2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

61/100

Skip unless cheap

AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	51	29%
Service brakes	34	19%
Service brakes	18	10%
Structure	5	3%
Engine and engine cooling	5	3%
Vehicle speed control	5	3%
Fuel system	4	2%
Steering	4	2%
Exterior lighting	3	2%
Visibility	3	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

SUBPAR MATERIAL USED IN BRAKE/FUEL LINES THEY RUST PREMATURE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN I START MY TRUCK. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER DRIVING A BIT OR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN, WHERE OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. STARTE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

BRAKE LINES RUSTING. TWICE IN A MONTH THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER A HARD STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKY FOR ME & OTHERS THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME OR TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE HARD TO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

WITHOUT WARNING BRAKE LINE BLEW A HOLE AND NO BRAKES. NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. NO HELP WITH THAT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PASS ON RIGHT SHOULDER THREW THE GRASS. ALMOST A
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

I JUST STARTED LEASING THE VEHICLE FROM QUALITY AUTO THAT SAYS THAT THE CAR IS ROAD READY BUT HAVE LOTS OF HAZARDOUS THINGS TO IT A VERY BAD GAS LEAK THAT THERE TAKING THERE TIME TO FIX AND MY HOOD OF MY CAR WON'T STAY D
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TAMARA INFLATORS I'M LOOSING BRAKE FLUID AS I DRIVE I'M LEASING THE AUTOMOBILE FROM QUALITY AUTO ALSO THEY SAID IT'S OKAY TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR WITH A GAS IN THE TRUCK BUT IT'S SAYING NEEDS GAS I KEEP SMELLING GAS AFTER
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK AND COMPLETED A 3 POINT TURN TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND IN MY DRIV
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

DURING COLD MONTHS ONLY VEHICLE HAS POWER SURGES WHENEVER DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKER CONSISTENTLY TO WHERE IT APPEARS I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS. THE HIGHER THE RPMS, FLICKERING IS MORE FREQUENT. APPARE
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Wheels:hub 07E106000

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M

Risk: WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	66	good
Longevity est.	71	good
Maintenance	57	average
Depreciation	58	average
Performance	72	good
Efficiency	27	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 26% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 31% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 18% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 35% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 66: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 71: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2003 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 57: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500?

Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 51 of them (29%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500?

AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 61/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.