10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,909 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #6

Jun 152008

Suburban

  • 13,000 miles
This problem concerns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The seat heater switch, located above the driver's door armrest, turns itself on when the car is operating. The heated seat becomes extraordinarily hot rapidly and it is difficult to turn off - every bump and jar in the road turns the light and the seat back on. The light's location which indicates the operation of the heated seats is difficult to see as well - especially when the sun is strong & I'm wearing sunglasses. Looking down and away from the road and traffic is fairly dangerous. This distraction could easily evolve into an accident as the driver is constantly trying to turn the heated seat off. I have had this item "repaired" once, yet the problem continues. The most memorable moment was trying to drive in a torrential rainstorm on the interstate. I pulled over for safety before I tried to turn off the light. The minute I pulled back onto the interstate, the heated seat turned itself back on and stayed on for the next 250 miles. I know I am not the only person with a 2004 Suburban that suffers from this problem. We have taken the fuse out of the car that controls the heated seats, but that also affects the ability to readjust the seat position for the individual drivers. The heated seat distraction combined with the location of the switch are definitely a safety issue and should be repaired.

- Farmington, AR, USA

problem #5

May 172013

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
1st complaint: After passing a vehicle on a highway (this required the Suburban to go into the passing gear), the Suburban's electrical system and engine automatically shut down right on the highway. I was forced to immediately pull over in order to avoid be hit by passing vehicle. After waiting approximately 5 minutes, the Suburban started up again. We started driving again but again once I tried to accelerate or pass another vehicle the Suburban would shut down again. Auto mechanic has not been able to identify what causes the vehicle to do this. Very frustrating and dangerous if this happens on a busy highway or freeway. 2nd complaint: Cluster panel went haywire. Speedometer stopped working, oil gauge not reading properly etc. Eventually, the entire cluster panel shut down. Had to replace it at a cost of about $500. 3rd complaint: Drivers seat functions and heating mechanisim malfunctioned. The drivers heated seat stopped working and the seat controls malfunctioned. The some of the drivers seat controls stopped working or are reversed. Example; when you push the lever to move the seat forward it goes backward and vis versa. The drivers side heated seat stopped working and it will cancel out the passengers side heated seat. Example; if the passenger side heated seat is selected, it works but once you select the drivers side heated seat it will cancel out the passenger side and the drivers side still doesn't work. Auto mechanic claimed the drivers side heated seat element was bad. Had it replaced at a cost of $300 but still did not solve the problem. The original heated seat element was not bad either.

- Park City , UT, USA

problem #4

Feb 122010

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
2004 Chevy seat heater caught on fire. Called Chevy they won't do anything.

- Fullerton, NE, USA

problem #3

Jun 032009

Suburban

  • 63,326 miles
I was driving on the highway at 60mph with my daughter, when the second row seat (60/40) of my 2004 surburban became unlatched and the seat flew forward. After several attempts I was able to push the seat back to it's locked position. Luckily my daughter was wearing her seatbelt otherwise, she would've injured herself face first on rear of the passenger seat. I contacted Chevrolet, and was notified although this is a safety issue, this repair isn't covered under warranty.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #2

Oct 042008

Suburban

  • 52,341 miles
A short in the wiring that powers the heated seats and power drivers seat. Connector is burned and melted. As a result of the short, my battery has been drained twice. Luckily this was found before a fire or serious injury.

- Fresno, OH, USA

problem #1

Feb 162008

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,789 miles
Power seat on driver's side quit working along with seat warmers on both front seats. Examination found that the electrical feed at the rear of the driver's seat had failed in some manner, causing high resistance in the power and ground circuits which in turn led to arcing and burning of the plastic connector. The amount of damage to the connector and its proximity to carpeting and potential contents in the vehicle raises concerns of a possible interior fire.

- Johnston, IA, USA