2002 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT SMELLED A SMOKE ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,337.

THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CITY DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL ID: 07V521000. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED IN THIS RECALL. WHY?

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY FAMILY AND I WERE COMING HOME FROM TWO DIFFERENT TRIPS. THE FIRST TRIP WAS TO NEW ORLEANS FROM SOUTH TEXAS. ON OUR WAY HOME, WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, OUR SUBURBAN SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN. IT TURNED ON. WE PULLED OVER TO A RESTING AREA AND OPENED THE HOOD, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE WHEN WE GOT HOME. THIS TRIP WAS DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 20TH, 2015. THIS PAST WEEKEND (MARCH 12-14, 2016), WE DROVE UP TO SAN ANTONIO FROM SOUTH TEXAS. WHILE WE WERE IN SAN ANTONIO ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AGAIN. AGAIN, THE DRIVER PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND CHECK THE VEHICLE. AGAIN, WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. I HAD RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE READ THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT DOES IT ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS AND AFTER DRIVING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS FOR THE ENGINE CUTTING OFF AND IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

VARIOUS INCIDENTS OF VEHICLE DYING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH. DOES NOT DO IT WHEN COLD. HAS FAILED TO START ALSO. AFTER WAITING 10-20 MINUTES ENGINE MAY START AND CONTINUE WITHOUT PROBLEM TO DESTINATION. HAVE CHANGED SENSOR WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT OF PROBLEM. LOCAL GARAGE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE SOLUTION AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT INTO SERVICE WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS. MANY PROBLEMS GETTING OFF THE ROAD WHEN INCIDENT OCCURS. HAVE HAD 4-5 OCCURRENCES AND BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-60 MPH. A CHARGING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. .UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AND ONLY ONE POWER ASSISTED BRAKE APPLICATION, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 06/26/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 07V521000 REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 06/27/12*JB

AFTER SO LONG IGNORING THE SMELL IN MY CAB, I DECIDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT BENNY'S EXHAUST IN BRISTOL, TN, AND FOUND THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF ENGINE. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA SOMETIME CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE PASSENGER CAB AREA. THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR ON BOTH SIDES. THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REGISTERED IN ANY STATE THAT HAS EMISSIONS TESTING, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS. I AM FORCED TO REGISTER IT TO NON-TESTING STATES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS AFFECTS ALL YEARS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH GM, WHY WON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER. AFTER SOMEONE SPENDS SEVERAL TENS OF THOUSANDS ON A VEHICLE, WHY ISN'T SAFETY THE STANDARD GM SHOULD MEASURE ITSELF UP TOO. ENGINEERS, ARE YOU MAKING SURE PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE IS BUILT INTO ALL YOUR VEHICLES. I WON'T BUY GM NO MORE AFTER OWNING GM ALL MY LIFE. *TR

WE WENT ON A FISHING TRIP FROM WILSON, NC TO NEW PORT NEWS. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE WITH NO PROBLEM. WE ARRIVED AT THE JAMES RIVER BRIDGE AND MY TRUCK CUT OFF. IT CRUNK UP AND ROLLED A LITTLE THEN DIED AGAIN. IT TOOK ME 25 MINUTES TO PARK. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL IT DECIDED TO STAY ON. WE FISHED THEN WE LEFT THE NEXT MORNING. MY TRUCK DROVE GOOD WITH NO PROBLEM. IT NORMALLY TAKES US 2 HRS. TO GET BACK HOME. MY TRUCK STARED CUTTING OFF AGAIN WHEN WE GOT 40 MILES FROM HOME. IT TOOK 4 1/2 HRS. TO GET HOME FROM 40 MILES AWAY. IT WAS SO HOT. MY FAMILY HAD TO WAIT ALONG A HOT, LONG, LONELY HIGHWAY. IT STARTED CUTTING OFF MORE. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP CHANGED AND ALSO THE FILTER. IT HASN'T CUT OFF TODAY BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON. IT'S BEEN 3 DAYS SINCE THOSE PARTS WAS REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW WHY MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. IT WAS OFF BEFORE IT STARTED CUTTING OFF. NOW IT STAYS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF. *TR

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS, HEATING UP ENGINE COMPARTMENTS, RELEASES CARBON MONOXIDE, AFFECTS O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS IN SOME STATES. GM NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS 1999-2008 ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. GM MECHANICS DENYING ANY SUCH ISSUES. PLEASE CHECK- IN TO THIS. OUR WHOLE FLEET AND OUR PERSONAL TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

LEFT-SIDE ENGINE MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF, CAUSING EXHAUST GAS TO ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIREWALL FROM THE DRIVER. THE ESCAPING EXHAUST CAUSES A 'TICKING' NOISE, WHICH IS WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OWNER (ME). THE VEHICLE IS WELL-MAINTAINED AND IS NEVER USED IN HARSH OR DEMANDING CONDITIONS. PRIMARY USE IS TRANSPORTING FAMILY IN URBAN AREA. THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR SERVICE WORK THAT REQUIRED MANIFOLD TO BE REMOVED. THE MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND EPA ISSUE DUE TO EXHAUST GASES BEING RELEASED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST NEGATIVELY AFFECTING SENSORS AND OTHER VITAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, FOLLOWED BY THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EIGHT MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER WAITING 15-30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AND RUN SMOOTHLY. UPDATED 10/26/11

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOSSES POWER, REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE SUBURBAN TO THE MECHANIC. CHANGE THE MAF, TPS, AIR FILTERS OTHER SENSORS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS POINTED OUT AS PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD A VEHICLE TUNE UP DONE (NEW SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGED, ETC.) THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS HAS BEEN OVER $1000 AND SEEM I WILL BE SPENDING MORE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH SINCE IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K2500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SPORADICALLY FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE 2001 MODEL SUBURBAN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR HIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER A SPAN OF SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,988.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY 2002 SUBURBAN WITH A 5.3L FLEX FUEL EQUIPPED VEHICLE JUST WOULD STALL WITH OUT WARNING AND CAUSE ME TO LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND OTHER ITEM RELATED TO THE ENGINE RUNNING. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN BEFORE BEING ABLE TO RESTART IT. NO CODE WOULD SHOW ON THE ON BOARD COMPUTER AND AFTER LOOKING AT OTHER RECALLS IT POINTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR GOING BAD. I AM GOING TO CHANGE IT OUT IN THE MORNING. I HAVE READ OTHERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE IN THIS YEAR MODEL AND THINK CHEVY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING SUBURBAN ON A LONG TRIP OVER 2 HOT DAYS, ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING ONCE EACH DAY AFTER MANY HOURS OF DRIVING (5 PEOPLE WITH LUGGAGE, NO TRAILER). FIRST DAY OCCURRENCE WAS AFTER DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC WITH MANY STOPLIGHTS BUT SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH AT THE TIME AND QUICKLY LOST POWER AND DIED. SECOND DAY WAS AT SUSTAINED 70+MPH AND QUIT SUDDENLY. BOTH TIMES NEEDED TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF FOR A MINUTE AFTER FAILURES AND RESTARTED ON 2ND TRY AND CONTINUED ON FOR ANOTHER 20+ MILES BEFORE STOPPING FOR THE DAY (FIRST DAY) AND STOPPING FOR DINNER (2ND DAY). FUEL IN GAS TANK WAS HALF FULL ON FIRST DAY AND 3/4 ON SECOND DAY. THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES 2 YEARS PREVIOUSLY ON HOT DAY PULLING TRAILER. *TR

A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HAD NO A/C. AFTER LOOKING UNDER HOOD, FOUND THE BELT HAD SPLIT IN TWO. I REPLACED THE A/C BELT ON A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND AFTER DOING THIS, NOTICED THE BELT TENSIONER WAS RATTLING A GREAT DEAL SO REPLACED IT. WHEN I RECEIVED THE BELT TENSIONER FROM THE PARTS STORE, ENCLOSED WAS A WARNING/ALERT MESSAGE TO REFER TO GM TBS # 03-01-38-019A AFTER REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE A/C COMPRESSOR WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFAULT ON 17 VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS 2002 TO 2004. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHEVY AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AS I NOW WILL NEED TO PAY WELL OVER $1000.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER IF THIS IS NOT FIX BECAUSE HAD THE BELT BROKE WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALSO TAKEN OUT THE SERPENTINE BELT WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVY SUBURBAN, V8 ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AGO MY CAR BEGAN MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHO INFORMED ME I HAD BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPAIR! I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND DEALER SAID IT WOULDN'T HURT CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING. IN JULY OF 2010, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND TOOK IT TO GET REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. $800 LATER I THOUGHT THEY WERE SEPARATE PROBLEMS. I COME TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BOLT ISSUE. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL????? I FEEL DUPED BY GM AND MY GOVERNMENT. *LN

EXHAUST BOLTS BREAKING 0N 2002 SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH 6.0 ENGINE. *TR