2003 Chevrolet Suburban: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 360 complaints
360
Total Complaints
71,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES
Top Issue
39
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

34,000 25th Percentile
71,000 Median Mileage
119,294 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES
63
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
33
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
17
AIR BAGS
14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
STEERING
10
SUSPENSION
7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
7

Severity Assessment

39
Crashes
5
Fires
77
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. THE GEAR SHIFT WILL GET STUCK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH"
"THE MIDDLE POSITION IN THE 2ND ROW OF SEATS IN A 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71 IS UNSAFE FOR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THERE IS A LEATHER LOOP (INTENDED TO HOLD THE SHOULDER BELT IN PLACE WHEN NOT IN USE) THAT ALTERS THE PATH OF THE SEAT BELT WHEN THE CHILD SEAT IS INSTALLED. OVERTIME THROUGH WEAR AND TEA..."
"ON JAN 20, 2003 MY NEW 2003 CHEV SUBURBAN 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILED AS I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER TRAFFIC. SERVICE 4WD SHOWED ON THE INFORMATION CENTER AND I WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO THIS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SVC DEPARTMENT, WHERE THE SVC PERSON TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28