Power Train 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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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 refused engagement into reverse gear. A diagnostic scan revealed (p0776) transmission solenoid and hydraulic control codes, and the Chevrolet owner's application triggered a "service engine/transmission" warning. This issue is identical to the widespread, known manufacturing defect involving premature wear of the 10-speed transmission control valve body. General motors has already acknowledged this severe defect by issuing a major safety recall and extended warranty program (campaign n242454440 / n242454441) due to internal fluid pressure drops that can cause sudden rear-wheel lockup or an abrupt loss of motive power. Safety hazard: the sudden and unpredictable failure of the electronic shifter and transmission control modules to authorize or maintain gears poses an extreme, unreasonable safety hazard. An unexpected loss of gear engagement—or a sudden command lockout while operating the vehicle in a roadway, intersection, or active traffic pattern—leaves the driver completely unable to maneuver out of harm's way, drastically increasing the risk of a severe rear-end or side-impact collision. Request for action: although general motors currently limits their safety recall and special coverage campaigns for this valve body defect to the 2020–2022 model years, my 2023 model utilizes the exact same transmission architecture and is exhibiting the identical component failure. I am urging the NHTSA to initiate an engineering analysis / recall query to force general motors to expand their safety recall parameters to include 2023 vins before these component failures result in catastrophic highway accidents or injuries.

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.

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My 2023 Chevrolet Suburban rst equipped with the 6. 2l v8 engine has developed serious transmission and drivetrain issues following an engine replacement performed under a gm recall approximately one year ago. Shortly after the engine replacement, the transmission began exhibiting unusual shifting behavior. The dealership advised that the transmission needed to reset or relearn its shifting patterns. However, approximately 10,000 miles later, the problems have continued and become increasingly concerning. The vehicle now shifts extremely hard when engaging drive or reverse and experiences harsh, abrupt shifts while driving. More concerning, the rear wheels have appeared to lock up unexpectedly on multiple occasions at low speeds, creating a dangerous situation where the driver could lose control of the vehicle or be struck by another vehicle. I reported these problems to the Chevrolet dealership, but I was informed that they could not reproduce the issue or identify any diagnostic trouble codes. Despite these serious symptoms, the underlying problem remains unresolved. I am concerned that this may be a transmission, torque converter, transmission control module, or drivetrain defect affecting other gm vehicles equipped with similar powertrains. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these potentially dangerous failures, particularly the unexpected drivetrain locking and severe transmission engagement issues, before they result in a serious accident or injury.

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.

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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.

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.

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

The transmission shutter and hesitates while downshifting.

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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.

The transmission failed suddenly and without warning. When I went to pull out from a stop sign with cross traffic doing 55 mph, the vehicle shuddered and stopped pulling. We barely had enough momentum to get out of the way of oncoming traffic at the last second. The oncoming traffic had to brake and honked. After reading online, this is a common issue with the 6l80 transmission torque converters being a failure point and the fluid temperature being too high. Gm has a service bulletin for a lower temp bypass valve but there is no recall and these units are failing by the tens of thousands.

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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.

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.

I bought this vehicle in August 202 from bayway Chevrolet in pearland, texas. The vehicle is now at 101,703 miles. The vehicle is a 2019 chevy Suburban lt with the 8l43 transmission. Approximately 1 year ago, we started to have issues with the electronic screens - both the dashboard and the radio screen. The screens freeze, change channels and displays without any buttons being pressed or the screen being touched. Due to cost, we have not had this repaired yet, however our usual mechanic has said that he sees this issue all the time in Smart technology vehicles. The transmission, on July 23rd, we were going to a family dinner and the vehicle started shifting hard and making a clanking noise. We turned around and went straight home. The next morning we took the vehicle to our mechanic who said the motor mounts were broken and a tune-up was needed. We got the vehicle back on Monday, 7/27. Tuesday the 28th, I drove about 100 miles for work and noticed the vehicle was making a whining sound from the transmission. Took it to mechanic, by the time we drove about 2 miles to the mechanic, the entire transmission was completely broken. We now have to pay $5402. 19 to rebuild the transmission at only 101,703 miles. I know gm is under a lot of scrutiny with the transmission issues right now and I believe my transmission is another one of those affected.

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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? (on our 2021 gasoline suburgan, the rear wheels locked up at free-way speeds, which nearly caused a possibly fatal accident. The lock released but it appears the strain caused rear differential gear teeth to break and the rear differential now needs to be replaced for the vehicle to operate properly. ) how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? (the sudden rear wheel lockup at freeway speeds resulted in temporary loss of control of the vehicle and significant surprise to the driver, who, after swerving into the adjacent lane was able to gain control of the steering and stop the vehicle. Had there been another vehicle in the other lane the mva could have been fatal for 9 people in the Suburban and any other vehicle involved. ) has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? (the rear differential damage was confirmed by a dealer. ) has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? (no. ) were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? (no warning or messages. This has happened 3 times over 3 years, always on extended trips 9-12 hours in duration. The first two times nearly caused an accident but no differential damage. This third time, the differential was immediately damaged due to the incident. We have since learned that this is an issue with 2022 Suburbans, for which a recall has been issued. A recall has also been issued for 2021 diesel Suburbans. However, no recall has been issued to gasoline 2021 Suburbans, but apparently needs to be. ).

Just for information purposes, I have been an ase certified master automotive technician for 30 years. As I was accelerating onto the highway, my transmission downshifted hard, throwing everything forward. It then went into limp mode with “ses” light on. I was able to drive it home stuck in one gear. The next morning I tried to drive the truck. It had reverse but when trying to go forward, the transmission was stuck in between gears and fighting itself. I manually shifted into low gear and it seemed to clear up the binding. I drove the truck up and down my driveway which is about a half mile long. No more “ses” light but when I went to park it, there was no movement in reverse. As I researched the problem I found the recall information on the valve body. I called several dealerships to find a service writer that had experience with these transmission issues. The truck was towed to a dealership that knew about this recall. Their technician checked for codes but there were none. It seems these trucks reset or “lose” codes when the ignition is turned off. He checked the fluid and decided that the reverse clutch must be burned up. They quoted a transmission replacement at $6500. I asked if they had driven the truck forward at all to reset any trouble codes. The truck was “unsafe” to drive due to the random harsh downshift and erratic behavior. I went there(putting myself in danger) to drive the truck to reset any trouble codes. Within a mile the truck did the same thing. It stored a code p2732. I was informed that gm would not do anything for me unless there was a p747. After reasoning with the service manager and also gm, it was obvious I was out of luck. I had the truck towed home and removed the transmission pan. The fluid was clean and there was no debris. The problem is in the defective valve body from gm but since it didn’t have the code p0747 I’m stuck having to repair it myself. The truck has 126k miles still well within the extended service range.

Component: the 10-speed automatic transmission failed on 6/29/26, locking the vehicle completely in neutral. The neutral override could not be disengaged even by dealership technicians. Vehicle is currently at [xxx] Chevrolet, [xxx] and is available for inspection. Safety risk: I have 3 young children who are regular passengers. The failure occurred without warning. Had it happened at highway speed in oncoming traffic, I would have had no ability to move the car — creating a direct risk of a serious or fatal collision. Confirmed by dealer: yes. Don hewlett Chevrolet received the vehicle on 6/30/26 and confirmed the failure is directly related to two active federal recalls: NHTSA #24v-797 (10-speed transmission valve body failure/wheel lockup) and NHTSA #22v-036 (driveshaft assembly/loss of propulsion). Vehicle has been unrepaired for 13 days with no timeline provided. Other inspections: vehicle has been in possession of don hewlett Chevrolet since 6/30/26. No manufacturer representative, police, or insurance inspection has occurred. Warning signs: none. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms appeared before the failure. The power train locked suddenly and completely without any prior indication on 6/29/26. Despite the dealer confirming this is recall-related, they have indicated I may owe partial repair costs. Under 49 u. S. C. § 30120, gm must remedy recalls at no charge regardless of mileage or warranty. I am requesting NHTSA investigate both the failure and gm's attempt to charge the owner for federally mandated recall repairs. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly came to a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to accelerate, and the vehicle drove sluggishly as if the tires were flat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission and motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

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The vehicle was shaking and shuddering when trying to maintain highway speeds. Would have to slow down to maintain safety. The dealership advised the transmission needs replaced however we are seeing this is a widespread problem that gm has refused to admit fault for.

The failure involved the transmission valve body control valve within the automatic transmission system of the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, a critical component responsible for regulating hydraulic pressure and controlling gear shifting. The malfunction caused erratic and unreliable shifting behavior, including hesitation, harsh engagement, and loss of proper acceleration; the failed component is in the custody of northside chevy in san antonio, TX. This issue created a significant safety risk, as the unpredictable transmission response impacted the driver’s ability to accelerate when necessary (merging onto high traffic roads) and increased the likelihood of dangerous situations like rear-end collisions or loss of control. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Chevrolet dealer, where diagnostic testing identified faults in the transmission control system and verified the failure through performance testing and fault codes. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership service department, though it has not been directly examined by the manufacturer, law enforcement, or insurance representatives; however, documentation of the diagnosis is being withheld by the dealership. Prior to the failure there were no warning signs present. Only after failure did the check engine light illuminate, transmission-related warning messages, and noticeable symptoms such as hard shifting, delayed engagement, and slipping, which appeared shortly before the complete failure and significantly worsened over the three-mile drive to the dealership.

2021 chevy Suburban started to have harsh shifting particularly on acceleration and shuddering at higher rates of speed (feeling like you are driving over a rumble strip). I took it to the dealer, and they confirmed the torque converter was in the process of failing. It's currently in the shop getting a new torque converter. No warning messages/lights had yet appeared. Technician at dealer stated that this was a common failure with this model.

Transmission malfunction. This has appeared several times at highway speeds and low speeds. Driver to limp along in the slow lane to exit ramp and take back roads to get back to base. The current problem has been confirmed with error codes p0747. Check engine light comes on with a screen prompt “reduced acceleration drive with care”.

Unknown transmission issues mentioned in other recalls for same period/make model as listed yet my VIN was not, as a mother 4 little ones I need my vehicle to perform as it was design to, the cost for this repair is over 6,000. 00 I have already invested over 40,000 since I brought it. I feel they ought have included my car on this recent recall they had to have known this problem was of their why else would there recalls. I still must pay monthly for a vehicle that does perform as it should. This impacts my ability to provide for the needs of my children. I hope relief is on the way.

My husband was driving our 2018 chevy Suburban when it suddenly stopped accelerating and he could no longer shift gears. Luckily, this happened while he was driving down a gravel road (approx 25-30mph). If he would have been driving at highway speeds, it is likely that he could have lost control of the vehicle. Our Suburban had no issues to this point and had always run well. We take it in for routine maintenance. We had it towed to a local repair shop, and they informed us that something had happened with the transmission and that it would need to be replaced. I have found several gm transmission recalls and our situation sounds similar to reference n252536750. Again we had no warning signs and had been experiencing no issues with our vehicle. If this had been something that we had been noticing problems and hadn't gotten it looked at, I can understand that maybe this had been something on going for a while that we had just missed maintenance on. However, for the transmission to stop so suddenly, I believe there must be some sort of larger failure in the transmission system.

The vehicle would jerk when changing gears and would have a rattle and vibration when accelerating.

See all problems of the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

The transmission of the 2021 Suburban failed. While operating the vehicle down a state highway, out of nowhere the power was reduced significantly while in traffic. It would not go over 30 mph after forcing itself to 30 mph while driving down the busy highway. After struggling to find a safe place to park, the vehicle would not, and still will not, go into reverse. There were no warning lights of any sort prior to this incident. Now there are several warning lights. The vehicle has been towed and taken to a repair shop with current unknown diagnostics as we are waiting our turn for the vehicle to be diagnosed. This vehicle has a transmission that is currently under class action for gm knowingly selling defective transmissions.

With out any warning engine shake and running roughly loud engine noise more than ticking and losing power with reduce speed.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally while shifting into reverse(r) or drive(d). The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted while attempting to drive. The contact also stated that the vehicle was put into limp mode several times. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect in the vehicle’s transmission system. While driving, the vehicle began experiencing severe vibrations, accompanied by an abnormal increase in engine rpms, while the vehicle failed to accelerate appropriately. The vehicle became unresponsive, limiting my speed to 15-20 mph. This forced me to make frequent stops every 6-7 minutes to allow the transmission to cool down, as the car would not sustain normal speeds. ?this failure created an extremely dangerous situation on the highway. Due to the sudden loss of power and inability to maintain traffic flow, I was subjected to aggressive behavior from other drivers, who were honking, gesturing, and clearly endangered by my inability to accelerate. This transmission failure is a major safety hazard that renders the vehicle unreliable and dangerous to operate in any traffic condition. I am requesting an immediate investigation into this transmission defect and a permanent resolution from general motors, as this issue poses a significant risk of causing a collision. I spoke with the owner of aamco, and he showed me that they have 7 of these chevy Suburbans, GMC yukons, and chevy tahoes, escalades, and they all have the same problem, the transmission needs to be replaced, and general motors is not notifying car owners about this problem, but it should.

2025 Chevrolet Suburban high country. Vehicle is parked in my garage. Went out in the am and the engine only cranks, will not start. Called on star for roadside assistance. Sent a tow truck, the vehicle could not be towed due to the electronic transmission. There is no way for an owner to place the transmission in neutral. Vehicle is stuck in my garage. Gm customer service referred me back to roadside assistance who for the second time stated that they could not help me. This is a serious issue. The fact that the transmission can not be shifted into neutral unless the engine is running is a very serious safety concern. Called gm helpline a second time. They said that I should call for a tow on my own. Waiting for the selling dealer to call me back. Vehicle is currently stuck in my garage and gm does not care.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban 🔎.

Transmission faulty, loud, clunky and hard shifting! service transmission now alert and code p0747.

Having reviewed online your safety recall number n252536750, I am experiencing the same issue (right rear wheel occasionally locks when starting from a standstill and turning right). It only lasts about 1 or 2 seconds while accelerating. However, when I discussed this with my Chevrolet dealer, I was told that according to the VIN for my 2022 Suburban 3. 0l diesel, I am not part of that recall. I plan to take it to the Chevrolet dealer very soon for more analysis. However, I wanted to bring this to your attention, as it could be hazardous. I have not gotten any dash warning messages. Thank you.

Suburban started to have shudder at lower rpm on acceleration. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed the valve is bad. They are unsure at this time but depending on damage from the bad value my Suburban may also need a new torque convertor or transmission.

I own a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban with approximately 115,000 miles. While driving, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle suddenly entered limp mode. The transmission lost normal operation, including reverse gear, significantly limiting the vehicle’s ability to operate. The failure occurred without warning and created a potential safety concern because the vehicle could no longer respond normally to driving conditions. The vehicle was inspected by a Chevrolet dealership, where technicians diagnosed a failed transmission control valve body and confirmed the valve body required replacement. I paid to have the repair completed. After the repair, I learned that gm issued special coverage n242454441 for certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles equipped with the same transmission. The bulletin describes premature transmission control valve wear that can cause a service engine light, reduced engine performance, harsh shifting, and requires replacement of the transmission control valve body. My vehicle experienced the same failure and required the same repair, but my VIN was not included in the covered population. I contacted gm before authorizing the repair and requested assistance, but my request was denied because my VIN was not included in the special coverage. I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle experienced the same transmission valve body failure identified by gm despite not being included. I request that NHTSA document this failure and determine whether additional vehicles equipped with the same transmission should be included in any current or future safety investigation.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle slowed down and failed to properly shift gears. The contact shifted into neutral while stopping the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The vehicle was driven to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with severe fluid leakage and torque converter shutter. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.