2003 Chevrolet Suburban: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The newest campaign is 05V163000. NHTSA received the report on 22 Apr 2005. The NHTSA record gives the component Seat Belts / Rear/Other. NHTSA has 290 complaints on file for this model year. 6 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 05V163000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 15 May 2019. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 1,438,214 units in total.

05V16300022 Apr 2005Seat Belts / Rear/Other
04V0450004 Feb 2004Service Brakes, Hydraulic
03V0940007 Mar 2003Structure
03V0370006 Feb 2003Structure / Body / Door / Hinge and Attachments
03V01900027 Jan 2003Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly

05V163000Received 22 Apr 2005. 1,359,824 units.
Seat Belts / Rear/Other
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 05037. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 21 Jul 2005.
04V045000Received 4 Feb 2004. 68,875 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 04004. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 18 Jun 2004.
03V094000Received 7 Mar 2003. 3,674 units.
Structure
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 Mar 2003.
03V037000Received 6 Feb 2003. 107 units.
Structure / Body / Door / Hinge and Attachments
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
As a result, the door strength may be degraded during a side impact vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 03004. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Feb 2003.
03V019000Received 27 Jan 2003. 5,734 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, vehicles, during a 30 degree left angle frontal impact of sufficient severity, a tear could develop in the mid-frame cross member at its attachment to the left frame rail. If the mid-frame cross member tears during frontal impact and produces a sharp edge, contact of the sharp edge with the fuel tank could result in a puncture of the fuel tank and possible fuel leakage.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a fuel tank shield. Owner notification began february 20, 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 chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 03002. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Feb 2003.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

290 complaints, 348 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

2003 Chevrolet Suburban
All 2003 vehicles

2003 Chevrolet Suburban: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	2003 Suburban	All 2003 vehicles	Suburban, all years	Mentions
Electrical System	232.8	123.7	75.9	81
Service Brakes	169.5	30.5	40.5	59
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	80.5	58.7	273.6	28
Power Train	63.2	121	50.9	22
Steering	57.5	47.3	46.7	20
Air Bags	48.9	82.2	54.6	17
Vehicle Speed Control	43.1	42	17.7	15
Visibility	34.5	40.1	65.9	12
Structure	34.5	62	37	12
Tires	31.6	20.4	50.5	11

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 26.

Complaints that report a crash: 21
Complaints that report a fire: 4
Injuries in the complaints: 27
Deaths in the complaints: 1
Date of the newest complaint: 24 Mar 2019

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2005, with 40 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA11001	Engineering analysis	Brake line corrosion failure	Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings	5 Jan 2011	8 Apr 2015
PE10010	Preliminary evaluation	Brake line corrosion failure	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	30 Mar 2010	5 Jan 2011
DP05009	Defect petition	PARKING BRAKE FAILURE	Parking Brake / Conventional	20 Dec 2005	31 May 2006
EA04012	Engineering analysis	HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES	Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist	30 Apr 2004	28 Feb 2005	05V005000
EA04011	Engineering analysis	PARKING BRAKE FAILURE	Parking Brake / Conventional	9 Apr 2004	10 May 2005	05V161000
PE03026	Preliminary evaluation	STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE	Wheels	12 Jun 2003	3 Nov 2003

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 2003 Chevrolet SuburbanThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2003 Chevrolet Suburban: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/suburban/2003/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 15 May 2019
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban?: 1,438,214 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Suburban have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 82 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Suburban, model years 1977 to 2024. 5 of them name the 2003 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban name most often?: Electrical System: 81 of 348 component mentions, or 232.8 per 1,000. For all 2003 vehicles the figure is 123.7 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban open?: No. Each of the 6 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.