2003 Chevrolet Suburban: harsh or hard shifting

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 Nov 3, 2008 · Steering · 92,000 miles · MI

I have a 2003 chevy suburban that has a clunking noise in the steering. While turning at speed or simply correcting as driving. I have noticed many other complaints on the site about it but it appears gm is not paying for a recall on this issue. Has anything been done on gm's behalf to pay for these repairs or am I stuck fixing this? The vehicle has also become very loose when driving.

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 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 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 May 11, 2005 · Steering · KS

I have a 2003 chevrolet suburan, 4x4. I purchased this vehicle used 9/2004. It has developed a rattle/clunking noise in the sterring column. I called the dealer, and was informed they have had many complaints about this, and the intermediate steering column needs to be removed and greased, and or replaced. I would think something as important as "steering" column problems would result in a recall. Please help!!

Filed Jan 21, 2005 · Steering · 27,000 miles · OR

I have a 2003 chevrolet suburban that has a steering /clunking noise in the intermediate steering shaft. I have called many dealers and they said it is a known problem and the parts are on order, I checked other customer complaint sites and many people have been waiting for the parts for over 6 months. My dealer told me he has a list of people that have been waiting for over 4 months. Has anything been done about this problem or is gm disregarding the defect in the parts. When will my suburban be fixed, if at all ?

Filed Nov 19, 2004 · Steering · 20,000 miles · CA

I have a 2003 suburban that makes a clunking noise when steering. The steering also feels loose. I took it to the dealer for a brake inspection while under warranty. I also told them about this clunking noise. They said it always happens and that they would tighten it up. This however is not on my invoice only the brake inspection. Brakes came back fine(although they still squeak) and they said that they tightened the steering problem up. Car was still under warranty. Now I have 41,000 miles on it and we are going to l.a. For thanksgiving. I took it to the shop of my choice for once again a brake inspection and this clunking noise in the steering. Upon arrival to the shop the owner has an 02 silverado and said he had the same problem which was corrected by chevy. Apparently they are replacing the steering shaft now. Before they were removing it and lubing it and then putting it back. When my mechanic asked if they would cover it they said no because the warranty was expired even though I brought it in before for this but I have no documentation to support this. My mechanic asked to get the part but unfortunately it is on national back order. Sounds like chevy is going through quite a bit of these, this should be recalled in my opinion. I know another person with a silverado hd and his clunks also. I'm not sure when the part will be available and don't know if it is dangerous to be driving. I have had no injuries or crashes from this yet. Please help if possible. Thank you.

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!