2018 Chevrolet Suburban Brakes Problems

No official incident has happened yet, but the brake assist kicks in, yet does not work until it's revving engine to over 4000rpm, which causes a sudden jerk and scary sounds from engine. I have had a few instances where the vehicle did not want to stop almost causing an accident, and these have happened without anything in the car other than my daughter who is 2 and myself. The most recent problem is a weird rattling sound while going uphill. Before this going uphill is extremely sluggish, where I have the gas peddle almost to the floor, but nothing happens other than decrease in speed until it finally, about 30 seconds-1 minute, where it kicks into overdrive. Even then, speed does not increase by more than 5-10 mph depending on the incline. I have not brought it to get looked at yet, as I've seen these issues have been reported by numerous consumers without any recalls being sent out other than the breaking system update.

NHTSA ID

11686951

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

The Trailor brake system, engine light, stabilitrak control system and antilock brake system is on due to the wiring of this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11576916

Incident

Nov 3, 2023

Vehicle starts dinging with warning - Service Trailer Brake System - and warning - Action Required Steering Assist is Reduced Drive with Care - ABS Light - Traction Control. Power steering goes out and assumedly ABS and Traction Control stop working.

NHTSA ID

11511267

Incident

Mar 10, 2023

My rear left tire locks when I’m doing sharp turns and I don’t see any traction control lights come on when that happens

NHTSA ID

11510081

Incident

Mar 3, 2023

My car was acting weird, brake pedal was extremely tough to decompress, speed then was affected, and ultimately the brakes failed.

NHTSA ID

11484027

Incident

Sep 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact initially stated that while in reverse(R), the brake pedal became firm as the brake assist message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated that she had to stand on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle while in reverse(R). The contact then stated that the failure would occur while driving at various speed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where the mechanic was eventually able to duplicate the failure. The contact had the vacuum pump replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where she was then informed that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to pay a portion towards the cost of the repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which she linked to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11473836

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

Mileage

80,000 mi

When placing the car in reverse, the car started to go backwards quickly and I had to put all my weight on the brakes and it took about 40 feet for the car to stop.

NHTSA ID

11434507

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

The vehicle began to shake as if it would shut down. Then, the engine light came on. Then I received three text message alerts. We were shown paperwork regarding the service history that was done at Philips Chevrolet. Now we’re getting alerts regarding work that has to be completed within 7 days.

NHTSA ID

11426679

Incident

Jul 27, 2021

My wife and son were traveling on the interstate in Indianapolis and the brakes began to fail in our 2018 Chevy Suburban. The brake pedal was almost impossible to depress to get the vehicle to even slow down. She was afraid that she was not going to be able to stop and get in a crash. Fortunately, she was able to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder as it finally slowed down enough. She was afraid to go any farther to an exit for fear of not being able to stop down a sloping exit. So she was able to come to a stop on the shoulder of the interstate. Their was a warning light that came on as this was happening, which was the ABS warning light. It was towed to Andy Mohr Speedway Chevrolet and they have diagnosed it as a failed vacuum pump. After doing research, I found that there is a recall on 2018 Chevrolet Suburban for the vacuum pump. However, the VIN on my vehicle wasn't included. The recall number is N192268490. The information listed in this recall sounds exactly was happened to our vehicle causing the very dangerous condition that could have resulted in a tragic crash.

NHTSA ID

11424458

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 55 MPH, THE MESSAGE HILL DESCENT ASSIST DISABLED WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GEORGE GEE BUICK GMC (21502 E GEORGE GEE AVE, LIBERTY LAKE, WA 99019, (509) 343-2391) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID

11416173

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

39,000 mi

I DRIVE A 2018 CHEVY SUBURBAN. THIS CAR HAD NO LIGHTS ON AND HAS LESS THAN 18K MILES ON IT. IT IS JUST OVER TWO YEARS OLD AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY [XXX] CHILD AND WE HAD DRIVEN ABOUT A MILE. WE WERE ON THE FEEDER ROAD ABOUT TO GET ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. JERKING FASTER AND FASTER WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS. IT WAS LIKE WE WERE ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN. I PANICKED AND SLAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS. THERE WERE NO BREAKS - NO TENSION OR PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL JUST CONTINUOUSLY SLAMMED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I COULDN'T STOP US. I THOUGHT QUICKLY AND SLAMMED MY FOOT ON THE PARKING BRAKE AS OUR CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY WITH NO BRAKE FUNCTION. WE JOLTED TO A STOP AS CARS ZOOMED AROUND US HONKING AND YELLING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR OFF OF THE PARKING BREAK, THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. NO BREAKS AND SPORADIC ACCELERATION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS INCIDENT A LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID 'SERVICE STABILITRAK'. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I'M SHARING THIS FOR ALL CAR OWNERS TO REMEMBER THE POWER OF YOUR PARKING BREAK IN AN EMERGENCY. IT'S ONE THING TO BE ANNOYED WHEN YOUR CAR WON'T GO, BUT IT IS PURE PANIC AND FEAR WHEN YOUR CAR WON'T STOP AND KEEPS GOING FASTER - ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR PRECIOUS CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11395013

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

Mileage

18,000 mi

CAR BRAKES ON ITS OWN WHEN GOING ABOVE 40 MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11321747

Incident

Mar 30, 2020

Mileage

19,875 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V761000(ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SALT LAKE VALLEY CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 4050 W 3500 S, WEST VALLEY CITY, UT 84120, (801) 758-8387) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11281886

Incident

Nov 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V761000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SCHUMACHER CHEVROLET OF DENVILLE (281 US-46 E, DENVILLE, NJ 07834, (973) 664-7584) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE UNTIL THE REMEDY WAS FOUND. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11279550

Incident

Nov 5, 2019