VehicleVerdict

2003 Chevrolet Suburban transmission problems

The 2003 Chevrolet Suburban has 22 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 6% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

22

Transmission complaints

6%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Suburban transmission complaints by model year56 complaints1985: 2 complaints1987: 1 complaints1988: 3 complaints1989: 5 complaints1990: 9 complaints1991: 11 complaints1992: 6 complaints1993: 12 complaints1994: 15 complaints1995: 29 complaints1996: 45 complaints1997: 56 complaints1998: 20 complaints1999: 50 complaints2000: 15 complaints2001: 34 complaints2002: 24 complaints2003: 22 complaints2004: 14 complaints2005: 15 complaints2006: 2 complaints2007: 9 complaints2008: 7 complaints2009: 2 complaints2010: 1 complaints2011: 3 complaints2012: 5 complaints2013: 6 complaints2014: 5 complaints2015: 47 complaints2016: 44 complaints2017: 38 complaints2018: 17 complaints2019: 34 complaints2020: 10 complaints2021: 33 complaints2022: 29 complaints2023: 12 complaints2024: 6 complaints
Suburban transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“REVVING OF ENGINE TO POINT OF SCREECHING TIRES. SOMETIMES FEELING OF BEING IN NEUTRAL FOR A SECOND THEN CLUNK IN TRANNY/REAR END? ACTS AS ENGAGEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL INCREASING SPEED, NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE BY HITTING BRAKE. COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING. NEXT TIME PUTTER "LOCKED OUT" TECH'S.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 1, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban have?

NHTSA has 22 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban transmission — 6% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.