2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 65about this part
- Share
- 37%of 175 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 101,562miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 65 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, 37% of the 175 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,562 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 down ...it's 7 days into my car lease and there promises have been broken and won't trade me another car .”
NHTSA complaint #11083684, filed 2018-04, 170,630 miles“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 stop, the brake pedal continued all the way to the floor and the car did not stop. The mechanic told me that the brake lines rusted and therefore the brake fluid leaked out of the system”
NHTSA complaint #11111983, filed 2018-07, 190,000 miles“Went to stop when traffic stop and felt the brake pedal go to the floor with very little braking power to stop. Had to swerve to miss the car in front. I limped home with very little braking power and when I got home I check the oil resolve, it had almost no oil. Looked under the truck and found a leaking brake line. The line was rusted out.”
NHTSA complaint #10663288, filed 2014-12, 163,000 miles“Was driving with my children in vehicle. As I was approaching intersection, stepped on brake pedal and it went completely to floor. The brakes were not working at all. I had to downshift and use emergency brake in order to avoid collision. Had to have suburban towed.”
NHTSA complaint #10681942, filed 2015-02, 110,000 miles“Was driving behind a school bus when it stopped to let kids off. I applied my brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I had no brakes, I am not really sure how I managed to stop without hitting the bus. I pulled over in a parking lot. Got out of my 2003 chevy suburban went into the bank to call my husband to come get me. By the time I got back out to my truck there was a puddle of brake fluid under the drivers side door. My brake lines where shoot.”
NHTSA complaint #10664731, filed 2014-12, 157,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10242252Aug 18, 2023This technical bulletin provides information and a solution to a condition of Brake Pedal Moves or Self Applies at Full Turns.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 12% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% |
| 2008 | 3 | 3% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 6 | 19% |
| 2005 | 8 | 9% |
| 2004 | 38 | 21% |
| 2003 | 65 | 37% |
| 2002 | 66 | 55% |
| 2001 | 48 | 52% |
| 2000 | 47 | 70% |
| 1999 | 50 | 68% |
| 1998 | 4 | 29% |
| 1997 | 5 | 31% |
| 1996 | 5 | 56% |
| 1995 | 2 | 25% |
| 1994 | 1 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
60 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsTires
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology