Most common 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Suburban 2500 complaints by model year
Best Suburban 2500 years: 2000, 1999, 2008. Years to avoid: 2002, 2001, 2004. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500:
Trailer hitch receiver failure
GM provided additional data regarding allegations of failure of the trailer hitch.odi reviewed that as well as other data provided by peer manufacturers.based on our review, odi finds the need to further investigate this issue.this preliminary evaluation is upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea07-013) for further assessment and study of this issue.
Trailer hitch receiver failure
Complaint reports allege poor weld quality and/or bending of the subject vehicle original equipment trailer hitch receiver.the agency's investigation included analysis of manufacturer and agency incident reports, review of police reports, analysis of the agency's fatal analysis reporting system, a vehicle owner survey, inspection of tow vehicles/hitches and analysis of failed parts.incidents of weld failure were…
What 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 owners say
Engine & cooling all 22 →
I have had several incidents in two weeks that nearly caused serious accidents. I would be driving at various speeds, slow and interstate driving, where the engine would suddenly lose all power and the battery light would come on. I would have to struggle to have the vehicle glide to the service lane without causing an accident. These happened all times of day and all weather conditions and caused hazardous close calls. The vehicle was through diagnostic testing by an independent mechanic found to have a defective crank position sensor. Attached for your information is a copy of the invoice which includes the diagnosis and repairs required. Reviewing NHTSA complaints this is a serious problem that appears to have happened many times in the past which needs to have a NHTSA investigation and recall. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and the brakes would pulsate and increase stopping distance. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 07V521000 (engine and engine cooling) and 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the crank shaft sensor. The vehicle was not repaired for the brake failure. The failure mileage was 113,204. Updated 6/8/15 updated 10/2/2017
Electrical system
I have had several incidents in two weeks that nearly caused serious accidents. I would be driving at various speeds, slow and interstate driving, where the engine would suddenly lose all power and the battery light would come on. I would have to struggle to have the vehicle glide to the service lane without causing an accident. These happened all times of day and all weather conditions and caused hazardous close calls. The vehicle was through diagnostic testing by an independent mechanic found to have a defective crank position sensor. Attached for your information is a copy of the invoice which includes the diagnosis and repairs required. Reviewing NHTSA complaints this is a serious problem that appears to have happened many times in the past which needs to have a NHTSA investigation and recall. …
2002 Chevy Suburban with 8.1l motor randomly shuts down at highway speeds or in traffic without warning which causes loss of steering and braking. I have had 3 separate dealers look at it and the "codes" never reflect what happened. I even read the current NHTSA action pe06016 description to the service tech (as I write this my vehicle is in the shop for "engine losses all power and dies at highway speeds or no start and stalling conditions") and described these exact symptom and he said the codes don't reflect that.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and the brakes would pulsate and increase stopping distance. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 07V521000 (engine and engine cooling) and 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the crank shaft sensor. The vehicle was not repaired for the brake failure. The failure mileage was 113,204. Updated 6/8/15 updated 10/2/2017
The vehicle in question is a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 4x4 Suburban. The vehicle was traveling down the road and without touching the brake pedal the front brakes lock up and the vehicle shakes and is almost uncontrollable to stop. The vehicle is currently at the Chevy dealership. They are replacing the speed sensors in the hubs but they are stating that they have never seen this problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Suburban 2500 rates use caution: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Suburban 2500 at the same age. It is one of the Suburban 2500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500?
The engine & cooling — 22 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (6) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Suburban 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 1999 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 2001 and 2004. See the full Chevrolet Suburban 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.