What 70 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban

My transmission went out at 116,000 miles. We were having intermittent issues since 100k miles.

NHTSA ODI 11647798

My certified used 2019 Chevy Suburban, with all routine maintenance completed, transmission abruptly failed. The vehicle was just serviced the month prior and with no current issues revealed during that appointment. We have never seen a transmission just fail suddenly with no warnings, no light on dash, and the transmission fluid was a good color and with no burn smells. My wife had just been on the 35 freeway and a moment before exited off to where we were going to eat breakfast, had she still been on the freeway, it could have been catastrophic as she had three of my children in the car with her. I researched the internet; GM has had many transmission problems on Suburban and other model cars from 2015-2019 with their currently being a class action on the other models.

NHTSA ODI 11647748

Catastrophic transmission failure while driving on highway trip with family. Thankfully did not completely lock up drive train, but such a catastrophic failure could have caused a transmission/engine lock up leading to a serious accident. Drove to nearest Chevy dealer (Everett Chevy Morganton NC), inspected, validated catastrophic transmission failure. Vehicle towed back to Hendrick Chevy Monroe NC. Hendrick confirmed catastrophic transmission failure, required complete transmission replacement. I requested failed part evaluation/warranty review. Escalated to Chevy customer support. Hendrick replaced transmission 1/29/2025. Hendrick upgraded to new Thermal Bypass Valve per service bulletin #21-NA-199 as part of complete transmission replacement. Vehicle was serviced previously on 11/1/2025 for routine oil change and inspection, with transmission noted as "good." Onstar monthly diagnostic for December 26, 2024 indicated engine and transmission system "good/OK".

NHTSA ODI 11645691

Our transmission when out while driving at high speed down the road, which could have caused a serious accident. There was no warning light to alert the driver before this incident occurred. We had to pull over and have our car towed - and it was dangerous to be along side of the road. We had to pay over $4000.00 to have our transmission replaced and the mechanic, who is an independent dealer, said "in his opinion, the transmission problem was caused by the defective GM automatic 8-speed transmission". We have a detailed bill of all work completed by our independent transmission dealer - dated Feb 2025.

NHTSA ODI 11641965

The lifters failed in April 2024 and was replaced by the GM dealer and then the engine failed again in September 2024 however I couldn't afford to pay GM $2000 for a diagnostic and they still have my vehicle and only offer me $1500 off of a new or unused vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11637814

At a stop light the stabilitrack and check engine light came on. Engine began running very rough. I pulled around the corner and was able to get into a parking lot. When I stopped the vehicle the car shutoff completely, including all the electrical. I tried to start the car but when I did there was no engagement of the starter and all electrical shut off again. Car was towed to a mechanic shop and was advised that the engine was seized after they could not turn the engine using manual means. I had to have the engine replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11637019

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission failed due to transmission oil that went bad and subsequently damaged the transmission. The failed transmission is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The transmission failure created unsafe driving conditions by reducing vehicle control, particularly in situations requiring acceleration or deceleration. This could have resulted in a collision if the vehicle lost power while in motion. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent service center, which diagnosed the transmission failure as a result of degraded transmission oil. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It has only been inspected by an independent service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, there were symptoms prior to the failure. These included occasional transmission slipping and delayed gear shifts, which began several months before the complete transmission failure. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared. This issue is of significant concern as the vehicle was purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in 2022 and the transmission should not have failed this early. I am requesting an investigation into this issue to determine if it warrants a recall to prevent future safety risks for other drivers.

NHTSA ODI 11635421

Car jerking and lurching forward in stop and go traffic. Mechanic confirmed transmission failure.

NHTSA ODI 11626745

Suburban needs a new transmission with 85,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11608526

2019 Chevy Suburban Premium at approx 121k miles whole body of vehicle starts shaking & vibrating at 45 mph, behaving like like torque converter going bad. Transmission intermittently acts like its slipping in 2nd & 3rd gear, when it does catch it shifts VERY hard. ..No dash lights. No warnings. Nothing....

NHTSA ODI 11584177

My car it’s just 124400 miles and suddenly started to showing me a service safety restraint system then the airbag light goes on and shows that the hood is open when I start the car and stays like that for 20 seconds then goes off

NHTSA ODI 11573242

My transmission is slipping, my neighbor who's a mechanic looked at it and luckily this vehicle has a transmission dipstick, fluid level was still good but we checked the Trans filter and we saw metal bits. We did a transmission fluid change and filter. It's not doing as bad but still will need to get transmission and converter replaced. Talked to a few places and they all say that this transmission always having problems and need replaced. I have supposedly a warranty but fighting with dealership about coverage. The amount of regularly seeing problems with this transmission from repair shops surprised that there isn't a recall. They say they replace the style on my car all the time on gm products supposedly it comes from the Ypsilanti plant in MI.

NHTSA ODI 11570985

transmission is slipping, can’t find replacement anywhere seems that even dealers don’t have replacement parts was told that there are a lot of 2018–2019-2020 that have same problems when i called Chevy they said they are sure there are parts

NHTSA ODI 11563815

We have suddenly experienced a problem with our 2019 Suburban, seemingly identical to a problem that plagued 2015 GM light trucks and SUVs (NHTSA campaign number: 18V586. GM's own number for this recall is 18289). At low speeds (typically parking lots, under 5 MPH), when turning, we intermittenly lose power steering. This is more common when switching directions rapidly such as during a parking maneuver. Simultaneously, headlights and interior lights intermittenly dim. The instrument cluster screen will display random warning messages (“roll window down then up”, etc). The clock time resets as though the battery was disconnected. Our 2019 suburban has only 68,000 miles and has received all scheduled maintenance. The battery was recently replaced in September 2022 (14 months ago). I have inspected the wiring and found nothing lose.

NHTSA ODI 11554756

Received a safety restraint warning message. Took the vehicle into the dealership and we were told that the passenger side seatbelt and front airbag needed to be replaced. We had it fixed, however it cost us $1400. The dealership would not replace it at no cost, even though we are shortly out of the warranty period and only at 51k miles.

NHTSA ODI 11553895

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH over a railroad crossing, the braking system erroneously activated causing the vehicle to stop abruptly. During the failure there were no vehicles or trains nearby to cause the Forward Collision Avoidance system to become activated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times and only at the same railroad crossing. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and experienced the failure while on a test drive over the railroad crossing. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11547763

Transmission was slipping, took to dealership to check, serviced it by changing filter and transmission fluid and gasket. At 80k miles transmission was slipping again and jerking from stopped position. Took back to dealership now they are saying I have metal in fluid and internal transmission failure? Cost to replace $13,000? This car barely gets 10k miles per year and serviced appropriately. Recall on this power train?

NHTSA ODI 11534315

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the grille shutter was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11521983

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at various speeds, the trailer brake system warning light intermittently illuminated and made a beeping sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic brake control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 11522002

While on a highway trip, suburban began to slip gears. It became very jerky and also began to accelerate while on flat ground in cruise control and rpm revved up to 6. It continued slipping gears and jerking and also making odd grinding noises. Test drive with mechanic and Issue has been confirmed that transmission needs rebuilt as torque convertor is the problem. There was absolutely no warning before this began. We were told that this had not been a recall yet but is definitely an issue with the 2019 Suburban.

NHTSA ODI 11513967

Recently invoice date 12/15/2022 The transmission was replaced with a remanufacture transmission while under warranty coverage because it was making noise and grinding during shifting. The remanufacture transmission grinds in between gear shifting and it vibrates as if my tires are driving over traffic control grids near the solid yellow shoulder line just before pulling over onto the shoulder. My transmission was replaced at 77-887 I now have approximately 80.121 miles just 2,000 miles as of 1/15/2023 on the remanufacture transmission and it has already has problems. I am soon to return it to the dealer to have it replaced for a second time.

NHTSA ODI 11501836

Electrical: Noticed a few months ago that the lane assistance/departure and blind spot warning work off and on. At times the blind spot warning does not warn and will when there is nothing there. Lane assistance and departure have the same issue. Transmission: Gears slipping. I am not a mechanic but there were no telltale signs until it just went out on me while driving with my children in the car! The only thing I noticed in several months prior was that the vehicle would shake as if you were running over the paved warning bumps on the side of the freeway. I just thought it was possibly the road or I needed new tires. I got new tires, problem still persists. When the gears slipped while I was on the highway it took about 15 seconds to engage at which time I removed myself and my children from being a traffic hazard. I checked the transmission oil - which I just did two weeks ago because I knew it was time to change the oil for the transmission - this time it had a very defined burnt smell and black in color.

NHTSA ODI 11495339

While driving the Suburban I am hearing and feeling the transmission slipping and jerking during shifting. Is there a recall on the year / make and model transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11494189

The contact's wife owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving and exceeding 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking with a loud grinding sound. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was almost struck by a semi-truck. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure, but no appointments were available to be scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11492883

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while pressing the accelerator pedal. The contact indicated that the RPM would increase but the vehicle would not respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the catalytic converter; however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure recurred and the vehicle stalled while driving on the freeway. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.

NHTSA ODI 11491273