2001 Chevrolet Suburban Electrical System Problems

ON MARCH 16, 2017, I WAS TRAVELLING ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN MY 2001 SUBURBAN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS SITTING ON A THIN SEAT CUSHION. TWENTY MINUTES INTO THE 40 MINUTE TRIP, I TURNED MY SEAT HEATER OFF. TEN OR SO MINUTES LATER, I SMELLED A HORRIBLE RUBBER/PLASTIC BURNING SMELL. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I LIFTED MY CUSHION AND SAW THAT THE SEAT HAD A BURNED HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND INTO MY SEAT CUSHION. IT WAS WARM, BUT I DID NOT SEE A FLAME. WHEN I GOT HOME IN THE BAY AREA, I CONTACTED GM, AND THEY OPENED A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE. I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP., AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERING THIS AS MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, IN SO MANY WORDS. I ASKED WHAT THE DEALER HAD FOUND, AND SHE COULDN'T TELL ME. I REITERATED TO HER THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER IS NOW GETTING VERY HOT, AND I AM CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THAT. PLEASE NOTE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER IS STILL WORKING IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR. TODAY, I FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NOT INSTRUCTED BY GM TO LOOK INTO THE SEAT TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THIS, ONLY TO TAKE PICTURES, ETC. NOBODY KNOWS WHY IT HAPPENED. HOW CAN THEY DENY ANYTHING WITHOUT DETERMINING THE CAUSE IS MY THOUGHT. AREN'T THEY CONCERNED THEIR SEATS OVERHEAT? SHOULD THEY BE WARNING THE PUBLIC? MY SEATS ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE. INTERESTING TO NOTE WHEN WE PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SERVICE WRITER SAID I SHOULDN'T WORRY SINCE IT IS NOT WORKING NOW BECAUSE A WIRED PROBABLY BROKE (EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY OR MAYBE). I CORRECTED HIM AND SHOWED HIM THAT IT DOES. HE WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT STILL DID. SO, THE QUESTION IS WHY DID IT OVERHEAT. PLEASE ADVISE.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75MPH BATTERY, SECURITY AND LOW FUEL POPPED ON INTO MESSAGE CENTER. GAS GAUGE, VOLT METER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE QUIT WORKING, HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF IT ALMOST GOT HIT. I KNOW NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE.

WENT TO START MY 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND IT WOULDN'T START. I LISTENED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO ENGAGE AND IT WASN'T WORKING. I CHECKED THE RELAY AND NOTICED IT WAS MELTED ON ONE CORNER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO NOTICED THAT GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN A GM FAN ALL MY LIFE AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE BEING ONE. PLEASE RECALL THIS ON GOING PROBLEM GM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAME SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 04/15/14 MA

WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN OUR SUBURBAN AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SHE HAD TO COAST OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. TRUCK STARTED AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS AND WORKED FINE FOR 2 MORE DAYS. IT THEN DIED 2 MORE TIMES IN ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING. IT AGAIN STARTED FINE AFTER 4 TO 5 ATTEMPTS. THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THERE WAS A RECALL OF OTHER 2001 MODELS WITH THE 8.1L BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY SEQUENCE. THIS PART IS FAULTY AND PUT MY WIFE'S LIFE IN DANGER. THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL 8.1L CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. THIS IS A ISSUE AND THERE ARE TONS OF THREADS ON MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY VEHICLE'S "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CONTINUES TO LIGHT UP EVEN AFTER HAVING THE CODE ERASED. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVROLET SUBURBANS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OBD CODE P0332 STATES THE KNOCK SENSOR HAS LOW VOLTAGE. THE PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE HAVE IS WHEN WATER OR MOISTURE GETS INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WATER BEGINS TO POOL OVER THE SENSOR AND SEEP INTO THE SENSORS. THE LACKING OF WATER SEAL IN THIS POOLING AREA DAMAGES THE SENSORS. THE VEHICLE THUS CANNOT PASS IT'S BI-YEARLY SMOG TEST AND ALSO CREATES A FALSE SENSE OF VEHICLE RELIABILITY. IF OTHER ISSUES COME UP OTHER THAN THE BAD SENSORS THE DRIVER WOULD NEVER KNOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, HE REALIZED THAT THE DRIVER HEATED SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE AND FILE A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, OUR 2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AS I PARKED TO INVESTIGATE, FLAMES BEGAN TO CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AND I PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE SEEMS TO INITIATE FROM THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT CONTROL. LEFT MINOR DAMAGE UNDER THE SEAT, BURNT RUG AND WATER LOG FROM PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. INSURANCE COMPANY TO FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATION. *TR

WIPER MOTOR FAIL. 2001 SUBURBAN 6.0L V8. WIPER MOTOR FAIL. THE WIPER MOTOR IN MY TRUCK ALWAYS FAILS. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED WAS SEPTEMBER 27TH 2010 DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I ALMOST RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN, AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK. (TECHNICALLY THAT IS A CRASH) THE WIPER MOTOR JUST STOPPED WHILE IT WAS RAINING. LAST YEAR DURING HEAVY SNOW THE MOTOR FAILED AGAIN. I HAD TO PULL OVER FOR AN HOUR UNTIL THE STORM WAS OVER. NOT TO MENTION NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES AS WELL. THIS MOTOR FAILS A LOT I LOST COUNT. THE EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILED WIPER MOTOR ARE RAIN , SNOW, SLEET, SOMETIME THE MOTOR FAILS DURING A SUNNY DAY AND NO MOISTURE IN THE AIR OR FAILED JUST TO CLEAN YOUR WINDOW. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME; GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD FIX THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. *TR

MY 2001 CHEV SURBAN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY GARAGE WHEN CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL MY ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON --I RETURNED HOME WITHIN 5 MINS AND WITH 10 MINS MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. --DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HAVE HAD SERVICED THERE HAS MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEM AND IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE. THE SAFTEY OF MY FAMILY IS AT RISK IF I CONTIUNE TO DRIVE THE CAR---THEY DONT KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN OR NOT THEY SAY. AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $2,000 TO FIX THE CAR --REPLACE PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED FROM THE FIRE--AFTER I STARTED ASKING IF GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME $950.00 SINCE I WAS A GOOD CUSTOMER. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THERE MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR---MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION---2001 70,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THEN THEY SAID GENERAL MOTORS WILL PAY TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED THAT WERE DAMAGED AND PUT IN A NEW ABS MODULE, AND THAT I SHOULD BE OKAY. I CANT RISK THE SAFTY OF MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE TO PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND CONTUINE TO DRIVE IT.. I WOULD APPREICATE ANY HELP OR ADVISE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE IGNITION WAS ABNORMALLY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR OF MY WIFE'S 2001 TAHOE APPEARED TO HAVE A MELTED PLACE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING. THERE WAS A GREEN/YELLOW CIRCLE IN THE CENTER OF THE MIRROR WHERE IT APPEARED TO HAVE GOTTEN TO HOT. I REMOVED THE MIRROR WHICH WAS CONNECTED BY FOUR WIRES. TWO WIRES WENT TO THE HEATING ELEMENT AND THE OTHER TWO CONTROLLED THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING FEATURE. ON THE INSIDE OF THE DIMMING FEATURE WIRES THERE APPEARED TO BE BLACK RESIDUE. YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THE MOLDED PLASTIC ON THE BACK OF THE MIRROR HAD MELTED ALONG THE OUTSIDE EDGE (DIGITAL PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED). I CALLED THE DEALER AND ORDERED A MIRROR THAT ONLY HAD THE HEATED FEATURE WITHOUT THE DIMMING EFFECT. I INSTALLED THIS ON THE LOGIC THAT I COULD LEAVE THE DEFECTIVE WIRES DISABLED. SO FAR EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING JUST FINE. THE PRICE OF THE REPLACEMENT WAS $35.00 (HEATER ONLY) AND IF I HAD ORDERED THE DIMMING FEATURE WITH IT ($267.00) "WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS". EVEN THOUGH I WAS OUT THE EXPENSE AND TIME SPENT FIXING THE MIRROR MY HOPE IS THAT YOU CAN RESEARCH THIS AND POSSIBLY KEEP SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE FROM THE POTENTIAL OF BURNING UP OR WORSE YET BURNING UP IN THERE GARAGE AND CATCHING THERE HOUSE ON FIRE. *JB

VEHICLE STALLED ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY----FUSES BLOWN- ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT---HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES- NOT REPAIRED-STILL STALLING AND BLOWING FUSES.*AK

2001 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 ELECTRICAL FROM TIME I BOUGHT VEHICLE RADIO WOULD RESET TIME TO 1:00 (DEFAULT) FOR NO REASON. DEALER REPLACED RADIO AND PROBLEM PERSISTED. NOW THE RADIO WORKS SOME OF THE TIME MOSTLY NOT AT ALL, AND THE CD PLAYER WORKS SOME OF THE TIME. LIGHTS DIM OFTEN WHEN DRIVING, OBVIOUSLY MORE NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT AND LONG TRIPS. WE HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED TO BE SURE WE DIDN'T GET STRANDED AND IT WAS FINE. LAST WEEK, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS STARTED WORKING SOME OF THE TIME. WHEN YOU SWITCH FROM HIGH TO LOW BEAMS YOU HAVE NO BEAMS, NEXT TIME YOU MIGHT HAVE LOW BEAM. THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT FOR PERSON ONE AND TWO, HAS LOST ITS MEMORY ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS SO CHEVY REPLACE THAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND GOING TO TURN INTO A FIRE HAZARD. I FEEL LIKE CHEVY IS ONLY REPLACING WHAT THEY CAN AND NOT REALLY FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO LOOK INTO FAR ENOUGH TO RESOLVE THE REAL ISSUE. *JB

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE ECM FUSE BLEW OUT AND POPPED OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED THE ECM FUSE, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THESE OCCURRENCES HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN ANY GIVEN DAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (65 MPH), THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. LOST OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES,ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 6 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS THE ECM-B FUSE BLOWING. THE DEALER SAYS THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THAT IT IS A RANDOM PROBLEM. I CAN'T IMAGINE PUTTING MY WIFE AND FOUR KIDS IN A CAR THAT SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. *JB

BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, VEHICLE ENGINE DIES. CAN BE RESTARTED IN A FEW SECONDS. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS.DEALER DIDNT RECTIFY PROBLEM,THEY ARE PUZZLED.

ELECTRICAL: IF KEY IS TURNED TO ACCESSORY; AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE BATTERY IS DRAINED AND CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 YEARS EVEN WITH A NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT. ALSO, FREQUENTLY THE CLOCK DISPLAY WILL BE ON THE WRONG TIME AND LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN USING THE POWER WINDOWS.*AK

WE HAVE A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2003, WHEN THE GAS LEVEL GOT TO 1/2, THE GAS GAUGE WOULD DROP TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WOULD GO ON, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND THE GAS GAUGE WOULD GO BACK TO 1/2. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP OCTOBER 20, 2003. THEY SAID THEY TESTED, INSPECTED AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME ON OCTOBER 22, 2003. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AGAIN. ON OCTOBER 26, 2003, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THE VEHICLE "SHUT DOWN" WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD NOT BE RE-STARTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, THERE THEY" REPLACED PCMB FUSE BLOWN AND FUEL SYSTEM CIRCUIT HAD A SHORT TO GROUND, FOUND WIRES AT MODULE BURNED. THEY REPLACED FUEL MODULE, FUEL PUMP RELAY AND FUSES". ON JANUARY 12, 2004, THE VEHICLE AGAIN "SHUT-DOWN" WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT RESTARTED IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, BUT CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IT HAS NOT SHUT DOWN AGAIN. THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX IT AS THE PROBLEM IS "INTERMITTENT" AND THE PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THEY CAN FIND NO SPECIFIC CAUSE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 12, 2004. THERE IS NO ADVANCE WARNING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO BRAKES, STEERING AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS PROBLEM, A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.*AK