2003 Chevrolet Suburban transmission problems

Filed Jun 22, 2010 · Transmission · GA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet suburban. The contact stated the vehicle was parked in the driveway with the key in the ignition while she and her two small children, ages 2 and 4, were watching a movie. The battery died during the movie and the contact momentarily left both children in the vehicle while she went to retrieve jumper cables. The youngest child was able to move the shifter out of gear and the vehicle proceeded to move, knocking the youngest child out of the vehicle. The child became lodged between the rear of the vehicle and a grill. The contact heard the crash and discovered the child pinned beneath the vehicle. She attempted to remove the child but to no avail. She shifted the vehicle into neutral and attempted to move the vehicle but she was unable to move the vehicle. The police arrived and the child was transported to the hospital via ambulance. The child suffered blunt force trauma, smoke inhalation, cardiac arrest and severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the lower half of his body. The child did not survive. The police stated they too were able to move the shifter out of place without engaging the brakes. A police report was available. The police stated they were doing a supplemental report to show the vehicle failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were unknown. Lawyer wrote in on behalf of client stating that all future correspondence regarding the incident should be direct toward the law firm. Updated 12/03/10 updated 12/22/10

Filed May 11, 2010 · Transmission · IN

2003 chevrolet suburban. Consumer stated the transfer case developed a leak.

Filed Dec 24, 2008 · Acceleration, Electrical · 88,000 miles · MI · crash

Revving of engine to point of screeching tires. Sometimes feeling of being in neutral for a second then clunk in tranny/rear end? Acts as engagement of cruise control increasing speed, not able to disengage by hitting brake. Computer did not show anything. Next time putter "locked out" tech's. Puter replaced. Worked good for two weeks. Engine revved, hit patch of ice, totaled out z-71. Thank god, no injuries. Fighting it for appx 16000 miles. 72000 to 88000.

Filed Jan 19, 2007 · Transmission · 48,173 miles · CA

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.

Filed Mar 2, 2006 · Transmission · 53,000 miles · OK

Power train, loud whining regardless of speed coming from rear z71 4x4 suburban, took to power train specialist, replaced differential 552.00.

Filed Feb 21, 2006 · Transmission · AR

This condition was brought to my attention by the tragedy detailed by the parents of little milan hedmark. Www.kidsandcars.org . The transmission will shift into neutral without having to press the brake if the key moved forward just one position from lock. A child could easily accomplish this just by being curious and left alone for only a second. Please make folks aware of this. 96' and later model chevrolet.

Filed Sep 19, 2005 · Transmission · 6,000 miles · MI

Check engine light illuminated after 300 miles travel. Hard shift from first to second (felt like transmission dropped from vehicle. This first occurred six months after purchase of 2003 chevrolet suburban (new). Dealer re-programmed transmission control module. Same problem on return trip four days later, and six more times in the past 2 1/2 years. Four separate gm dealers, in two states, have attempted fix via: 1. Re-program TCM, 2. Replace transmission solenoid, 3. Replace transmission valve body and re-program TCM. Still not fixed.

Filed May 24, 2005 · Transmission · 48,095 miles · NJ

I purchased a new 2003 chevrolet suburban in december of 2003. On may 13, 2005, the transmission began to fail rapidly. The automatic transmission will not easily shift into second gear and reverse gear does not function at all. The car came with a 3 year 36,000 mile power train warranty and I have put 48,000 miles on it in the eighteen months that I've owned it. 98% of the miles on the odometer are highway miles. I have towed a boat exactly 4 times. I took the car to a chevrolet dealer who indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $2452.00 chevrolet has offered to pay for the parts & wants me to pay for the labor-$900.00 there are two technical safety bulletins relating to this problem- #030730028 "drivetrain "clunks" when stopping" and 00822b, "no second & fouth gears and no reverse"

Filed Oct 6, 2004 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · CA · crash

While parked with the key in the ignition vehicle was able to switch gears without applying the brakes. As a result, vehicle crashed into the garage. No injuries reported.

Filed Sep 21, 2004 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · MN

Regular harsh engagement on my 2003 chevrolet tahoe transmission. 1) had a huge clunk when having to suddently stop on one occasion - sounded like the transmission was going to drop/bam. 2) on an unpredictable basis the transmission harshly engages when going shifting at the slower spds. 3) brought to service dealor and they acknowledge problem during a test drive "that needs to be ck'd out". They said they fixed. 4) problem was worse when car was received back (have no idea if car will ever bam/clunk/wham/drop again as I normally don't suddenly stop but whatever that was it certainly wasn't good for the transmission). I reported the frequency of the harsh engagements actually were more often and they then changed there tune citing a service bulletin saying it's normal ". 5) now 15,000 miles later of harsh engagements I'm sensing some slippage and those harsh engagements are now harsher. I'm very disappointed in the performance of my tahoe and am very concerned of the future of the transmission in that gm & belzers acknowledge the problem then said gm says not to do anything. Car still runs but it very annoying when driving in the cities stop and go traffice...a clunk clunk here and a clunk clunk there here a clunk there a clunk. This is absolutely ridiculous!