10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
91,786 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #13

Nov 022019

Suburban

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving approximately 65 mph, the rpms reduced to 0 and the instrument panel indicators illuminated. Additionally, all the doors unlocked and locked and the radio began to turn on and off. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact had to wait a couple of minutes before she were able to restart the vehicle. The failure occurred approximately five times. The contact called rainbow Chevrolet (located at 2020 w airline hwy, la place, la 70068, 985-718-4683), but the cause of the failures could not be determined. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The contact stated that the failures were related to NHTSA campaign number: 14V827000 (electrical system). The approximate failure mileage was 141,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Chauvin, LA, USA

problem #12

Nov 102018

Suburban

  • 90,000 miles
Vehicle shuts down while driving and while parked. All electronics shut down, unable to activate hazard lights. Previously payed to fix ABS light/sensor. Dash cracked driver side and passenger side. Has happened multiple times prior.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #11

Oct 012018

Suburban

  • 120,000 miles
Engine light on vehicle runs rough/sputters while going down road. Took to 3 mechanics including GM dealer. All stated emissions codes. 1st mechanic replaced purge valve. Light came back on. Same mechanic did smoke test and replaced purge valve stating it must have been faulty. Light came back on. Chevy dealer replaced purge valve. Light came back on. Last mechanic replaced fuel sensor. Light came back on and they stated it now needs a purge valve. In addition, dash stability light comes on but does not go of when button pushed. Dvd player also seems to be constantly whirring. However, main concern is still the engine light that no one seems to know how to fix after I've spent over $1K for several purge valves, smoke test and fuel sensor. These problems ongoing for over a year and no one is able to resolve!

- Republic, MO, USA

problem #10

Jul 192018

Suburban

  • 148,932 miles
When driving the vehicle the electric will flicker and then the service traction control light will appear on the dash. This happens when driving, parking and starting the engine. Unable to turn off the light with the button on the dash board.

- Hurst, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 212018

Suburban

  • 83,000 miles
My vehicles engine shuts off while driving. All electrical in the car including power door locks start to open and close when engine shuts off and powers back on. Extremely unsafe especially when driving with all my children in the car.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 202018

Suburban

  • 86,000 miles
As I am driving the vehicle turns on and off which is very dangerous while driving. Also the electrical goes bad in the car causing the navigation and radio tongo on and off. Stabiltrak goes off on the vehicle and then comes back on. Today as I am driving my car lost power and now the service airbag light came on.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #7

Nov 012017

Suburban

  • 110,000 miles
The battery cables failed which caused the vehicles motor and power to shutdown while driving 70mph with a wife and 4 children in the vehicle.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #6

Feb 012017

Suburban

  • 110,000 miles
While commuting to work on interstate 15, northbound on February 1, 2017, with my two sons in the vehicle, I smelled smoke. I pulled over to investigate and realized the front passenger seat was on fire (pictures attached). I noticed the switch for the heated seat was on, so I turned it off. I then proceeded to the Chevrolet dealership in butte, mt (approx. 15 miles) and had them disconnect the electrical to the seat and ensure it was not still burning. This disabled the power seat, seat heater and passenger front airbags. I contacted GM product services to inform them and they started a service request, number 8-2712194856. They instructed me to take it to the Chevrolet dealership in dillon, mt where I live for inspection. After the dealership finished the inspection and sent their findings to GM product services I was informed by the customer relationship specialist at GM that they had completed their investigation and closed the case on my "product allegation", concluding it was "normal wear and tear" that caused the seat to catch fire and that GM would not pay for any repair or damages. When I asked how to proceed with appeal of their decision, I was informed their decision was final and non-appealable. I requested written record of their findings to which they sent the attached letter stating they would not assume responsibility and suggested I resolve the matter with my insurance carrier. Their letter stated nothing specific of their findings during the inspection. I requested info from the dealership that did the inspection and they said they could not release that information without consent from GM. My insurance carrier inspected the vehicle and documented the cause of the fire as an electrical short.

- Dillon, MT, USA

problem #5

Feb 132016

Suburban

  • 115,000 miles
The rear lift gate on my 2011 Suburban has begun to spontaneously close on its own. It knocked my husband down over the weekend and conked me on the head yesterday while I was parked and loading groceries- glad I didn't need stitches! this is a very dangerous situation and I hope Chevrolet will work to rectify it. A quick internet search will tell you that many, many people are having the same problem with Suburban and other Chevy models.

- Montpelier, VA, USA

problem #4

Dec 222015

Suburban

  • miles
My break lights wont work, dealer states its computer. I had the truck 3 years. I had no idea I had no break lights till I took the truck for inspection

- Hastingsonhudson, NY, USA

problem #3

May 122015

Suburban

  • 86,289 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that none of the instrument panel indicators were working and the ABS warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 86,289.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #2

May 252014

Suburban

  • 55,000 miles
Dash crack at passenger airbag.

- Bryceville, FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 232012

Suburban

  • 48,000 miles
1.)when we were driving thru the mountains our electrical system started to go haywire and the lights started going in and out and the ignition started to act up car turned off a few times we had to restart it when we brought it to the dealership to get checked out they said there was coins in the radio. 2.) the defrosters for the front windshield doesn't defrost the window at all when driving in cold days the whole window fogs up and freezes making visibility to none and we have to stop wipe down the wind shield and drive again for ten minutes then this problem goes on and on the heater goes on full blast but no results that is a very unsafe and un drivable at times. Coins in the radio? I was astonished and very upset how could an industry make a vehicle that if water is spilled on/or in the radio or coins dropped in the cd compartment that the whole electrical system goes out and starts going haywire especially here in Alaska a lot snow and harsh winter driving conditions are not great and if the vehicle stalls do to the radio and defrosters not working or someone spilled something on the radio then the people and children would freeze to death then who would be at fault that means the company that makes the vehicle is gonna be liable for the consequences the defrosters not working doesn't help any we have to drive thru this weather out here 9months out of the year and have to suffer because of these situations that is inexcusable and very dangerous to public this needs to be fixed and resolved. We took it to the dealership a few times but the problem still consists doing the horrible dangerous things that the Suburban does we have another appointment to take the vehicle in again because the radio is acting up again and defrosters are acting up this is a defect and needs to be fixed.

- Homer, AK, USA