2003 Chevrolet Suburban Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 3%of 301 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 18,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the seat belts of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban, 3% of the 301 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 18,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“The driver's seat belt failed on my 2003 chevy Suburban lt. From the time I purchased the vehicle new in oct 2003 until the seat belt finally outright failed, I noticed several instances where the seat belt tension locking mechanism would apparently jam and either not release for proper adjustment, or fail to engage and take up extra belt slack. This seemed to self correct for short periods before re-emerging. Finally, the tension mechanism stopped working completely. …”
NHTSA complaint #10152512, filed 2006-03, 23,000 miles“Seat belt straps in the driver's and middle seat in the second row become tight to the point that the passenger must unbuckle the seat belt and reattach as the ride progresses. Also, the middle seat belt has released on a number of occassions sending my daughter flying to the front of the vehicle in her car seat on hard braking. Second, the audio controls behind the center console become extremely hot, even more so when they are in use.”
NHTSA complaint #10039401, filed 2003-09, 9,000 miles“Vehicle: 2003 chevy Suburban crash: as vehicle was slowing down to an approaching intersection with a stop sign (in a neighborhood) speed limit approx 25, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to high rate of speed (cruise control activated) causing driver loss of control, vehicle left the road hitting a mailbox, telephone pole and final impact (t-boned) with a parked ford f150 extra cab pickup truck sitting in a driveway with a lawn trailer attached. Suburban engine continued to accelerate after impact pushing both vehicles (and the trailer) approximately 50 feet. …”
NHTSA complaint #10219340, filed 2008-02, 121,176 miles“My 5 year old child was buckled into the seat belt, he was playing with the seat belt put his legs through the seat belt, he unbuckled the seat belt to untangle and rebuckle, when he unfastened the seat belt the slack went back into the holder, the seat belt being locked would not move until it was completely released , there was no way to release completely since it was around his waist and no way for him to get out, there was not enough slack for him to move, as our fingers would not even fit in between the seat belt and his waist. We had to cut the seat belt to get him out. …”
NHTSA complaint #10131131, filed 2005-08“The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The rotors have been replaced 3 times. The contact had to apply pressure to the brakes in order to stop the vehicles regardless of the driving conditions. The dealer stated that the rotors were corroded at 13,000 miles and replaced them. The failure repeated itself at 18,000 miles. The current mileage was 25,000. The consumer stated wants to be reimbursed for defect repairs and any future repairs due to the defect. The dealer stated recall on seatbelts. Updated 06/26/07”
NHTSA complaint #10189285, filed 2007-04, 13,000 milesRelated recalls
- 05V163000Apr 22, 2005On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion…Covers: Chevrolet Suburban 2003–2005, Silverado 2003–2005, GMC Yukon 2003–2005 +5 more
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 3% |
| 2022 | 6 | 5% |
| 2021 | 7 | 3% |
| 2019 | 5 | 6% |
| 2018 | 5 | 6% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 2% |
| 2015 | 8 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 3% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 9 | 3% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% |
| 2002 | 13 | 5% |
| 2001 | 23 | 5% |
| 2000 | 13 | 5% |
| 1999 | 13 | 2% |
| 1998 | 5 | 2% |
| 1997 | 6 | 1% |
| 1996 | 9 | 3% |
| 1995 | 11 | 2% |
| 1994 | 26 | 3% |
| 1993 | 18 | 4% |
| 1992 | 5 | 3% |
| 1991 | 4 | 8% |
| 1990 | 6 | 11% |
| 1989 | 6 | 10% |
| 1988 | 2 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
91 complaintsElectrical system
81 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsAir bags
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsTires
11 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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