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2018 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
81
Latest Jun 1, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
15
Reports on file since Apr 23, 2018

What this page shows

Our database holds 81 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 81 · page 1 of 4

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact's husband noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle independently stopped. The contact stated that the instrument cluster displayed a blank screen. The contact's husband attempted to shift the gear shifter, however the gear shifter failed to shift as intended. The contact stated after several attempts, the gear shifter shifted as intended. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The contact's husband was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced or rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was not covered under the unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

NHTSA ID
11741333
Incident
Jan 19, 2026
Mileage
108,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 15, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID
11738020
Incident
May 5, 2026
Electrical
Filed Apr 13, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while purchasing an aftermarket warranty coverage, the warranty company informed the contact that there was a mileage discrepancy based on the Carfax report. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 123,959; however, the Carfax report listed the mileage at 129,000 one month prior to the purchase.

NHTSA ID
11730756
Incident
Mar 23, 2026
Mileage
129,000 mi
Filed Mar 20, 2026

Transmission problems 124,994 miles . It's the same defects as the 2019-2025 defects.

NHTSA ID
11725731
Incident
Mar 7, 2026
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 18, 2026

The transmission just stopped working no warning just wouldn’t go into gear. Then I turned it off and back on and was able to limp home it’s slipping bad .

NHTSA ID
11725391
Incident
Mar 16, 2026
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 12, 2026

My 2018 LT Chevy suburban with 110000 miles has been giving me transmission and motor problems. I took it to chevy vannuys and they took 3 days and did nothing. I saw a recall on line for the same year. Explaining about transmission problems. Where can I go to have it fixed.

NHTSA ID
11723745
Incident
Jan 18, 2026
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 5, 2026

I am reporting a safety issue involving a Cybex Eternis S child car seat. The seat was manufactured on 02/28/2020 and has a printed expiration date of 02/25/2030, indicating a 10 year usable life. At approximately five years of use, the head impact foam failed and is broken into two separate pieces. The foam pieces are detached. This foam is a required safety component. Cybex customer service confirmed in writing that if the head impact foam is detached or broken into separate pieces, the seat does not meet safety requirements and should not be used. Cybex also confirmed that no replacement part is available and no repair or remedy is offered. As a result, the seat is unsafe and unusable halfway through its stated usable life, with no ability to repair or replace the failed safety component. This raises concerns about product safety support for child restraint systems marketed with extended usable lifespans.

NHTSA ID
11716042
Incident
Dec 1, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was parked and running, or while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. Occasionally, the vehicle was able to be restarted; however, on other occasions, the vehicle required towing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the battery cable and ignition switch were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 208,257.

NHTSA ID
11715036
Incident
Feb 2, 2026
Mileage
208,257 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2026

1.) January 29 2026 @6:00PM Vehicle was in use. Driver accelerated to avoid another vehicle and the engine loss all power. When pushing on the accelerator the tachometer would increase as if I was reving the engine however there was no power. SAFETY ISSUE: With power completly lost, I had to coast over to the should of highway 10 and sit on the shoulder. Vehicle had to be turned off and restarted in order for the vehicle to have power. ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2.) March of 2021 - Vehicle was in use. Driver accelerated to merge with traffice and the engine experienced a loss of all power. When pushing on the accelerator the tachometer would increase as if I was reving the engine however there was no power. Driver contacted ON-STAR seeking assistance. ON-STAR rep advised that I pull over onto the shoulder of the highway, turn off the vehicle, then turn it back on which temporatily worked. SAFETY ISSUE: With power completly lost, I had to coast over to the should of highway 60 freeway and sit on the shoulder. Vehicle had to be turned off and restarted in order for the vehicle to have power. ACTION taken: Vehicle was taken to a GMC certified dealer and the "CONTROL CYLINOID VALVE & TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODUAL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. First incident the repair was under warrenty and there was no expense to the owner Second incident the repair was not under warrenty and owner is required to pay repairs.

NHTSA ID
11714735
Incident
Jan 29, 2026
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 17, 2025

Transmission will not go into drive or reverse. This also happens when car is in drive going down the road it will all of a sudden lose power and not go when pressing gas pedal. Vehicle has to completely shut off several times before it will go back into gear. No warning before it started. This can be dangerous when it happens in traffic and I can’t move car out of the road. It has not been inspected yet. Also blind spot warning does not always says it needs serviced.

NHTSA ID
11705521
Incident
Nov 22, 2025
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 2025

I've taken this SUV to the Chevy dealership 4 times now for the same issue. SUV will not start at times then starts, it will even turn off on the road without warning. New Battery and Chevy can not find out issues $500.00 later. The brake pedal becomes hard to push down, and it will not start: wait 10 mins or so and it will start. Even the remote start at times will not work. Chevy has had it for 30 days at a time and I'm being told to bring it back when it happens, how do I that!

NHTSA ID
11705323
Incident
Dec 15, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 6, 2025

Transmission has to be replaced due to transmission slipping and delayed shifting under heat and prolonged highway driving. This issue also causes SUDDEN hard shifting, hard breaking, shaking of the steering wheel, along with grinding of gears!! This is a safety issue to to no warning signs at all along with a sudden drop in speed and power!! While driving on the interstate or highway this sudden change can cause the vehicles behind you to rear end you or cause a pile up!!! The driver has no control of vehicle when these issues happen!! A loss in control due to shaking of the steering wheel is a huge issue!!! Lack of shifting or hard shifting causes a SUDDEN stop of vehicle with no warning signs while driving!! It is going to cause a crash!!!! These are serious and dangerous issues that Gm will NOT do a recall for!! GM is aware of the issues due to Suburban, Tahoe and Silverado vehicles in the year models 2018-2023 having this reoccurring issue!!! I recall needs to be done to save someone’s life!!!!! I have only had my suburban for 8 months!! I was not made aware of this issue at all!!!!!! This also causes rough idle!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11697896
Incident
Sep 17, 2025
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 14, 2025

Wheels 22" Chrome upgrade from the standard wheels from the factory The tire bead where the chrome meets the interior alloy metal corrodes. Thetires start losing air pressure. The tires should be 35 PSI. The front tire dropped to 23 PSI making sterring pull to the right. This is a problem with all 4 tires on the 2018 Chev Suburban Premier. I need to check tire pressure weekly

NHTSA ID
11693400
Incident
Oct 6, 2025
BrakesEngine
Filed Sep 12, 2025

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
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2025

My vehicle completely shuts off while driving. All of the components on the dash and even my steering wheel moves into the prestarted vehicle position. It has happened 3 times in the past week now. One particular instance, I was on the highway and thankfully it came back on immediately before completely stopping but shutting off while driving 65mph is so dangerous.

NHTSA ID
11682767
Incident
Aug 22, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 22, 2025

Dear NHTSA, I am submitting this complaint to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with the transmission in my 2018 Chevrolet Suburban, which I purchased brand new in 2018. At approximately 60,000 miles, I experienced severe transmission issues that led to a complete transmission replacement. Now, at around 133,000 miles, I am encountering the same symptoms once again. The transmission makes a loud clunking noise during acceleration and braking, and shifts gears abruptly and harshly. These symptoms appeared suddenly, with no warning lights or prior alerts. This problem poses a significant safety concern. The vehicle sometimes struggles to accelerate properly, making it dangerous to merge into traffic. Additionally, the forceful shifting makes the vehicle feel unstable and unpredictable, as though something beneath the car might fail while in motion. I transport my husband and our children in this vehicle, and this issue puts all of us at serious risk. I have scheduled another appointment with a GM dealership to inspect the vehicle. However, given that this is a recurring failure involving a critical system, I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this matter as a potential defect affecting other owners of the same model. Thank you for your attention to this serious concern.

NHTSA ID
11668470
Incident
Jun 22, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2025

My Suburban is having the same issues as the most recent recall on the 2021-2025 Chevrolets. The issue is with pretty much all of the motors that go from the V8 to the 4 cylinders. It's doing the same exact thing a friend of mine's 2019 Tahoe did. It's making a loud knocking/ticking noise. When you first get to going it starts almost sputtering which can cause issues if you're in oncoming traffic trying to cross roads.

NHTSA ID
11657682
Incident
Dec 1, 2024
Filed Apr 25, 2025

The Infotainment center display is black and therefore unable to utilize backup camera. The screen is still sensitive to touch but does not display anything for any function. Primarily a safety risk for backing up a large vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11656706
Incident
Jan 1, 2025
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2025

LIFTER ISSUES AFTER 60000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE ALL AROUND 5000 DOLLARS

NHTSA ID
11656512
Incident
Apr 17, 2025
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2025

Currently own a 2018 Chevy Suburban with a lifter issue in the engine. This is a known issue with Chevy as many vehicles have experienced this problem from zero to over 100k miles. Chevy has not issued any help or support with customers with this issue. My vehicle is well maintained I get oil changes frequently and have never not done a required service when needed. When I notice an issue I immediately take it to in Regal Chevy for repairs and no matter what the issue is I get it repaired on the spot. I find it odd that this is a recurring issue and Chevy has done nothing to help support loyal customers.

NHTSA ID
11656220
Incident
Apr 22, 2025
Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the instrument cluster failed to function as intended. The instrument panel flickered intermittently and then went black, preventing the contact from safely operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ID
11650480
Incident
Dec 28, 2023
Mileage
132,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine experienced rough idling. Additionally, the engine also made rattling sounds while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and two other dealers, Penske Chevrolet of Cerritos (18605 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703) and Camino Real Chevrolet (2401 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754); however, all three dealers were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to the Active Fuel Management (AFM). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but refused to buy back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 60. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11643768
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
60 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 11, 2024

Had to replace transmission at 103000 miles. Regularly maintained no harsh driving. No warning signs it was going out till it happened

NHTSA ID
11630254
Incident
Dec 2, 2024
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 2024

Vehicle first start sometimes when pushing the start stop button. Dash illuminates but then goes black as if no power. P129D code appears after being able to start.

NHTSA ID
11630252
Incident
Dec 11, 2024
Seat belts
Filed Nov 23, 2024

The 2nd row of the vehicle has 2 captain chairs and both seatbelt retractors failed.

NHTSA ID
11626968
Incident
Oct 7, 2024

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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