2003 Chevrolet Suburban Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVREOLET SUBURBAN THAT HAS A FAULTY, RACING SPEEDOMETER. I JUST SAW A NEWS REPORT ON CBS TELEVISION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MY DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST MY CAR. NOW I SEE MANY CARS MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY RACES TO A VERY HIGH AND INCORRECT SPEED.*JB

WE PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71 IN JANUARY OF 2007 WITH 70,900 MILES. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED IT WE STARTED EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH THE SPEEDOMETER WHERE IT WILL SHOW THE VEHICLE GOING 120 MPH WHEN THE TACK INDICATES WE ARE AT 1900 RPM ON HIGHWAY OR APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM IN JANUARY INFORMING US THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IF WE HAVE LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT, A WARRANTY EXTENSION. WELL WE ARE HAVE OVER 90,000 MILES SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US. WE GOT AN ESTIMATE OF $500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I HAVE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW LAWSUITS FILED IN VARIOUS STATES. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA REQUIRE GENERAL MOTORS COMPLETE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS ULTIMATELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS IMPACTING MANY VEHICLE OWNERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE US WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! *TR

SPEEDOMETER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS THEN STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I AM TOLD BY DEALER AND OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING MY SPEEDOMETER CONSTANTLY SAYS I AM GOING 120/HR. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT TO DRIVE YOUR SUBURBAN. TO REPAIR THIS INSTRUMENT RUNS APPROXIMATELY $600.00 AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF SUBURBANS THAT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. *JB

SPEEDOMETER STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IS A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN Z71. INTERNET SEARCH FINDS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. CAN NOT ACCURATELY ADJUST SPEED FOR SAFE DRIVING WHICH RESULTS IN A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. *JB

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE OTHERS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2003 SUBURBAN. EARLY 2007, I HAD LESS THEN 70K ON IT AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FIX WAS ABOUT $500. NOW (2008), GM SAYS THEY WILL FIX IT IF THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70K. HOW CONVENIENT?! GM WAITED UNTIL MORE CARS ARE ABOVE 70K AND THEN DECIDES TO RECALL IT. WHERE IS NHTSA? THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR YEARS.*CN

SPEEDOMETER IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED ON MY SUBURBAN Z71 MODEL YEAR 2003 WITH 59,611 MILES. SPEEDOMETER READINGS RANGED FROM 0 MPH TO 120 MPH. I HAD TO USE A GPS TO REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED UNTIL THE TRUCK COULD BE REPAIRED. I HAD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMOVE AND REPAIR ON FEBRUARY 12, 2007 BY DEALER AT A COST OF $448.89 AND ONLY A 1 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THE REPLACEMENT CLUSTER. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE. HEARD CLUNK - TRANMISSION WENT OUT 48,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. REPLACED TRANSMISSION - SHOP NOW SAYS REAR DIFFERNTIAL ALSO BAD.

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. SPEEDOMETER IS SOMETIMES JERKY, AND WILL READ HIGHER SPEEDS THAN WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE. THIS ISN'T THE TYPICAL SMALL ERROR THAT MOST HAVE, THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT. THEN, WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STAY STUCK AT A CERTAIN SPEED, AND ONLY READ FROM THERE ON OUT, MAKING THAT MPH THE AMOUNT OVER BEING READ. *NM

THE ISSUE STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS MEMORY SEAT NOT REMEMBERING THE SEAT POSITION AND THE EASY EXIT PUSHED THE SEAT FORWARD IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTEAD OF BACK. THEN CAME THE ISSUE WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. I RECEIVED THE LETTER IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE MY VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 70,000 MILES AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PROBLEM GM WILL NOT CONSIDER IT A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD FIX FREE OF CHARGE NO MATTER THE MILEAGE. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH HIS 2005 3/4 TON SILVERADO. *TR

SPEEDOMETER HEAD CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. IT WAS BOUNCING ALL AROUND READING 0 THEN 120 MPH. I HAD MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY DROP IT OFF AT THE SERVICE VENDOR CLOSEST TO HER (NOT CHEVY ). THEY ANALYZED THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD WAS FAULTY. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT FISCHER CHEVROLET IN BOULDER AND CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THEY HAD SEEN OTHERS LIKE THIS FROM THIS YEAR. HE SAID HE HAD SEEN A LARGER NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS TYPE. I ASKED THE PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT. HE SAID IT WOULD BE NEARLY TWICE THAT OF THE 3RD PARTY SERVICE COMPANY. I CHOSE TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SUBMIT THE COMPLAINT TO CHEVY/GM

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT HAD A SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $500 TO REPLACE IT. I NOTICED ON THE NEWS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. THIS IS SAFETY RELATED AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. HTTP://WWW.KING5.COM/LOCALNEWS/STORIES/NW_030107WABSPEEDOMETERSUITSW.B8BBB09.HTML LAWSUIT CLAIMS GM USES FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS. *JB

THE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH ON MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN BROKE WHILE I WAS TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER. THE WELDS WERE IMPROPERLY DONE. THE "U" BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SQUARE RECEIVER TORE AS IF WEAK METAL. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH 46,000 MILES AND THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT I AM STILL GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 120 MILES PER HOUR AND I WAS GOING LESS THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN TAHOES AND SILVERADOS. *NM

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN, WHILE DRIVING STEADY @ AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC, INDICATING 0 MPH; SLOWED TO 55 AND EXITED HIGHWAY. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 55 MPH AND REMAINED. STARED ENGINE AND INDICATOR WENT TO 30 MPH. ALL OTHER INDICATIONS AND GAUGES SEEMED TO INDICATE NORMAL. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE, GLUED-ON HINGE TO HATCHBACK GLASS FAILED. HINGE SEPARATED FROM GLASS CAUSING GLASS TO FALL TOWARD CHILD, STANDING NEAR REAR OF VEHICLE. GLASS IS A LARGE, HEAVY PANEL AND SHOULD BE SECURED WITH MORE RELIABLE MATERIAL. SEARCH OF INTERNET (TO FIND PROPER FIX TO PROBLEM) FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND LITTLE SATISFACTION FROM DEALERSHIP. MY DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH ANY GLASS RELATED ISSUES. COST $900 TO REPAIR. *NM

2003 SUBURBAN IN 10/2006 I NOTICED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS NOT WORKING. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY W/ 42,900 MILES ON IT. I DO NOT DRIVE IT DURING SUMMER MONTHS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 6,000 MILES ON IT, BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS DRIVEN ONLY BY THE SALES MANAGER AND RECEIVED AN "A" TITLE, AS A NEW VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 10/23/06 AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE. I DID SO, AND THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR $1,034.25, INVOLVING REAR A/C LEAKING VAPORLINE AT REAR WHEEL OPENING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THAT, AND THAT THE RUSTING STARTED MONTHS BEFORE MY WARRANTY WOULD HAVE EXPIRED. AFTER MONTHS OF CORRESPONDENCE, I WAS ADVISED TO GET IT FIXED IN APRIL, 2007. HOWEVER,AFTER HAVING IT FIXED AT THEIR ADVICE, GM SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME AT ALL IN RECOVERING THE COST OF THIS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I FOUND THAT I NEEDED ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED, BECAUSE, AS THE GARAGE MECHANIC PUT IT "I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH TERRIBLE RUSTING OF ALL THE HARDWARE ON THAT NEW OF A VEHICLE." HE EVEN ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SUBMERGED IN WATER! IT HAS NOT. THIS REPAIR THEN COST ME ANOTHER $800. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS OUTCOME. I BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT COST OVER $42,000 AND EXPECTED IT TO LAST ME FAR MORE THAN 3 YEARS WITHOUT A RUST PROBLEM. *TR

COATING OF RADIO BUTTONS IS PEELING OR COMING OFF. *JB

SPEEDOMETER QUITS REGISTERING SPEED OF VEHICLE AT TIMES, THE ODOMETER CONTINUES TO WORK. NEXT TIME DRIVING VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER WORKS. DEALER SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER WILL QUIT AND I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE. I DO FEEL THAT A NON WORKING SPEEDOMETER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY LOST ALL STEERING. STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY ROLLED AROUND ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE IN MOTION. *NM

THE 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN HAS AN INTERMITTENT, RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE CLUSTER THAT CAUSES IT TO SHORT OUT. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS LISTED ON THE INTERNET. IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN ELECTRONIC FAILURES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THESE WAYS: 1) THE SPEEDOMETER EITHER FAILS TO OPERATE OR DISPLAYS THE MAX SPEED. 2) WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON AND BEGIN PLAYING AS YOUR EXITING THE VEHICLE 3) WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE AUTOMATIC SEAT WILL BEGIN MOVING BY ITSELF, DOES NOT REMEMBER THE PREVIOUS SETTINGS AND WILL FORCE YOU INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULD NOT STOP THE SEAT FROM JAMMING ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. THE REASON THEY KNOW ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACED SO MANY OF THEM ALREADY. WHEN I CONTACTED GM, ALL THEY WOULD DO IS OFFER ME A ONE TIME SERVICE OF $200 WHICH WOULD NOT APPLY TO FIXING THE FAULTY CLUSTER. *JB

2003 TAHOE ; 76,000M AC COMPRESSOR FAILURE THAT RUINED ENTIRE SYSTEM A/C SYSTEM SERVICE/INSPECTED EVERY MAY ; DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN A/C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR ; FEW MINUTES LATER AC HIGH PRESSURE LINE TO CONDENSER BURST. STOPPED CAR AND CHECKED OUT NOISE FOUND BUSTED HOSE AND OIL W/ METAL FILLINGS DRIPPING FROM LINE. IT WAS 98 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WE WERE DRIVING TO FAMILY VACATION AT BEACH . HAD TO DRIVE REMAINING 5 HRS W/O AC AS IT WAS SAT PM. NO DEALER W/IN MILES SO TOOK TO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LOCAL GARAGE; HOPING IT WAS JUST A PRESSURE LINE REPLACEMENT. SHOP CALLED LATER THAT DAY TO SAY ENTIRE SYSTEM CONTAMINATED W/ FILLINGS FROM COMPRESSOR COMING APART INTERNALLY CAUSING CONDENSER TO BE STOPPED UP AS WELL DRYER AND EVAPORATOR . ENTIRE SYSTEM COMPONENTS REPLACED AND SYSTEM FLUSHED ; $1950 . NEW COMPRESSOR FROM CHEVROLET NOT SAME AS ORIGINAL DUE TO HISTORY OF PROBLEMS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD KEYLESS ENTRY AND THE POWER SUPPLY FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN NO WAY TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT IF SOMEONE WAS TO BE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER SUPPLY FAILED, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING CONCERN.

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. *JB

2003 SUBURBAN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED. *TS *JB

NONMOVING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON ENGINE START. 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71, VIN: [XXX]VEHICLE MILEAGE: 37,802. WE LOADED THE CHILDREN (FOUR CHILDREN UNDER THREE YEARS OF AGE) INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND I PULLED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THEN, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF TO WAIT FOR MY WIFE, WHILE SHE GATHERED A FEW FINAL ITEMS FOR OUR PICNIC. WITHIN A SHORT TIME, MY WIFE OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE TO PLACE A STROLLER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE (THIS CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE VEHICLE INSIDE THE GARAGE IT MUST BE PULLED OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK). MY WIFE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS ALREADY IN THE DRIVER SEAT WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE AND EXPERIENCED AN IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT OF ALL FOUR AIRBAGS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE (STEERING WHEEL, PASSENGER DASHBOARD, AND SIDE-IMPACT BAGS ON THE DOOR-SIDE OF BOTH THE DRIVER SEAT AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT). *NM UPDATED 07/16/02012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT FIRST, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN A TURN IS MADE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FAILED, AND THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

REAR BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN ON THE INSIDE OF ROTOR TO THE ROTOR CAUSING METAL ON METAL DAMAGE WITHOUT WEARING THE OUTSIDE PADS SIGNIFICANTLY. PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 30,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 65,000 MILES RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS AND LOSS OF USE OF VEHICLE. *JB

WE HAVE A 2003 3/4 TON SUBURBAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2003. ON THE WAY HOME FROM CHARLESTON, SC ON INTERSTATE 26 NEAR THE I-95 INTERSECTION THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM BOTH SIDEWALLS, AND STAYED INTACT. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECK ON FRIDAY. THE TREAD WAS INSPECTED AND NO CUT, TEARS OR PUNCTURES WERE PRESENT. THERE WERE ONLY 2 PASSENGERS WITH LIGHT LUGGAGE IN THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE IS MANUFACTURED BY BRIGDESTONE. THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRE IS THE FOLLOWING: LT245 75R16 120/1165 M+S R265G2 E4 0012336 LOAD RANGE E 34449EX26564 MADE IN MEXICO. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NJ (MILE MARKER 133.6), THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW-OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED A RODENT HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED A CLIP WAS LOOSE. THE THIRD TIME, THE BATTERY HAD JUST BEEN CHARGED AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, SO IT WAS JUMPED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND WOULD ONLY TRAVEL AT 10-15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR, BUT DETERMINED BOTH COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO CODES WERE PRESENT.

SPEEDODOMETER ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IS FAILING. I HAVE INQUIRED THE DEALER ABOUT A RECALL, REPAIR, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE READ THAT THE SPEED ODOMETER HAS BEEN FAILING FOR MANY GM OWNERS BUT GM WILL NOT RECALL THE DEFECTIVE ODOMETER.*AK

POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE COMPLETELY ERODED FROM SIDE POST. *JB

MY WIFE DRIVES A CHEVROLET TAHOE 2003 LS WITH ABOUT 48 000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 90 MPH. I LOOKED AT OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND DECIDED MAY BE I WAS GOING A LITTLE FAST. SO I SLOWED DOWN A BIT. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT UP TO 100. AFTER I PULLING OVER AND STOPPED IT WENT DOWN SLOWLY AFTER I STOPPED. DURING THE NEXT WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND EVENTUALLY STUCK AT THE HIGHEST SPEED. SO I MADE SOME CALLS TO VARIOUS DEALERS , AND WAS TOLD THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST $500 TO FIX THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WANT TO NOTIFY CHEVROLET. I THINK THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS ONE. YESTERDAY EVENING, THE SPEEDOMETER APPEARED TO BE WORKING AGAIN. THIS TIME I'VE NOTICED IT WILL TRACK ON THE RIGHT SPEED AND THEN HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO SORT OF RESET IT. *AK

2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN- RACING SPEEDOMETER- BOUNCING FROM 0 TO 120, NOW STUCK PAST 120. NO WAY TO DETERMINE SPEED. MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM-- BUT NO RECALL AS OF YET- BIG BUCKS TO REPLACE UNIT. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE NEXT 1,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PADS DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER GEAR FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WOULD REGISTER AS GOING 20 MPH OR EVEN UP TO 80 MPH WHEN PARKED. OCCASIONALLY WOULD APPEAR TO TRACK THEN WOULD REGISTER SIGNIFICANTLY TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW (USUALLY TOO HIGH). DROPPED OFF AT DEALER & TOLD IT NEEDED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPLACEMENT BUT WAS ON BACK ORDER NATIONWIDE. CALLED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHO CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT IT IS A "HIGH FAILURE ITEM". INITIAL ATTEMPT AT REPLACING IPC FAILED, STILL AWAITING ANOTHER NEW PART & HOPING TO GET VEHICLE BACK SOON. *NM

POWER TRAIN, LOUD WHINING REGARDLESS OF SPEED COMING FROM REAR Z71 4X4 SUBURBAN, TOOK TO POWER TRAIN SPECIALIST, REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL 552.00. *NM

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. WOULD REGISTER AS GOING 20 MPH OR EVEN UP TO 80 MPH WHEN PARKED. OCCASIONALLY WOULD APPEAR TO TRACK THEN WOULD REGISTER SIGNIFICANTLY TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW (USUALLY TOO HIGH). DROPPED OFF AT DEALER & TOLD IT NEEDED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPLACEMENT BUT WAS ON BACK ORDER NATIONWIDE. CALLED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHO CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT IT IS A "HIGH FAILURE ITEM". INITIAL ATTEMPT AT REPLACING. SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS IS EXPENSIVE. *NM

BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE, OVER A PERIOD OF A MONTH THE CAR FAILED TO START/TURNOVER. AFTER 5 MINUTES & REPEATED ATTEMPTS CAR WOULD FINALLY START. ON FINAL FAILURE DATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN WITH PERIODIC ATTEMPTS OVER 2 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP & FUEL FILTER WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *NM

DT: ON OCTOBER 6, 2005 THE POSITIVE POST ON THE BATTERY POPPED OUT OF THE BATTERY WITHOUT ASSISTANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS AN ACID LEAK. THE BATTERY WAS A SIDE POST BATTERY MANUFACTURED BY A. C. DELCO. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A ONE IN A MILLION CASE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED ON MY 2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT. FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCT 2003 UNTIL THE SEAT BELT FINALLY OUTRIGHT FAILED, I NOTICED SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE SEAT BELT TENSION LOCKING MECHANISM WOULD APPARENTLY JAM AND EITHER NOT RELEASE FOR PROPER ADJUSTMENT, OR FAIL TO ENGAGE AND TAKE UP EXTRA BELT SLACK. THIS SEEMED TO SELF CORRECT FOR SHORT PERIODS BEFORE RE-EMERGING. FINALLY, THE TENSION MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS LEFT MY SEAT BELT TOTALLY LIMP AND USELESS WITH NO SPRING-LIKE FUNCTION TO TAKE-UP THE EXCESS BELT PORTION AND UNABLE TO PROPERLY TIGHTEN AND SECURE THE DRIVER IN PLACE. I CALLED MY CHEV DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY DESIRE TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ARGUED WITH ME AS TO WHETHER THE SYMPTOM I DESCRIBED WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM OR NOT AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. APPROX. 10 DAYS LATER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT I COULD BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR, BUT THAT THEY WOULD ASSESS CAREFULLY IF ACTUALLY A WARRANTY ITEM OR NOT. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN, THE CHEV DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DECIDED THAT YES - THEY WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR HOWEVER, WAS QUITE LENGTHY IN TIME AND INVOLVED THREE CHEV MECHANICS WHO WORKED IN GRETA FRUSTRATION AND CONFUSION AS TO HOW TO REPLACE THE BELT AND TENSION DEVICE AS THEY HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE IN HOW TO ACTUALLY INSTALL THE NEW PART. I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT A PROPER TECH SUPPORT MANUAL WAS EITHER LACKING OR THEY SIMPLY CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW IT VERY WELL. REGARDLESS, SOME THEE HOURS LATER THEY DEEMED THE BELT FIXED - AND TO THEIR CREDIT, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. IN HINDSIGHT, I'M NOT SURE HOW FREQUENT THIS PARTICULAR SAFETY FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN 2003 CHEV SUBURBANS, BUT I DECIDED TO MAKE IT A MATTER OF RECORD IN CASE CHEV NEEDS TO BETTER ADDRESS HOW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SHOULD RESPOND TO SIMILAR CRITICAL SAFETY REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE. *JB

MY 2003 SUBURBAN WOULD NOT START. I WAS GOING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I PULLED THE PLASTIC COVER OFF THE POSITIVE TERMINAL, THE ENTIRE TERMINAL FELL OUT IN MY HAND. THE ACID POURED OUT OF THE HOLD AND LANDED ON MY HAND. THE POSITIVE POST ON MY AC DELCO BATTERY FAILED AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS, 9 MONTHS. IT HAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY. THE BATTERY WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THEN THE BATTERY WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED AC DELCO AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD REPLACE OR PRO-RATE THE BATTERY. THEY SAID NO. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS FROM THE ACID LEAKING OUT OF THE HOLE WHERE THE POSITIVE TERMINAL WAS. THE ACID FROM THE BATTERY ATE THE PAINT OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE BATTERY SHELF. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AND INSTALLED IT IN MY SUBURBAN. IN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, IT WAS VERY EASY TO FIND OTHERS WHO HAD AC DELCO BATTERIES AND THEIR POSITIVE POST FAILED. AC DELCO KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CONTINUES TO SELL A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED, AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS IT STUCK. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE OR WHEN THE CLUSTER PANEL HEATED UP. *AK

VEHICLE IS 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, PURCHASES NEW. SPEEDOMETER WON'T READ CORRECTLY; AT FIRST IT WOULD READ 20-30 MPH FAST; THEN IT FINALLY ONLY READS BETWEEN 30-120 MPH; HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH GAS GAUGE; RAN OUT OF GAS WITH TANK SHOWING ALMOST HALF FULL, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION. VERY DANGEROUS. DANGEROUS TO NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE YOUR ACTUAL SPEED. GM REFUSES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH DEALER HAS HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THESE FAILURES. GM MUST BE AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *NM

2003 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 (52,000 MILES) WITH REAR HATCH. RECENTLY ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE WIND REAR HATCH SNAPPED IN HALF. THIS IS A PLASTIC PIECE BOLTED ON TO THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE. WHEN I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO INQUIRE IF THERE MAY BE A RECALL THE ANSWER WAS NO, BUT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM OFTEN. OFTEN TELLS ME THIS IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED AND NOT AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. IT IS DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AT 13,000 MILES AND REPLACED THEM. THE FAILURE REPEATED ITSELF AT 18,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR DEFECT REPAIRS AND ANY FUTURE REPAIRS DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE DEALER STATED RECALL ON SEATBELTS. UPDATED 06/26/07 *TR

MY 5 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS BUCKLED INTO THE SEAT BELT, HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE SEAT BELT PUT HIS LEGS THROUGH THE SEAT BELT, HE UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT TO UNTANGLE AND REBUCKLE, WHEN HE UNFASTENED THE SEAT BELT THE SLACK WENT BACK INTO THE HOLDER, THE SEAT BELT BEING LOCKED WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY RELEASED , THERE WAS NO WAY TO RELEASE COMPLETELY SINCE IT WAS AROUND HIS WAIST AND NO WAY FOR HIM TO GET OUT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SLACK FOR HIM TO MOVE, AS OUR FINGERS WOULD NOT EVEN FIT IN BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT AND HIS WAIST. WE HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET HIM OUT. ****THERE NEEDS TO BE A RELEASE BUTTON SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS RELEASE IF THIS OCCURS AGAIN.***** *JB