Ownership Cost for 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS
Estimated: $40721 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $1554 | $746 | $652 | $590 | $528 | $4070 |
| Insurance | $1451 | $1502 | $1554 | $1609 | $1665 | $7781 |
| Fuel | $2438 | $2511 | $2598 | $2702 | $2824 | $13073 |
| Maintenance | $2763 | $1965 | $992 | $697 | $2291 | $8708 |
| Repairs | $977 | $1138 | $1298 | $1417 | $1627 | $6457 |
| Taxes & Fees | $426 | $426 | $426 | $426 | $426 | $632 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $9608 | $7910 | $7157 | $7055 | $8991 | $40721 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 1998 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHICH CULMINATES WITH A COMPLETE SET OF REAR DRUMS TO BE REPLACED AT 3 TO 4000 MILE INTERVALS. DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TROUBLE-SHOOTING THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVES THAT THE AXLE FLANGE THAT RECEIVES THE DRUM IS TO SMALL, ALLOWING THE DRUM TO FLOAT WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS CAUSES SEVERE VIBRATIONS FROM THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS SIMILIAR TO A PULSING SENSATION ONLY MORE SEVERE. UPON INSTRUCTIONS FROM GM, THE DEALER ORDERED NEW AXLES AND DRUMS BUT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REPLACEMENT DRUMS FIT ON THE NEW AXLE FLANGE THE SAME, HAVING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH OF SPACE BETWEEN THE DRUM AND THE FLANGE. ON 09/13/00 A GM ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER, AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR DRUMS NEED TO BE REPLACED, A NEW AND IMPROVED BRAKE SHOE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED ALONG WITH A FRONT TO REAR PROPORTIONING VALVE IS TO BE INSTALLED. AT THIS TIME I AM JUST WAITING FOR THESE COMPONANTS TO BE INSTALLED AND AM AT THE MERCY OF GM. I APPRECIATE THE DEALERS FORTITUDE IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT PURSUED ANY LEMON LAW ACTIONS UNTIL THIS POINT. A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME IS HOW THIS PULSING OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM INTERACTS WITH THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING DURING OPERATION ON WET ROADS. WITH BRISK AND FIRM APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES, THE REAR WHEELS WILL MOMENTARILY LOCK UP CAUSING AN UNSETTLING OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE BECAUSE OF THIS BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. MY WIFE AND I ARE NOW EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN OPERATING DURING WET CONDITIONS BUT FEEL THAT WE ARE AT GM'S MERCY. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THOMAS DOWLING |
| 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAS CURRENTLY SPENT OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. HE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES CONCERNING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING, SHAKING, AND ROCKING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING FAILURE, THEY ALWAYS FOUND ANOTHER FAILURE TO REPORT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKED AND HE HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR RECEIPTS. CURRENTLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VIBRATING, AND MISFIRING. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,870 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. |
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