Automatic Transmission Problems of Chevrolet Suburban - part 2

Transmission shifts hard - need to be replaced for the third time. P1870 error code. This is a common problem according to this site andmany other internet sites. Gm technicians are all familiar and the only fix is to replace the transmission. Gm should be accountable for this - it appears to be a product defect.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

At just over 100000 miles, we lost 3rd gear. This ofcourse happened in traffic going up a hill. I have read several complaints regarding the Suburban transmission. Just wanted to share the warning signs: transmission began to "slip" several days prior to the total loss of 3rd gear. In stop and go traffic situations, when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, truck seemed to slip into neutral. Rpm would rev and after backing off the accelerator seemed to straighten up. However, not long after, vehicle would not shift into 3rd. With an automatic, that leaves very few options when in the middle of traffic. I had manually shift from 1st to 2nd and manually down shift. Luckily, I was not on the highway; I was able to stay below 40mph and drive in 2nd and got it home. Now we are looking for further information that may help levy the cost of fixing the problem. Looks like gm is aware and refuses to recall.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

Consumer states that the vehicle would down shift without warning. Dealer notified.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

I was driving on the highway at 60mph when the vehicle went from 60mph to 30mph all of a sudden. Once I was off the highway the vehicle wouldn't drive over 30mph. I took the vehicle to a local dealer who informed me that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle is maintained properly and the transmission fluid isn't scheduled for changing until 100,000 miles. However, I check it when gasing up. The fluid is never low or burned. So the transmission suffered major mechanical failure before the fluid was even scheduled to be changed. The vehicle has 77,000 miles on it and the manufacture stated they wouldn't replace it. I don't pull trailers or boats with my vehicle. So I beleive there was a flaw with the transmission when it was purchased. When I spoke with other surburban owners with the same model and year they stated that they also had concerns about their transmissions. However, they hadn't yet experienced full system failure as I have. Luckily, when I was on the highway no one was behind me. Had they been that individual or myself could have been injured or killed because the vehicle went from 60 to 30 all of a sudden. I've talked with customer service reps and managers at gm who didn't care about the potential safety hazard on these vehicles even when properly maintained or the fact that thay had a customer who spent 48'000 dollars on a vehicle that would need a new transmission after 3 years.

At 24,000 miles the transmission on our 2002 Suburban failed without warning while driving. It had to be towed to the dealer for a transmission replacement.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

While driving at highway speeds, the overdrive gear would not hold and constantly shifted in and out of high gear. Problem has happened occassionally since the first time. In addition, transmission continues to shift at higher rpm than previously.

See all problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

Consumer states "the service engine soon light illuminated, then vehicle would not shift properly afterwards. Took to dealer and dealer stated that the transmission is not flowing through freely, because of design.

Driving on the freeway on 4 different occasions the "engine service light came on. First time at 52,000 miles in July '01, second time at 55,076 miles in sept. '01, third time at 63,196 miles in June '02 and fourth time at 63,766 miles in July '02. First time it was a transmission code, but transmission performed fine on test drive. Second time unknown code. Third time, no code given. Fourth time transmission code of 1870, internal slippage. We noticed that coming off the freeway after 1/2 hour or so, the transmission shifts abruptly from 1st to 2nd gear. Neither we nor the former owner towed anything with it. We had to get a remanufactured transmission which is good for 50,000 or 3 years.

My 2001 Chevrolet Suburban got in an accident due to parking pawl failure while parked on a sloped surface. Parking pawl is a transmission gear safety locking mechanism that will prevent a vehicle from moving while in park position. I contacted general motors product allegation department to inform about this serious defect. General motors assigned an investigator to gather details and information the investigator submitted all the information and details of the accident to a general motors engineers who will review the cause of the failure of the parking pawl. Initial finding by gm authorized service repair shop, the cause of the failure was the premature wearing of the parking pawl mechanism. From a design standpoint this parking pawl mechanism by no means should not be subjected to any premature wearing. Otherwise, this is a serious and dangerous design error. After several months of review and investigations, gm said they found that it was material defect. The big question now is how many 2001 chevy Suburban was affected by this material defect. Also, gm representative was reluctant to provide me a copy of the investigation results conducted by their design engineers. The parking pawl mechanism failure cannot be detected easily by an average person, unless a thorough investigation will be conducted or an accident will occurred. Also, my 2001 Chevrolet Suburban was discovered by gm authorized service shop that the emergency parking brake was having a premature wearing on the brake pads. This really a very serious and dangerous case for all 2001 Chevrolet Suburban for having a potential emergency brake pad and parking pawl mechanism defect. I am highly suggesting this office to conduct an investigation to avoid a similar fate with firestone case. Because I suspect gm is covering up this defect to avoid massive recalls on all 2001 Chevrolet Suburban.

See all problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

I bought a used 1997 Chevrolet Suburban. It was in excellent-looking shape and low miles. I have had it now for 3 years. I have repeatedly had to have it worked on. I have replaced the alternator, battery, battery cables, and starter; and have had the transmission rebuilt twice. I also had to have the heater core replaced and the radiator worked on. I do not drive that much, and I have my vehicle serviced regularly. It's always needing work. I've had it for sale for a while, but can't sell it for even a small sum.

I would like to request your agency to conduct a thorough investigation about a defective parking pawl on a 2001 chevy Suburban, this parking pawl mechanism supposed to lock the transmission gear to prevent a vehicle to roll or moved while on park position, especially on a rolling hills or sloped parking lot. I am sharing this information for the safety of the general public and consumers who owned a 2001 chevy Suburban, because the vehicle has the tendency to moved while on parked position on a rolling hills or sloped parking lot. This problem cannot be detected easily by an average person. The vehicle need to be inspected at the dealership service shop and have it check for a sign of a worn out of the parking pawl mechanism. This information will benefit current owners of 2001 chevy Suburban that gm is not more than willing to pay any out of pocket expenses will incurred in case of an accident. Unless someone will get seriously injured as case may be. This input was on based on the accident happened on my 2001 chevy Suburban last June 20,2002. The body repair cost of my 2001 chevy Suburban was $4000 plus.

There is a major problem with gm and Chevrolet truck transmissions. Hard shifting is experienced followed by " engine light on panel. A code 0f 1870 is reported when it is serviced. I have had the dealer look at this several times and there appears to be no way to fix it. I have heard of many people paying $3000 for rebuilt trtansmissions and the problem stil is not corrected. Gm has been contacted but will not respond.

Consumer claims that vehicle cannot be repaired because every time she puts it in repair shop for transmisssion problem, and when she picks it up and drives vehicle for about 1-2 days, it does the same thing. Vehicle not have any power.

See all problems of the 1996 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

Jurks into second gear when transmission shifts from first to second intermittently, informed by 4 different mechanics and dealer that this was a common problem.

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

Our Suburban is 3 1/2 years old and just went over the 50,000 mile mark when the transmission went out on it. We have also had problems with the drivers seat coming loose. It was supposedly fixed once but came loose again after about 3 months. I'm concerned that if the car was ever in a crash the seat would not hold.

Hard shift between 1st and 2nd gears; slippage in trans. Producing heat/smell; much metal/debris in bottom of trans. From failing components; manufacturers defect in production/assembly.

Transmission shifts hard between 1st and 2nd gear . Snaps your neck.

Consumers are being ripped off and in danger due to these vehicles. No safety defect.

Transmission shifts very abruptly from gear to gear after car is driven at highway speeds for a length of time (usually 10 miles or more). Dealer has checked the transmission and everything appears fine (no error codes) but continues to have problem. Looks like the ecm is bad but because the codes are not present, no one is willing to diagnose.

The transmission itself didn't fail the housing cracked. I was told by chevy "what did I expect it had over 70,000 miles. I was told by a mechanic that it was a defect.

Transmission problem with my car was evident for close to a year. The car would buck or hesitate when entering into traffic from a stopped postion. It went from occasionally happening to occurring many times a day. It was not acknowledged by the dealers mechanics until they drovethe cawr and it happened to them. I was almost involved in a very serious accident with a tanker truck as I pulled out of a coffee shop parking lot. I had my two young children with me. I went to make a left turn out of the lotand the car moved forward, then hrsitated/bucked and the I could feel the tranmission catch and the car proceeded. Had the tranmission let go, as the mechanics told us was a real possibility, I would have been broad-sised by the tanker truck. And the accident would have appeared to be caused by me for pulling out into traffic. I have talked with other Suburban owners and have heard tothers complain about thetranmission. Please look into this.

Transmission gears were ripped apart - like metal fatigue. Pieces cracked off. Truck was only driven - never used for towing. Mostly highway driving - no offroading. Transmission broke up - manufacturing defect. . . . (tiresize: 265/75r16)( dot number: tire size: 265/75r16 ).

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

Have letter stating that manuf part failed in hub region. No safety defect mentioned in summary.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

While traveling on highway for an hour soon after making a stop vehicle shift gears hard from one to another. Dlr has been notified.

Driving 65 mph and towing a boat on interstate when transmission "went out" (under 50,000 miles) almost causing collision. Employee of dealership advises gm has had problem with transmissions overheating but no recall or service bulletins. Purchased new transmission with supposedly "corrected" problem. Need help to see if gm will help cover any costs with problem they were aware of.

This vehicle was used as a passenger vehicle, never pulled anything more than a small trailer with riding mower, or dirt bikes. It was not used to plow snow or off road. It was a large family sedan that was used on the highway day in and day out. No safety defect listed in summary.

When shifting gear into park transmission went into reverse. Problem happened on a random basis. Dealer says that nothing is wrong with the vehicle.

Equipped with a tow package while pulling a trailer, the rear end goes out and the gears lock up. Then vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may result in a crash. Dealer cannot determine the cause. Please provide further information.

No summary.

Chevrolet did not pay for any of the repairs. They offered to pay half, when I did not accept , they withdrew the offer. At the time my vehicle was in the shop there were 3 others in for the same problem. They all had to have the transmissions replaced. I believe there is a definite problem with the transmissions they have put in these vehicles, and they are not standing behind them. My vehicle has always been properly serviced by Chevrolet, and it has not been abused. I feel that these vehicles should be recalled and Chevrolet have to fix them.

No summary.

Transmission needed to be replaced / warranted after literally exploding. There is no other brand to choose from for this size and style vehicle. Please investigate gm's warrantee ratio of this particular component and, if applicable, demand they upgrade to a "heavy duty" truck caliber component.

The owner's manual states that you don't even need to change the transmission fluid until 50,000. (and then, only if you pull loads or drive in the mountains. ) why should we have to replace the transmission at 50,000. The dealer led us to believe that the transmission and heavy engine were covered to 100,000. Boy, were we gullible.