2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and jumping and shut down unintendedly. The check engine warning light illuminated and was flashing. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was catastrophic engine failure and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed there was no recall on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

Worried about the safety of driving this vehicle due to the numerous reports of the engine seizing while driving. I have read about there being hundreds of thousand vehicles with the same engine having this problem. Thanks

While attempting to regain entry onto a major highway, our engine had a major system failure and the entire vehicle started to violently shake. We were able to reexit the highway and get to safety. We were then able to slowly drive it to a service station where it was determined after two days, that it was a major engine failure and would need a full engine rebuild. We were in Missouri when this occurred, driving back from Christmas vacation with family, on our way home to Texas. We had to find a hotel and stay two nights there, then had to rent two cars- as there were no cars available large enough for our family of 6 and our luggage, to then drive back to Houston. We then had to have our car transported down here to our mechanic. The repairs that our mechanic completed: BTR Gen V DOD/AFM Conversion Kit $1301.75 Full synthetic oil change and oil filter $110.00 Prestone Dex-Cool 50/50 prediluted antifreeze/coolant 2@$33.23 ACDelco GM Original Spark Plug 8@$20.32 GM Spark Plug Wire Set $142.44 GM Camshaft $200.04 Cloyes Engine Timing chain tensioner $44.54 Standard Ignition Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor $47.85 Head Gasket, R&R $5010.00 Labor Oil Change $110.00 Labor Computer Programming $2000.00 Labor (reprogramming needed to shut off the Fuel Economy Management system that caused the camshaft to ultimately break) Total $9434.29 We were without our car for 4 months while this repair was conducted and the subsequent computer programming was problem solved. We learned there was a case already with your department, but waited to file out claim until we had the full repair and receipt from our mechanic. We could not afford to just sell the car as we would have gotten so little for it. Thus we didn't have much of a choice but to get it repaired. This week we are hearing of the massive recall of many GM vehicles, ours included, for this same problem. We are hopeful that we will get some sort of financial return to cover what we paid to fix their issue.

While driving cross-country, my 2021 Chevrolet Suburban Z71 (5.3L V8) experienced several progressive symptoms leading to total engine failure. For months prior, there was a noticeable coolant smell from the engine bay despite no visible leaks. Multiple Chevy/GM shops noted the smell, and pressure tests showed no external coolant loss. On the trip to Colorado, the engine ran normally, but at idle, the temperature would steadily rise to ~235°F before fans would engage. Upon arrival in Colorado, I found the coolant reservoir was low again. The final time the vehicle started, it shook violently at idle for nearly a minute before settling. The next day, it would crank but failed to start, and has not started since. There were no check engine lights or warning messages at the time of failure. A GM dealership has since diagnosed the engine as “locked up” and quoted a $14,500 remanufactured engine replacement (GM Part 19420610). I’ve been told my engine is the 5.3L V8 (RPO L84), which is currently not included in GM’s safety recall 25V-274 affecting similar failures in the 6.2L L87 engines. Right before this occurred, I had a NC inspection (passed), a fresh oil change the same day, and had coolant added. This failure happened without warning, while traveling out of state, leaving the vehicle stranded in a garage and requiring towing. The situation presented a safety risk and significant financial burden. Given the similarities in symptoms and failure type to the recalled L87 engines, I believe this may be a related manufacturing issue.

I bought the vehicle on January 11, 2025. Within 2 weeks the service leveling system indicator light came on the dashboard. The vehicle's front left air suspension system was not working properly and the vehicle lowered to the crash shield. The vehicle would not go over 55 miles and hour and was bouncing all over the road. The vehicle went back to the dealership and they reset and calibrated it. A few weeks later, the same thing happened. The vehicle again went down in the front, and was unsafe to drive. The dealership had the vehicle for 3 weeks, had difficulty assessing the situation and changed the front left air suspension arm. They told us it was fixed. We picked it up and as we were driving it home the service leveling system indicator came on, we brought it right back. They had the vehicle another 2 weeks and changed the solonoids, reset and recalibrated and had us pick it up. Within a few weeks the same thing happened, but worse. As I was driving it, an explosion sounded from the vehicle and the whole entire front of the vehicle lowered to the crash shield, making it extremely unsafe to drive. I have asked for the dealership to get a certified mechanic from GM to come and look at the vehicle and to start the repurchase process, no one is getting back to us and the vehicle is unsafe to drive.

My sub starting making an unusual banging noise when shifting. I reported it once to the dealer and they chucked it up as cause by the vechioe being driving in auto and not set to 2 wheel drive or 4 but instead auto. Was odd, but it still happens and now there a recall but the site does not include my vin even though maybe this is my problem.

Car would not start. towed into dealer for repair. This is the second time this has occurred, a well-known issue with GM trucks. on both occasions was a defective part, Fuel pump power control module.

History of transmission shifting issues shortly after purchase (CPO from Dealership). Vehicle was taken to two separate dealerships, several times for this issue while still under the 100,000 mile CPO warranty. Dealerships claimed they could not replicate the issue, however problem continued. Now at 1198xx miles, the transmission failed while driving. was accelerating from stop and and the vehicle bucked, the rpms jumped, the service indicator illuminated, and when the vehicle stuck in limp mode. I spoke with one of the dealerships and explained the history and suggested my vehicle failure was exactly as described in the safety recall and they informed my VIN was not included in any recall or service campaign and the could do nothing for me. I called the GM customer service number, pled my case and was told the same thing

After making a left turn on the street and picking up speed to 30mph the vehicle suddenly almost stopped and the engine raved up. It was so dramatic and unexpected that we thought the vehicle behind us was gonna hit us. Now vehicle only drives forward without shifting gears and doesn’t go reverse.

For the past 2 years my windshield wipers will fail randomly while using them during a rain storm. I will have to pull over and completely turn the vehicle off turn back on and they may start working again or restart a couple more times. I’ve taken it to the dealership twice over it and the one time it was when they didn’t work and no codes showed up. It just happened again while on the turnpike during a rain storm. It’s very scary because some roads you can’t pull over right away and It’s very hard to see when the windshield is completely covered and the wipers won’t work. A major safety issue. I wanted to take a video but it’s not safe when I’m driving and trying to see out the window. I have 2 little kids and currently pregnant so this is very scary with my kids in the car.