There are 15 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Suburbanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving in [XXX] on 1604 and the car was driving fine and out of nowhere. The car started shaking while on the highway for about seven8 seconds and then I heard an explosion smoke and fire. I pulled to the side. The car was on fire. The whole car was on fire within a minute or two I always took care of the car. Don’t understand how that happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Component or System Failure The vehicle experienced two major mechanical failures. First, the transmission failed and required full replacement shortly after the expiration of the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. At the time of this failure, the vehicle had approximately 61,000 miles. Second, at 100,119 miles, the engine suffered a catastrophic failure that required complete engine replacement. Safety Risk The transmission failure impaired normal drivability and created a safety risk due to reduced or unreliable propulsion, which could have resulted in loss of power while driving in traffic. The engine failure rendered the vehicle inoperable and could have posed a serious safety hazard if it had occurred while the vehicle was in motion, including sudden loss of engine power. Problem Confirmation and Inspection Both failures were diagnosed and confirmed by dealership service personnel, who determined that full replacement of the transmission and later the engine was necessary. The issues were identified through inspection and standard diagnostic procedures. Warning Lamps or Symptoms There were no clear, persistent, or meaningful warning lamps, messages, or symptoms that would have reasonably alerted the driver to an impending transmission failure prior to it occurring. Any warning indicators appeared at or immediately before the failure. Similarly, there were no significant warning signs that would have predicted the engine failure prior to the need for complete replacement. Additional Information Both the transmission and engine failed at relatively low mileage for major powertrain components. The transmission failure occurred just beyond the powertrain warranty threshold, and the engine required full replacement at 100,119 miles. . These failures suggest a potential defect or durability concern affecting critical powertrain systems.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering violently, prompting the contact to discontinue driving over 60 MPH. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound while making right or left turns. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated to upshift while the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear while the gear shifter was in use. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that there were metal shavings in the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The transmission had been replaced prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while the vehicle was taken for a routine oil change at the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle received unknown repairs, and an unknown recall repair for the lifters was performed. The contact had retrieved the vehicle and several weeks later, while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to the deale,r where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact believed that the recall repair of the lifters had caused the engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The Active Fuel Management valves in cylinder 1,4,6&8 failed prematurely
Had to have all lifters replaced even after its a known issue with the manufacturer i had to pay out of pocket with no recall
Transmission failure. loss of movement into intersections causing dangerous situation for my family. problem has been reproduced by local independent auto tech. I am about to go through my insurance since there is no recall on this apparent known issue by GM. no warning light to notify me of any issues.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle started shaking forcefully. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000. The contact noted that the failure speed was approximately 65 mph, not 75.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that he smelled an abnormal odor coming from the exhaust into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rod bearings in the engine were worn. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000. The contact has noted that the issue is due to broken manifold bolts, not worn rod bearings.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light flashed, and the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side road and contacted the dealer. The dealer advised the contact to not restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with lifter valves failure. The dealer determined that the two banks of lifter valves and the camshaft needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under warranty for the same failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer for assistance in reducing the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Lifter and cam shaft failure in 2017 Suburban at 87,000 miles. Vehicle was purchased new and well maintained when engine knocking or clicking started. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Camshaft, lifters, pistons How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Had failure not been detected I could have been stranded or lost engine power in situation that created a collision and injury. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, diagnosed at Chevrolet dealer on February 8, 2022 and repaired June 2, 2022 Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Dealer inspection, diagnosis and repair Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Engine begin clicking or knocking late January 2022, took to dealer and they diagnosed bad lifters, camshaft failure and piston failure. New engine took 4 months to acquire and install, was told by dealer there are 1400+ Suburban waiting on new engines for related issues.
The condenser has a faulty design and cracks, causing it to leak flammable R1234YF coolant in the engine bay. Additionally, this leak causes the AC system to stop cooling, thus making the inside of the vehicle a very dangerous place, particularly during summer months, as it is impossible to cool. There are thousands of reports of this issue on all Chevy/GM models between 2015-2020 including tahoe, silverado, suburban, and yukons. The manufacturer has put out a "special coverage 17336" adjustment but it only covers the vehicles up to 60,000 miles and because it's not part of a recall it's not automatically sent out to the owners of the vehicles. Further, a large number of vehicles are well beyond the 60,000 mile limit in the special coverage before the owner ever learns of the issue. According to SAE J1739, "Manufacturers must conduct Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) as provided in SAE J1739 (adopted 2009). Manufacturers must keep the FMEA on file for at least three years from the date of creation." I would challenge that chevrolet did not do this FMEA testing or did not do it per standard as it would have shown this issue. Instead they moved forward with production affecting hundreds of thousands of their most popular vehicles from 2015-2020 and resulting in the consumer having to pay an average of $1100 in repair costs due to a known defect from the manufacturer.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injectors had failed. Then the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that six of the eight fuel injectors had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring and the vehicle had been shuddering while driving and while reversing. The contact also stated that the vehicle would jump and hesitate to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed at the stoplight. The contact also stated that the vehicle had stalled while driving on the highway. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but informed the contact that they would not cover the repair under an unknown service bulletin because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
WE PURCHASED OUR 2017 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PREMIERE 2018 AT CLAY COOLEY, IRVING, TX AND HAVE COMPLETED EVERY MAINTENANCE SERVICE REQUIRED. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2018 THE CERTIFIED CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PREMIERE HAD 50, 000 MILES. AS OF 11/23/20 OUR TRUCK BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK WAS PAUSING BEFORE ACCELERATION AND NOISILY IDLING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD OUR TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACEMENT AND WILL COST US $6, 000. OUR CURRENT ONSTAR REPORT NEVER REPORTED ENGINE PROBLEMS, BUT ONLY SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE DUE AT 112, 500 MILES REPORTED 11/15/20. OUR PEDOMETER READ 110, 800 MILES PRESENTLY 11/23/20. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WE HAD ALL OF THE SERVICE DONE LAST MONTH BUT WILL CHECK IT OUT. THIS IS A FAULTY VEHICLE THAT IS NOT SAFE AS CHEVROLET MAKE CLAIM THESE VEHICLE TO BE FOR FAMILY AND LONG DISTANCE TRAVELING. BUYER BEWATE AND DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THIS HIGH END 2017 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN PREMIERE. AFTER 3 YEARS, THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE, REGARDLESS OF FOLLOWING ALL OF THE OWNER MANUAL SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE SERVICE GUIDELINES.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026