Chevrolet Suburban Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 629 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Suburban across 30 model years. The 2015 model year has the most (48). The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (8% of reports).
- 629power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 26mention a crash
- 15mention an injury
- 11related recalls
- $5,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 52 of 629 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Chevrolet Suburban at $5,800, and half of them between $4,150 and $6,500.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 233 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 629 complaints, 26 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 15 an injury.
Chevrolet Suburban power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 7 | 16% | 23,000 |
| 2023 Suburban | 18 | 14% | 46,300 |
| 2022 Suburban | 32 | 26% | 72,083 |
| 2021 Suburban | 37 | 19% | 76,500 |
| 2020 Suburban | 10 | 23% | 46,600 |
| 2019 Suburban | 38 | 49% | 77,000 |
| 2018 Suburban | 19 | 23% | 98,000 |
| 2017 Suburban | 39 | 28% | 96,000 |
| 2016 Suburban | 45 | 20% | 100,600 |
| 2015 Suburban | 48 | 11% | 89,000 |
| 2014 Suburban | 5 | 8% | 111,725 |
| 2013 Suburban | 6 | 5% | 90,456 |
| 2012 Suburban | 5 | 5% | 75,663 |
| 2011 Suburban | 3 | 2% | 400 |
| 2010 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Suburban | 2 | 2% | 37,847 |
| 2008 Suburban | 7 | 3% | 142,500 |
| 2007 Suburban | 9 | 3% | 79,000 |
| 2006 Suburban | 2 | 9% | 55,000 |
| 2005 Suburban | 15 | 12% | 16,950 |
| 2004 Suburban | 14 | 7% | 39,018 |
| 2003 Suburban | 21 | 7% | 15,750 |
| 2002 Suburban | 23 | 8% | 41,196 |
| 2001 Suburban | 33 | 8% | 54,338 |
| 2000 Suburban | 12 | 4% | 79,950 |
| 1999 Suburban | 47 | 7% | 69,268 |
| 1998 Suburban | 19 | 9% | 72,574 |
| 1997 Suburban | 47 | 11% | 81,500 |
| 1996 Suburban | 40 | 11% | 46,622 |
| 1995 Suburban | 25 | 5% | 236,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (11)
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)Do not drive
Model years: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module:software; power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body
Model years: 2022
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
Risk: Rear wheels that lock up while driving increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252536750. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body; power train:automatic transmission:control module:software
Model years: 2021
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2021
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Risk: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Model years: 2015
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.
Risk: If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14192.
Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines
Model years: 2015
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM ) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Light Duty Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 series and model year 2015 Suburban and Tahoe; GMC model year 2014 Sierra Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 Series and model year 2015 Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (feature code MYC). The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.
Risk: If the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot surface and cause a vehicle fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler line connection and repair the vehicles, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546 or GMC owners may contact GMC at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14121.
Power train:automatic transmission; steering:column locking:anti-theft device
Model years: 2013
Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
Risk: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.
Power train:manual transmission:shift pattern indicator
Model years: 2005
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.
Risk: The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2000
Problem: Some pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles equipped with a hydraulic pump driveshaft that can fracture, resulting in immediate loss of hydraulic power steering assist. On certain vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, the same condition can result in loss of power assist for braking after the reserve pressure is depleted.
Risk: An inoperative pump can cause increased steering effort, and in hydro-boost equipped vehicles also increased braking effort, but does not completely eliminate the ability to steer or slow the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hydraulic pump. The campaign began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 1995
Problem: The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light may not illuminate.
Risk: The vehicle can move unintentionally if the driver does not notice that the indicator light is not on and does not apply the parking brake.
Fix: Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.
Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines
Model years: 1995
Problem: Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.
Risk: This condition can cause transmission oil to sprayonto the exhaust system and result in a possible vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving south on Highway 395 with 2 of my friends on our way home from vacation, which is a 2 lane road in the mountains. About 45 miles north of Victorville, CA. As I was accelerating, my vehicle all of a sudden dropped adaptive cruise control, the engine light started blinking, traction…
Transmission / Electronic Shifter Control While attempting to operate my 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, the vehicle suddenly suffered a complete transmission shift lockout, displaying a critical driver alert on the dashboard stating: "Conditions Not Correct for Shifting." The vehicle actively blocked and…
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…
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.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Suburbans have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 629 owner complaints about power train for the Chevrolet Suburban. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Suburban power train?
Yes: 11 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,800 (half paid between $4,150 and $6,500), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Suburban?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 52 of 629 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Suburban problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (940)
- Electrical System problems (747)
- Air Bags problems (651)
- Service Brakes problems (567)
- Engine problems (531)
- Steering problems (452)
- Structure problems (363)
- Tires problems (325)
See all Chevrolet Suburban problems.