Chevrolet Suburban Complaints

9,782 consumer complaints on file.

#11770116October 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is experiencing transmission problems that raise serious concerns about the reliability and potential safety of General Motors transmissions used in trucks and SUVs from this period. When I contacted an independent transmission repair shop to describe the problems, the employee immediately asked whether my vehicle was a 2014–2018 model. When I confirmed it was a 2018 Suburban, she explained that the shop encounters transmission problems in these vehicles regularly. Her familiarity with the issue, before even inspecting my vehicle, was particularly concerning. This is now the second 2018 General Motors vehicle in my household to experience significant transmission problems. My 2018 GMC Sierra previously suffered a complete transmission failure despite remaining substantially below its warranty mileage threshold. General Motors declined financial assistance because the warranty's time limitation had expired. I recognize that these are two separate vehicles and that the mechanical cause of the Suburban's current symptoms has not yet been independently confirmed. However, the recurrence of transmission problems, the repair shop's observations, and publicly reported complaints involving GM trucks and SUVs from this period warrant further investigation. I am concerned that transmission defects could cause unexpected hesitation, slipping, loss of propulsion, or unpredictable shifting, potentially creating dangerous driving conditions. I am not claiming that all these conditions have occurred in my Suburban, but I believe the potential safety implications deserve examination. I request that NHTSA investigate whether these vehicles exhibit recurring transmission defects, review relevant manufacturer technical service bulletins and consumer complaints, and determine whether additional corrective action or a safety recall is warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770213October 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
I experienced a serious brake failure in my 2015 Chevrolet Suburban with 112,500 miles that nearly resulted in a collision. After approximately 90 minutes of driving, I pulled into a parking lot and attempted to stop. Without warning lights or prior symptoms, the brake pedal suddenly became extremely hard to press, and the vehicle nearly failed to stop. I had to stomp on the brake pedal to stop. The same dangerous condition occurred while reversing into a parking space. This created a serious risk of injury to myself and others. The problem appeared primarily at low speeds. After sitting for several hours, the brakes seemed normal again. This intermittent failure is especially dangerous because it occurs without warning. A GM dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed: "Vacuum pump has failed internally causing a stiff pedal at times when pumping brakes. Pump can't build vacuum fast enough to keep up with demand to fill brake booster." The failed component is available for inspection. I discovered GM Special Coverage N182202780 addresses this vacuum pump failure. However, GM refused assistance because my vehicle exceeded the 10-year coverage period, despite having only 112,500 miles. In approximately 2020, I had a GM braking safety recall performed. The dealership reprogrammed the vehicle and installed a thicker brake pedal pad rather than replacing the vacuum pump. Despite this previous recall repair, I experienced the dangerous braking condition. I believe this is a serious safety defect, not simply a warranty issue. A critical braking component should not fail without warning, making the vehicle extremely difficult to stop. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the previous recall remedy was adequate and whether GM's special coverage should be expanded into a safety recall regardless of vehicle age.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769978October 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
My suburban shut off 5 times while turning. Very unsafe given I have 4 children and it could have been while we were driving on the freeway, which could have been fatal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769488October 7, 2026
ENGINE
Radiator was cracked and leaking at 42,000 miles. GM is well aware of the known failure, but has failed to issue a recall
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769371October 6, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Cylinders were misfiring and lifters had to be completely replaced along with pushrod and camshaft. This cost me $7018.64 to fix out of my own pocket. Received the vehicle back, and there was a slight ticking sound that was new to me. Scheduled to bring the vehicle back in and 2 days before I was scheduled to go in and approximately 1000 miles later, the engine completely shut down while I was driving on the road. As I did not know what was going on and I had my newborn baby in the car, I was panicking as I was trying to figure out how to pull over to get out of traffic. Turns out there are now metal shavings in my engine according to the GM certified dealership that I had the work on the lifters done at in the first place. They are now quoting me an additional $13,000+ dollars to completely replace the engine with one that is not even brand new. Highly disappointed and concerned for my family's and I's safety while driving this vehicle. Also, not happy that I apparently need to spend $20K on a vehicle that I have only brought to certified GM dealerships for work on and I have kept in excellent condition.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769107October 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] while driving my 2026 Chevrolet Suburban (VIN [XXX], approximately 2,795 miles) on [HIGHWAY NAME], the vehicle suddenly lost all power without warning. The check engine light came on, all the dashboard warning lights lit up, the 4WD indicator light came on, and the steering wheel wouldn't turn, making the vehicle very difficult to control at highway speed. The instrument cluster also displayed a "Service Transmission" warning and a "Lane Change Alert System Off" message. The myChevrolet mobile app simultaneously reported "Service Now: Engine and Transmission System" and "Antilock Braking System." I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop and shift into Park. There was no crash and no injuries. The vehicle was purchased new approximately one month earlier (September 2026) and had already been serviced once by the dealer (September 21-22, 2026) for an engine oil leak (oil pan seal failure) and a front-view camera/ADAS software issue. A sudden loss of power at highway speed is a serious safety defect. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed for this incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768833October 4, 2026
ENGINE
2023 Chevrolet Suburban, 6.2L L87, included in Recall 25V-274 and NHTSA EA26005. Recall service was performed XXX at 20,259 miles; the engine passed inspection and received the 0W-40 oil remedy. I noticed that the oil level was low after the dealer had serviced the engine so I topped it off. At the next oil change, at 26,297 miles, I observed a metallic sheen in the drained oil and found significant metal debris in the oil filter installed during the recall service. I captured and retained all the oil removed, 8 quarts were captured so there is no evidence of oil consumption. On XXX, at 26,505 miles, I presented the cut-open filter to the dealer (Burns Chevrolet, [XXX]). It was not examined. The dealer changed the oil and filter and instructed me to drive the vehicle 3,000 miles and return for inspection for metal. I am concerned that the vehicle is at risk of the loss of propulsion described in the recall, and that the recall remedy has not prevented ongoing bearing wear. A GM Customer Assistance case is open. The debris accumulated over approximately 6,000 miles on the recall-service oil fill. The dealer technician reported no visible metal in the oil drained on XXX, but did not examine either filter. I am retaining, sealed, the uncut filter the dealer removed on XXX, and the cut filter from the recall-service fill, as evidence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768855October 4, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I work at an express car wash and we have had 3 2026 GMC-Chevy vehicles that have had issues with their antenna covers. There has been proven no malfunction from the car wash, yet, antenna covers are being blown off by the blowers which is potentially air - such as driving down the interstate. Warranty’s are not covering this issue for the customers. I can provide details such as pictures and video footage showing there was no malfunction to my wash, but possibly defective antenna covers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768042September 30, 2026
ENGINE
The fuel pump control module failed, causing the engine to stop.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767765September 29, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2024 Suburban bought brand new. Service Transmission Warning lights up. Been to the dealership shop about this 4 times now. They replaced the TCM with kit, seals, & tranmission fluid. Problem occurred again 200 miles later. Dealership just stringing us along without actually fixing it!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766930September 25, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine failed after the message “Drive Carefully - Reduce Acceleration” was displayed and the vehicle then came to a sudden stop. The vehicle was unable to accelerate, and the engine seized. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a blown engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766657September 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Intermittant slow, jerking when shifting gears. In 4wd rear wheels locked up on right hand turn, sliding through intersection. No warning or failure lights. Needs inspection and repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766420September 23, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light flashing. There was a rumbling sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle started shaking. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with camshaft failure, a misfire in cylinder #6, and a fractured motor mount had caused critical engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was later towed to a service center, and the same diagnostic information was provided, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the rumbling sound persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766088September 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the radio display screen was blank. Additionally, the vehicle turned on and off independently, the doors locked and unlocked independently, and the liftgate closed independently. The contact stated that the power running board failed to operate as needed and failed to activate on the front driver’s and passenger’s sides of the vehicle. The failure had occurred on several occasions. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 68,448.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766143September 22, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the nearest dealer in LIMP Mode. A diagnostic test was performed, and the mechanic discovered that the right engine lifter was damaged; however, 10 days later, the mechanic discovered that the left lifter was also damaged. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. Recently, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the left engine lifter had failed and caused catastrophic engine damage. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle remained with the dealer awaiting the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765614September 20, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
There is a defective paint on my 2016 ltz suburban
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765449September 19, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The drivers side blind zone light illuminates in the mirror when no objects/vehicles are present. The condition happens every time the vehicle is driven since it was purchased new in July 2026. The false alerts occur frequently when driving and render the left (drivers) side alerts completely unreliable and distracting/dangerous for the driver. The vehicle also vibrates the drivers seat when trying to make left-hand turns and lane changes because the blind zone sensor is incorrectly sensing an object is present when there is not. At highway speeds these false alerts are very distracting and unsafe for the driver. The vehicle has also on more than one occasion applied emergency (very abrupt) braking when trying to back the vehicle out of our driveway, with the dashboard indicator showing an object approaching from the left (drivers side) but no object/vehicle/pedestrian is present or approaching. GM has recently issued a Technical Service bulletin about false blind zone alerts that covers some 2026 Suburbans but we are being told our 2026 Suburban is not included. That makes no sense since our vehicle obviously has an issue with false alerts which is very unsafe and if the vehicle is applying emergency braking when no objects are present it is very dangerous and concerning to even drive the vehicle, especially at highways speeds when other traffic is present. GM’s service bulletin acknowledges there is an ‘anomaly’ with some of their blind zone sensors and ALL vehicles exhibiting these unsafe conditions need to be fixed before causing an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765469September 19, 2026
ENGINE
Our Chevy Suburban High Country suffered sudden engine failure resulting in the vehicle to shake and smoke while driving on a busy intersection. The dealership diagnosed internal engine mechanical failure at only 46,000 miles. I believe this is directly tied to the known GM 6.2 L87 engine issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765177September 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2022 Chevrolet Suburban, 3.0L Duramax diesel, 10-speed automatic, purchased March 2022, approx. 122,000 miles. In early August 2026 the transmission began shuddering at low speeds. Reported to the selling and servicing Chevrolet dealer on 08/11/2026 at 118,892 miles. No transmission diagnosis was performed; the dealer's written estimate recommended spark plugs on a diesel engine. The condition worsened. On 09/17/2026 the dealer verified the concern and documented a "very harsh shift which would continue until 5th gear" when accelerating, and found the transmission fluid "heavily contaminated with metal and clutch material." The dealer recommended transmission replacement at customer expense and stated GM Special Coverage N242454441 (transmission control valve wear, companion to Safety Recall 24V-797 / GM N242454440) does not apply because DTC P0747 is not set, although that bulletin lists harsh shifting as an effect of the worn control valve. The control valve body has not been inspected. GM's recall filing states this wear can cause harsh shifting and in rare cases momentary rear wheel lock-up. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the harsh shifting. No crash, fire or injury. The vehicle and transmission are at the dealer and available for inspection; a GM TAC/FSE inspection has been requested. Filing so NHTSA has a record of a 2022 Suburban diesel showing the recall symptom and being denied inspection on the basis of the P0747 code alone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765208September 18, 2026
ENGINE
vehicle SUFFERED AN ENGINE FAILURE, which I believe is same problem as GM SUVs made from 2021 to 2024 for which recall exist . Engine that failed was 6.2L V8 / L87
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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