Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Chevrolet Suburban - part 1

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 control errored, and I got a service esc message on the dash. I let off the gas a little and everything seemed fine but when I reapplied pressure to the gas pedal the engine started making a loud ticking sound and had barely any propulsion. I had to keep going and was luckily able to find a safe place to pull off the road (which had many blind curves and minimal shoulder space along the highway). Had there not been a safe place to pull over before the engine completely died we could have been hit by any of the many semi trucks traveling on that road. After waiting 2 hours for a tow truck and having the vehicle towed to the Chevrolet dealer in victorville, I was provided a small SUV rental vehicle to drive the remaining 150 miles home while I left my 2023 Suburban high country for them to disassemble. When I called the next day they verified there was a rod bearing failure inside the engine and they were submitting to gm for engine replacement. There were no symptoms before the engine failure happened.

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Driving our 2024 Suburban, 6. 2 l engine, on a 2-lane highway in southern utah, traveling on cruise control at 70 mph, felt 2 hesitations (jerking movement), and turned off cruise control. Immediately after, heard knocking/thumping sound in the front of the vehicle, followed by a whining sound that got louder. Immediately found a turn-off from the highway, pulled in, and engine died while vehicle was still in motion. Attempted starting again and would not start. People stopped to help us and tried to jump vehicle without success. Suburban was towed to a chevy dealership and we were told the Suburban's engine seized. In researching this issue, we came across NHTSA's investigation case ea26005. Our VIN does not fall in to this recall.

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Tuesday October 6th, 2026, I dropped my 2 children off at school and was driving on the highway to work through heavy traffic when I had a suddenly loud knocking coming from my car, transmission not wanting to shift properly, high rpm’s for extended periods of time. I was able to safely make it to the dealership with about 10 minutes, where it was determined l87 engine failure had occurred. I am sickened that this vehicle is advertised as a family vehicle, knowing the engine failure issues!.

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).

The fuel pump control module failed, causing the engine to stop.

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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.

Sudden loss of power & shaking: the misfire itself causes a drastic drop in acceleration. If you are merging onto a highway or trying to pass another vehicle, the sudden loss of power can leave you stranded in the path of oncoming traffic. No stability assistance: because stabilitrak and traction control are automatically disabled, the vehicle loses its ability to correct for skids, fishtailing, or hydroplaning. In rain, snow, or emergency swerving maneuvers, a heavy SUV becomes much harder to control. "limp mode" (reduced power): to prevent the unburned fuel from a misfire from destroying the expensive catalytic converters, the vehicle may force itself into a "reduced engine power" or "limp" mode. This limits your top speed (often to around 30 mph), which is highly dangerous if you are in the fast lane of a highway. Violent transmission shifting: to protect the drivetrain from the erratic power dips of a misfiring engine, the vehicle's computer will maximize transmission fluid pressure. This causes the Suburban to shift gears incredibly hard, which and feel as though the transmission is exploding.

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The vehicle experienced an initial incident of significant engine power loss while traveling at highway speeds approximately two weeks prior to the eventual complete engine failure. During that incident, the vehicle unexpectedly lost engine power while traveling at speeds exceeding 65 mph. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, a second incident occurred within approximately one-half mile of leaving my residence. The vehicle again experienced a significant loss of engine power. I had already notified the dealership of the this occurrence and had a scheduled appointment for repairs the following day. I was attempting to drive the vehicle to the dealership as planned. Shortly after leaving my neighborhood, I stopped at a nearby gas station after the vehicle displayed a "low oil pressure" warning on the dashboard. I also subsequently received an email notification from onstar identifying diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0016. The vehicle was then driven again and subsequently experienced a catastrophic and complete loss of engine power while traveling at highway speeds above 65 mph. Following this failure, the engine would not turn over or crank and the vehicle could not be restarted. The sequence of events is significant because the vehicle had previously experienced engine power loss at highway speeds, the dealership had been notified of the initial incident, and the vehicle was being driven to the dealership for its scheduled repair appointment when the second power-loss event occurred. The vehicle subsequently suffered complete engine failure. I am documenting these events, including the dates, circumstances, dashboard warning, onstar diagnostic notification, and sequence of failures, for purposes of establishing the history of the vehicle's mechanical problem and the circumstances leading to the catastrophic engine failure.

Engine locked up, need engine replaced. We already satisfied the recall with the 0w-40 oil update.

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.

Another 6. 2 liter engine failure in a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban that is not included in the original recall affecting 2021 Suburbans starting March of 2021 this on was purchased in Dec. Of 2020.

While driving down a two-lane blacktop road at 70 mph (the posted speed limit) the engine, a 6. 2 l l87 with a little over 15,000 miles, grenaded and seized. At the time I recall a warning message that said something like "engine shutdown". Fortunately the electronic transmission self-shifted into neutral so the car could coast to a stop. Had it not done this a loss of control would have been likely at this speed. The vehicle was towed to the local Chevrolet dealer in bozeman, montana (resseler Chevrolet) where it was confirmed the next day the engine had seized. The dealer is currently replacing the seized engine with a replacement long block. The dealership currently has the engine and is planning to ship it back to Chevrolet or gm for tear down and inspection. They are also replacing the radiator and all coolant hoses as a precaution. Two weeks prior I took the vehicle to the same Chevrolet dealer complaining that on one day the engine shut off four times within 1 mile. Each time it displayed a warning message that said "restart engine", which it did each time. I also complained about a ticking noise that began in the engine at 12,000 mile. The dealer reported that the engine sounded fine and that they could not reproduce the engine shutting off on its own. This engine was not part of the large l87 recall. At time of purchase I was told by the selling dealer (kendall Chevrolet in maryville, washington) and the local dealer (resseler) that the engine was assembled after assembly line procedure were put in place to avoid the same issues as the recall engine. I've been and engineer for 46 years. The problem with this engine is not the assembly line, it is the never before used tight moving component tolerances and the water thin oil demanded by the manufacturer. The design shortcomings are compounded by systems such as cylinder deactivation and auto stop that significantly acceleration engine component wear.

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal knocking sound was heard coming from the engine compartment, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and parked. While reversing out of the driveway the following day, the engine seized, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,800.

Operating vehicle as usual, in drive, when engine spontaneously turned off. Alerted by system to "push button to start again" and put me in neutral. Extremely dangerous while the vehicle was in motion. This is the exact same thing I read about in a 2025 recall of 2021-2024 model year Suburbans and other vehicles. Mine is a 2022 Suburban.

Initial indicators lead to engine failure as a result of defective part internal to the engine.

Engine had a catastrophic failure and completely shut off while driving down the highway. The engine has completely seized and requires replacement. The vehicle was towed to an independent service shop and the technician diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.

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This an addendum to my original submission. Took my 2024 chevy Suburban the the dealership xxx, my engine making unusual noises. Due to the severity of the sounds vehicle was towed to dealership in [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

This vehicle has been towed approximately 7 times in the last year. For all instances in [xxx] in 2025, the dealership told us there were no issues. The completed the recall on the l87 and it 'passed'. The dealership then updated the oil to 40w and sent us on our way. We continued to have issues, but it was deemed to be the transmission. We had that relaced earlier this year. On xxx the car shut off again while driving on a highway. Upon this dealership taking a look at it, they have determined the engine has locked up for reasons under the l87 recall. I wanted to note this with the NHTSA as the recall was completed, but later found that it was not actually corrected through their guidance within the recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While exiting the highway my vehicle suddenly lost power and could not move. I could not put the vehicle in neutral. The engine had completely seized. As a result, my car got hit by a semi-truck.

On 5/28/25 the vehicle was on the interstate and presented a check engine light. Shortly after getting off the interstate the vehicle limited speed. This was taken to the dealership and they replaced the #6 injector. This vehicle was identified as having a left bank tick on 11/18/22 by the dealership but could not be duplicated by the mechanic. On 5. 8. 23 the #8 injector was replaced due to code and the vehicle vibrating at low rpm and at stops both in park and in drive. On 5/28/25 the #6 injector was replaced due to code and rough idle. They also replaced all spark plugs. On 12/29/25 the #8 injector was replaced again due to rough idle and code. On 6. 23. 26 the vehicle was again taken to the dealership due to rough idle. Nothing was done. On 8/18/26 the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a rough idle again. The dealer found no codes but wanted to change the oil to troubleshoot. I allowed it telling them changing the oil would not correct the misfire. Even though the misfire was present after the oil change the shop foreman would not troubleshoot further due to no code displayed. I purchased a scanner and found 81 misfires on cylinder 7 for the current cycle.

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Operating vehicle normally until one day I heard a rattling noise from the engine compartment. Car had limited speed and I had to pull over to check what the issue was and the car wont start. No check engine lights, no warning. Tried turning car on but only the car starter keeps rolling. Tried jumping and it doesnt start and had to have it towed to the dealership. Car is under 55,000miles and dealer diagnosis indicates there are metal particles in the new oil after replacing oil and a loose bearing. States I will need a new engine, which is on back order and gm will only cover $44/day until repair is complete. All maintenance and oil change invervals were kept up to date. Other days when I start the car, the main hud with the speedometer does not turn on. Pitch black. . . I can drive but not know what my speed is. I had to disconnect battery and reconnect to clear the issue. It has happened several times.

Car died in middle of nowhere at high speeds.

Radiator was cracked and leaking at 42,000 miles. Gm is well aware of the known failure, but has failed to issue a recall.

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.

While driving, suddenly began hearing loud knocking noise and lost most power. Was able to get vehicle off road, where it stopped, and had trouble starting again. Towed to dealer. Diagnosed issue as spun rod bearing.

My engine was initially part of the 6. 2l v8 engine recall. The dealer cleared my engine after inspecting it and told me my engine was not affected, but that I had to use corvette engine oil. After my 3rd corvette engine oil change, and two days after having it serviced and getting an all clear inspection from chevy, the engine blew while going 70 mph on the highway. No warning lights. I looked down at my dash and there was a gray box that said “engine oil pressure low, turn engine off”. By the time I checked my side and rear view mirror I could see clouds of white smoke and other cars flashing me with their headlamps. I was traveling by myself with 4 small children through a very bad part of town. It was frightening. Thankfully we were able to safely pull over and have it towed to chevy where they confirmed that the engine was blown. Chevy gave me a false sense of security when they told me my engine was not affected. I would never have put my family at risk had I known it was a ticking time bomb.

On August 7, 2026, while driving a rental vehicle in the denver, colorado area with my family, including two young children, the vehicle unexpectedly lost engine power while traveling downhill. The engine shut off, resulting in a significant reduction in brake assistance and creating an extremely dangerous situation. We were able to bring the vehicle to a stop without a collision or injury. After restarting the vehicle, the check-engine light illuminated. The vehicle was no longer considered safe to operate and ultimately required towing by the rental operator. The exact mechanical cause is unknown. I do not know whether the vehicle was subsequently inspected or repaired by a qualified service center, and I do not have access to its diagnostic or maintenance records. After the incident, I discovered that another renter had reported a substantially similar failure involving the same vehicle approximately one week earlier, including engine problems and a check-engine warning. I have since discovered an additional report of an engine-related issue involving this vehicle after my rental. Despite these recurring reports, the vehicle appears to remain available for rental to the public. I am concerned that this vehicle has a recurring, potentially unresolved defect involving engine shutdown or loss of power while driving. Such a failure creates a serious collision risk, particularly on hills, at highway speeds, or in traffic. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this vehicle's repeated failures indicate a broader engine, electrical, or powertrain safety defect. The vehicle remains in the possession or control of the rental operator and may be available for inspection. I can provide supporting documentation of the reported incidents.

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There is a safety recall on gm’s 6. 2l v8 l87 engine model years 2021-2024. My vehicle is a 2020 Suburban with a 6. 2l v8 l87 engine. My engine recently experienced the same failure as cited in the recall, but because it is outside the 2021-2024 window it is not covered by this recall. I ask that the recall be expanded to additional years where these engines are experiencing the same failure as is covered by the current recall.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle with the push-to-start button, the engine failed to turn over. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband was notified of dtc: p129f, which was diagnosed by the onstar app. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective fuel control module. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired out-of-pocket. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with general motors emissions recall: n252516900; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

Had the recall service done , where they change the oil weight, to the 6. 2 l engine and just a few months later the engine died while driving on the highway . It just stopped running. The car is only 3. 5 years old and the engine died. They took it apart and said it was a non effected part that failed but I find that crazy. No warning just complete shut down. I was luck and only going about 30 mph on the highway due to heavy traffic. But then needed to sit on the highway for hours weighting for a tow. The kicker is the car would not go into neutral and made everything so much harder.

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot at a low speed, the engine shut off without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure, which was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle remained at the dealer for approximately three months before the engine was repaired. The contact stated that while driving recently, the vehicle hesitated upon depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the recent failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban used to tow a 30-foot trailer. The contact stated that while towing the trailer and driving 60 mph up an incline with no shoulder, the vehicle shut off in a remote area. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brakes and power steering features became inoperable. The vehicle shifted to neutral without driver input. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A hauling company was contacted to tow the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

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.

Oil pressure acting weird. We checked the oil and there were only 2 quarts of oil in truck. I just had an oil change 3 weeks ago. No oil leaks. Engine must be burning oil for some reason.

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While coming to a stop on a highway, the engine started running very rough, shaking the vehicle constantly, and the check engine light came on and the esc failure notice came on. We brought it to an independent repair shop that ran diagnostics and recommended the vehicle needed a new engine and should not be driven for risk of it seizing. They introduced us to the fact that there was a gm recall on this particular engine and production year. Upon taking the vehicle to the local chevy dealership, they suggested that we first repair a failed cylinder lifter, but that there may also be crankshaft issues, but that it would be costly to determine this for sure and that it was likely more cost effective to replace the whole engine than approach the repairs in order. They also confirmed our VIN was not part of the recall so the replacement engine would be our responsibility. We had the engine replaced back at the independent repair shop. Given the recent recall expansion, I wanted to submit this, as it seems that a broader number of vehicles within the production years of this engine should be considered included in this recall.