Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hello, While driving my Chevy suburban last week as I was pumping gas with my two year old son in the back seat. I saw smoke leaking and rolling out from the bottom of my vehicle. I had shift the vehicle off and inspected thoroughly. I couldn't see and understand where this was coming from. It wasn't the engine block and no check engine lights had come on. So I let the vehicle cool and started her up. No issue until I was a mile or two from my family summer rental and all of a sudden the vehicle felt as though it slipped out of gear. I was left without any power and realized I was smoking again. I pulled or what I would call drifted to the break down lane and pulled my little man out of the vehicle. This happened on Saturday and after almost a week in the shop, the dealership sprung me a nice $5200 price for a transmission. …
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 20 mph, the vehicle decelerated and stalled. The contact stated that the RPM was elevated while depressing the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Bystanders assisted the contact in pushing the vehicle to a safe area. The contact stated that he waited for approximately five minutes before restarting the vehicle and continued driving to his residence. The failure recurred and the process was repeated several times before arriving at his residence. The contact stated that an independent mechanic arrived at his residence and informed him that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a boat, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into second gear. The contact stated that the drive mode indicator light flashed red, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving downhill, and the contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,816.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH on the highway, there was an abnormal oil odor and an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle prior to the vehicle losing motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle stalled in traffic and the Police arrived to direct the traffic while waiting for the tow truck to arrive and tow the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The RPM was elevated. The contact stated that the transmission would inadvertently shift out of gear independently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V374000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission had overheated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
Vehicle was slipping and losing power. Vehicle was loosing power every time I slowed down on a traffic light and/or stop signs. Vehicle was taken to a local shop and it was determined that vehicle had serious transmission issues. Vehicle was then taken to Richard K Chevrolet. Their report (attached here) states "Found code for pressure control solenoid stuck on. Found large metal debris in fluid. Found transmission suffered mass internal failure. Recommend replacement". Chevrolet will not take any responsibility for this massive failure and I ended up having to pay $5,500 to fix the issue (documents attached). I'm looking for Chevrolet to reimburse my expenses given that a vehicle just a bit over 100,000 miles underwent such a massive failure. My number is [redacted] .
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off without the key in the ignition, her daughter bumped into the gear shift selector and inadvertently shifted the vehicle into reverse. As a result, the vehicle began to roll, coming to a complete stop after colliding with another parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed, and injuries were reported. The contact reported bruising sustained while attempting to stop the vehicle but had not sought medical treatment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
The transmission has failed several times during driving with no check engine light or maintenance required light appearing. I get monthly reports saying that the engine does not have any problems. My safety and others safety were put at risk because any time during driving the engine can lose power and you will no longer be able to accelerate. This could be dangerous on roads and especially highways if you are traveling at fast speeds and cannot get out the way of others possibly causing an accident. I have recently taken my vehicle to a car mechanic shop and they say this is a common issue in the transmission of similar makes and models around this year. There were no previous warning lamps or messages from the vehicle or the monthly diagnostic reports I receive monthly. The problem started occurring before 150,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving on two occasions, the vehicle did not accelerate as intended. The contact stated that when the vehicle reached 55 MPH, the vehicle dead stopped, and she was thrust forward, and on the second occasion, she sustained a head injury from hitting her head on the steering wheel. Medical attention was not needed. Additionally, on the second occasion, the vehicle began overheating, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was codes P0700, P0741, and P0796 populated, and the TCM, torque converter clutch circuit, pressure control solenoid C, and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Related recalls
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
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…
Remedy: 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.
Transmission complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, 11% of the model year's 431 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Chevrolet Suburban transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 26V-289 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), May 7, 2026); NHTSA recall 14V-374 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), Jun 27, 2014); NHTSA recall 14V-152 (cooling unit and lines, Mar 31, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Chevrolet Suburban transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 3 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.