Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

Owners have filed 773 complaints about engine & cooling problems with the Chevrolet Suburban — 12% of all Suburban complaints. The worst model years are 2021 (96), 2023 (77) and 2022 (66). Problems typically start around 90,000 miles. 3 related recalls have been issued.

773complaints
2021worst year
90ktypical miles
3related recalls
7crashes
20fires

Engine complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’2411362117351337181418813327127101216140272619271896667730
Engine complaints per model year, Chevrolet Suburban.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
20243068%17,000 miles
20237759%50,000 miles
20226653%61,000 miles
20219648%99,000 miles
20201841%90,000 miles
20192735%95,000 miles
20181923%88,000 miles
20172618%99,000 miles
20162712%70,000 miles
2015409%68,000 miles
201412%124,000 miles
20131614%110,000 miles
20121212%66,000 miles
2011107%83,000 miles
201076%140,000 miles
20091211%110,000 miles
20082713%122,000 miles
20073311%121,000 miles
200614%73,000 miles
200586%118,000 miles
2004189%80,000 miles
2003145%132,000 miles
2002186%88,000 miles
2001378%59,000 miles
2000135%100,000 miles
1999356%74,000 miles
1998178%69,000 miles
1997215%138,000 miles
19963610%80,000 miles
1995112%—

Which parts fail

  • Engine
    59
  • Engine › Gasoline
    48
  • Cooling system
    17
  • Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
    14
  • Exhaust system
    10
  • Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
    5
  • Exhaust system › Emission control
    4
  • Cooling system › Fan
    3

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    4915%
  • 25k–50k
    4012%
  • 50k–75k
    5617%
  • 75k–100k
    4915%
  • 100k–150k
    8727%
  • 150k+
    4313%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while driving with her grandchildren inside the vehicle. The brake failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power and coasted and slowed down, and the contact shifted into park(P). The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two separate occasions. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,600.

2024 Suburban · 17,000 miles · Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle intermittently failed to accelerate as intended before slamming into gear. The local dealer was contacted. No further information was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2024 Suburban · 4,000 miles · Jun 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle chugged, jerked, and lunged forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the spark plugs might need to be replaced. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, the vehicle chugged, lunged forward, made an abnormal clicking sound, and almost struck another vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. …

2023 Suburban · 63,000 miles · Feb 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission erroneously shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle decelerated unexpectedly. The vehicle was pulled off the freeway and parked on the shoulder of the road, and the police were contacted and arrived at the scene and assisted with removing the small children from the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to a nearby towing lot. The contact later received messages on the App for transmission and engine failures. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); even though the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. …

2023 Suburban · 25,000 miles · Aug 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle shut off while displaying "Service Transmission Now Unable to Shift Soon" and "Engine Power is Reduced" warning messages. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was previously inspected under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, no repairs were performed. After remaining at the dealer for nearly eight weeks, the engine was replaced under warranty. A few weeks after the replacement, the same warning messages were displayed on the instrument panel upon startup. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH and was towed back to the dealer. While attempting to drive the vehicle into the service bay, the technician experienced severe hesitation and engine stalling. …

2022 Suburban · 61,000 miles · May 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The message to restart the vehicle was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the Auto START/STOP feature was enabled and disabled. The failure forced the contact's wife to shift into park or neutral before the vehicle would restart. The failure occurred several times while the contact's wife was driving the vehicle several times and stopping at the red light when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to a dealer previously and the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. …

2022 Suburban · 10,000 miles · Dec 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the vehicle was listed under the application TURO. The contact stated that a person rented the vehicle and informed him there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact test drove the vehicle, and while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the lifters, push rods, and two valves, and cylinder 6 had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. …

2021 Suburban · 107,000 miles · Dec 2024

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. …

2021 Suburban · 140,000 miles · Jul 2026

Related recalls (3)

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA recall 25V-274 · Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the…

Engine and engine cooling

NHTSA recall 07V-521 · Nov 7, 2007 · 11,974 vehicles

On certain pickup trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 engine, the crankshaft position can operate intermittently or fail completely. If the sensor operates intermittently, the ses light May illuminate and the vehicle May run rough. The engine May stall, and if so, May re-start immediately or after a cool down period.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2007. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

Engine and engine cooling

NHTSA recall 06V-289 · Aug 3, 2006 · 38,439 vehicles

On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip May fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC trucks at 1-866-996-9463.

NHTSA investigations

Crank position sensor failure - stall

NHTSA investigation PE06016 · opened May 4, 2006 · closed Sep 14, 2006

The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe06-016) on May 4, 2006 based on eleven vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) and early warning (ewr) data alleging sudden engine shutdown while driving as a result of crank position sensor failures in my 2001-2002 general motors c/k platform vehicles equipped with 8.1l engines.in response to an information request letter sent by odi, general…

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

NHTSA investigation RQ26001 · opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement.

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

NHTSA investigation PE25001 · opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · led to recall 25V-274

On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM's full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine.

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

NHTSA investigation EA26005 · opened Aug 20, 2026 · open

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement.

Loss of motive power due to engine failure

NHTSA investigation EA25007 · opened Oct 23, 2025 · open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274.

Frequently asked questions

Which Chevrolet Suburban years have engine problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (96), 2023 (77), 2022 (66), 2015 (40) and 2001 (37) model years. Engine complaints make up 48% of all complaints for the 2021.

Is there a recall for Chevrolet Suburban engine problems?

Yes — 3 recalls, including 25V-274 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Apr 24, 2025); 07V-521 (engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2007); 06V-289 (engine and engine cooling, Aug 3, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Chevrolet Suburban engine problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the engine (59 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (48).

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.