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2003 Chevrolet Suburban body problems

11 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 75,895. 5 crashes reported.

owner complaints
11
of this car's complaints
4%
typical mileage
75,895
crashes
5
recalls
2

Which part fails

  • Body
    6
  • Body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments
    3
  • Frame and members
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Chevrolet Suburban body problems in other years

1991199520002005201020152024

Related recalls

StructureReported March 7, 2003 · 3,674 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 03V094000 · Recall details

Structure: body: door: hinge and attachmentsReported February 6, 2003 · 107 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles are built with four welds on the rear door upper hinge. On some of these vehicles, one or two of the welds may not be to specification.
Risk
As a result, the door strength may be degraded during a side impact vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the welds on the left rear door upper hinge. If a weld is found out-of-specification, a bolt will be installed to secure the hinge. Owner notification began february 17, 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 cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782.

Recall number 03V037000 · Recall details

What 2003 Chevrolet Suburban owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Airbags, Body · 173,000 miles · TX · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 chevrolet suburban. The contact stated that while towing his daughter's vehicle at about 60 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle being towed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a head and lower back injury. The front passenger (his daughter) sustained a back injury. The two went to the doctor three days later. There was no police report. The vehicle being towed was damaged and was driven to the daughter's dorm where it was totaled by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The contact stated that the other driver's insurance denied any compensation to the contact, stating that the contact's vehicle (the vehicle towing the damaged vehicle) was not hit. The contact stated that after the accident, a loud noise was heard whenever the vehicle was turned on. The contact also stated that the dashboard was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

Filed Jul 15, 2015 · Body · 50,000 miles · VA

I noticed a sound like that from an open window and check all driver and passenger windows verifying that they were closed. Upon utilization of the rear hatch, it was noted that one of the two (50%) latches that hold the rear window/door to the car had separated. I brought it to chevrolet dealer at the time and was told there was nothing they could do. They did not consider the doors as required or this to be a safety issue. At the time, I found 1000's of people online complaining about the same issue. I'm sure that this has increased 10 fold since then. I only use this car as a 2nd car now and do not utilize it daily. I fear that the 2nd rear window/door latch will also fail and cause the entire window/door to separate from the vehicle thus landing on the highway behind me (hopefully) or on the poor family in the vehicle behind me (worse case). Unfortunately, I live in the washington dc area where people like to tailgate. Traveling on highways with the wind rushing through the window causing additional stress on the latch make the later scenario more deadly and more of a reality. Gm/chevrolet should fix what seems to me as a minor repair to ensure the safety of the general public why hasn't this been addressed if so many people are having issues with the latch?

Filed Aug 3, 2014 · Airbags, Body · 200,000 miles · NV · crash · 4 injuries

I was driving my friend to work in ok 4/30/14.. I have no recollection of what instigated our head on collision but I have several injuries, had to cut out of the dashboard and airlifted to ou medical ctr. In ok city.. Shattered ankles/feet, broken neck including sustainable facet disruption that is permanent and 8 broken ribs combined both r & l due to severe impact with out any airbag deployment. Asherbridgecrash.com and I was in the white suburban.

Filed Apr 7, 2014 · Body, Brakes · 60,100 miles · IL

As I was backing out of a parking space, I experienced a total brake failure. Fortunately, I was going slow enough to stop and avoid injuring myself or another person. Thank god I wasn't going 50 MPH with my wife and 4 children in the car or I might not be writing this today (or someone else could have been injured by me due to this brake failure). I discovered the reason for this failure was because my brake line prematurely corroded and this problem is well known to the federal safety agency and you have done absolutely nothing. How dare you and gm put my family and other innocent bystanders at risk because of your incompetence!!! Why hasn't there been a recall??? A simple google search shows this problem has been experienced by thousands of chevy owners as well as premature rusting of the body and undercarriage which I am also experiencing. This car only has 60k miles and has been well cared for, but I am experiencing problems that cars with 3 times as many miles shouldn't experience. Perhaps congress would be interested in this dereliction of duty by the federal safety agency. How many americans have to die or get injured in accidents before you take action??? If total failure of a vehicle's breaking system doesn't spur a call to action by the federal safety agency then what will? What could be more vital to safety than brakes on a 1/2 ton truck? Repairs for the brake line will cost me over $1,200 and that just adds insult to this whole disgraceful situation. I demand to be reimbursed for this well known safety issue that I have to correct. The federal safety agency has failed and it's costing way more than $1,200; it's costing americans their lives.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Airbags, Body · TX · crash · 4 injuries

2003 chevy suburban 4wd rollover resulting in roof compacting and seat belts failing, 3 major injuries;: all wearing seatbelts: driver: road burn, cut's, bruises, broken rib. Front passenger: severe, traumatic brain injury, c2, stage 3 spinal fracture. Window's broke out & car landed on right arm resulting in elbow dislocation, fracture and muscles torn from the bone; broken rib. 2nd seat passenger: 1/2 thrown out of the car sustaining 3 spinal fxs, rib fx., scapula fx. And road burn. 3rd seat passenger: thrown from the vehicle into the fast lane on oncoming traffic. Sustaining head injury, bilateral collarbone fracture's, scapula fx. And road burn. Chevy suburban's cannot withstand a rollover and chevy was aware of this. We have not been given our constitutional right to a court trial. Impeach obama obama & his circus for defying our u.s. Constitution!

Filed Jun 30, 2009 · Body · 75,895 miles · MD

I own a 2003 chevy suburban 1500. I noticed a leak on the back window. I have a hatchback with a liftgate window. I opened it to check the leak and when I went to close it I couldn't. I noticed that the hinge on the passenger side was coming off the glass. I had to push the top right of the window down to close it. Now the rear access door warning is on.

Filed Jun 4, 2009 · Body · 108,000 miles · FL

Like many others.....the passenger side of the lift gate glass has come unbonded on my 2003 suburban.

Filed Jan 20, 2008 · Body, Locks · 5,900 miles · NJ

1. 2003 suburban z71 , rattle and clunk in steering column, nothing loose in the steering just clunking noise while driving. The steering shaft has been replaced 3 times. 2. Second row middle seat belt failed to retract and unable to fasten belt without force. Corrected 3. Latches located on the back of the second row seats to hold up the third row floor boards when using third row have broken numerous times (latches are plastic which makes no sense) 4. Paint on the rear bumper and left by gas tank fill rusted (this was corrected) 5. Driver seat motor runs after vehicle turned off. This has been brought to the dealers attention many times and they were unable to duplicate problem. 6. Rear access door weather striping stretched. 7. Truck failed to start for numerous reasons other then dead battery. Fuel tank pump module went bad. Crank shaft position sensor went bad. The most recent of 1/20/07 has not yet been determined. This is a major problem as the truck is not reliable. Infact my 1994 ford explorer is more reliable then this truck problems began in 2003, starting with 2nd row seat belt issues 8. Excessive squeaking from front end, numerous complaints made to dealer, belts replaced and pulleys cleaned several times then pulleys readjusted. 9. Left rear door failed to open.

Filed Sep 5, 2007 · Body · 149,830 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet suburban. The contact attempted to close the window on the hatchback, but it would not close. The contact noticed that the hinge on the passenger side was detached from the vehicle and the rear window was hanging from the hinge. The dealer stated that they would perform a diagnostic test for $99 to determine the cause of failure. The current and failure mileages were 149,830.

Filed Sep 8, 2005 · Body · 51,900 miles · FL

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.

Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban body

Does the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban have body problems?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the body of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban, 4% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Suburban body problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 75,895 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban body?

Yes, 2 recalls: 03V094000, 03V037000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Suburban have the most body problems?

The Chevrolet Suburban model years with the most body complaints are 2007 (42 complaints), 2015 (34 complaints) and 2008 (30 complaints).

Other 2003 Chevrolet Suburban problems

Brakes 91Electrical 81Transmission 21Steering 20Airbags 18Acceleration 15Engine 14Visibility 13Fuel system 11Tires 11Seat belts 10Suspension 9Seats 5Lights 3Locks 3Driver assistance 2Wheels 1

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