Chevrolet Suburban engine problems, 2016–2027
418 of the 1,116 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Suburban 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2021 (96), 2023 (85), 2022 (67). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign, 4 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Suburban engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 10 | 67% | — | 2 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2025 | 16 | 53% | — | 31 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2024 | 28 | 67% | — | 208 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the year → |
| 2023 in depth | 85 | 60% | 50k | 283 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2022 in depth | 67 | 54% | 61k | 565 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 96 | 48% | 99k | 630 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2020 | 18 | 41% | — | 216 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 28 | 36% | — | 255 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 18 | 22% | — | 301 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 25 | 18% | 99k | 356 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 27 | 12% | 50k | 419 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2025: 183 · 2026: 141
Across the model years, half of the 95 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 27,000 and 105,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine started to misfire, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the check engine and other unknown warning lights were illuminated.
Engine stalled while driving on middle of the highway, lucky i was able to pull over to the breakdown lane by putting vehicle in neutral. I had reported the issue to the Chevrolet Onstar roadside assistance but while trying to get tow truck I had tried to start the engine multiple times and finally it started and left the engine light on…
I was on in Athens, Ga. Going about 65mph in the left lane, casually passing a slow truck. it was rainy, in a construction zone, heavy traffic. With no warning lights or indication there was a problem the engine suddenly died and shifted itself into neutral.
Without any warning driving 65 mph down a freeway the suburbans motor totally shut down. We had to cross over 2 lanes without getting hit by all the traffic. No dashboard lights ever came on until after we got onto the shoulder and sat there for an hour then the check engine light came on.
Engine seized while driving. Broke down in middle of the highway with children in the car
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V274000 HighApr 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. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
NHTSA investigations
- EA26005 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyopened 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. General Motors (GM) issued R…
- RQ26001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyopened 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. General Motors (GM) issued R…
- EA25007 Loss of motive power due to engine failureopened 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. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Y…
- PE25001 Loss of motive power due to engine failureopened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025
- 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. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in so…
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Suburban
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Suburban problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Suburban years have the most engine complaints?
2021, 96; 2023, 85; 2022, 67. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (67%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Chevrolet Suburban?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 25V274000 (2024). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 27,000 and 105,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.