ROW SEAT BELTS TIGHTEN AS DRIVING CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO CHILDREN WHO THEN HAVE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT TO RE-FASTEN IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN COMFORT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *LA

PURCHASED NEW'2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PARKING BRAKE FAILED @20K MILES ADJUSTED UNDER WARRANTY-ADVISED AT SERVICE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD INHERENT PROBLEM AND ADJUSTMENT WOULD NOT LAST. LASTED MAYBE 8K MILES-WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE ON INCLINE-POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME OUT OF PARK-NOW NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT CAN BE MADE-CERTAINLY A DEFECT IN MY OPINION-SINCE THE INITIAL WARRANTY SERVICE ADJUSTMENT TWO ADDITIONAL AUTO TECHNICIANS HAVE TOLD ME SUBJECT BRAKE CANNOT BE FURTHER ADJUSTED AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE-WHAT CAN I DO-WHAT MAY YOU DO TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM?-THANK YOU. *NM

DURING COLD WEATHER SEASONS, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE KEEPS LOSING AIR PRESSURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TWICE, AND REPLACED THE AIR PRESSURE THREE TIMES. BUT, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE RIGHT WHEEL FRAME SQUEAKES WHEN TURNING AT 10 MPH. ROTORS AND PADS AND SHOES AND WHEEL BEARINGS CRACKED. *TC