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Air bagsPart report

2002 Chevrolet Suburban Air bags Problems

Complaints
12about this part
Share
4%of 286 total for the year
Median mileage
68,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, 4% of the 286 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,000 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was hit on the head inside my 2002 Suburban, wearing my seat belt at 48 MPH by an oncoming mazda miata. My steering column collapsed, I went into oncoming 3 lanes of traffic, went up a curb, went through a brick retaining wall, and hit a telephone pole. My airbag did not deploy on any of the 3 impacts. Why? Also, my driver?s seat came off the track.”

NHTSA complaint #10041031, filed 2003-10, 20,000 miles

“On sunday, march 20, 2005, a distracted driver failed to notice a red traffic light and slammed into my 2002 Suburban at 40-45 MPH as I drove through an intersection in my hometown. My vehicle took a direct, ferocious hit on the driver's-side front door, but the side-impact air bag did not deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #10114832, filed 2005-03, 72,000 miles

“I purchase a 2002 chevy Suburban on 7/2/05 in delaware county from a dealership. We drove the car to our house in montgomery county and the car didn't move from the house until 7/4/05. On 7/4/05 my fiance drove the car to work and the tire exploded from the left front of the car on the way. The car hit the barrier on the right side and bounced off and then proceeded to hit the left side barrier were it came to a stop. The tire was not recoverable. Also the air bag never deployed. The accident happen going north on 309 in bucks county on a straight uphill gradient. …”

NHTSA complaint #10166405, filed 2006-08, 49,149 miles

“Brake pedal failed to release cruise. Brakes failed altogether causing brakes to go to the floor, subsequently vehicle had to be driven off road toward traffic bringing about loss of control of vehicle causing crash into another vehicle on highway and hitting a telephone pole. Vehicle was totaled.”

NHTSA complaint #10127611, filed 2005-07, 117,000 miles

“The consumer was involved in an accident. The consumer was driving about 60 MPH and rear ended another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. Also the seat belts did not hold the driver and passenger causing them to go forward into the windshield. Provide further details.”

NHTSA complaint #10108747, filed 2005-01, 58,000 miles

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202412%
202322%
202243%
202163%
202025%
201923%
201845%
201743%
201663%
2015113%
20141525%
20132824%
20122525%
20116645%
20105244%
20093836%
20089645%
200714650%
2006313%
2005108%
2004136%
2003186%
2002124%
2001205%
200072%
1999142%
199842%
199782%
1996164%
1995184%
199211%

Other parts of the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban

Brakes
127 complaints
Fuel system
27 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
23 complaints
Steering
22 complaints
Tires
18 complaints
Engine cooling
16 complaints
Seat belts
13 complaints
Electrical system
10 complaints
Other or unknown
9 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaints
Vehicle speed control
8 complaints
Wheels
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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