Skip to content
Chevrolet SuburbanModel year report

2018 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

Compared with other Chevrolet Suburban years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
84filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
42,000miles, 27 complaints with mileage
Recalls
41 do-not-drive
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints from owners of this model year most often center on the 8-speed automatic transmission, which some describe as slipping, clunking, or losing drive with little warning, and on engine problems such as lifter wear and stalling. Brake assist and electrical faults that cut power or harden the brake pedal are also reported, and many of these complaints were filed at higher mileage.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission slipping, clunking or losing drive

    • 19 complaints (23%)
    • median 108,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2021–2026

    Owners describe sudden shaking, slipping, delayed or harsh shifting, and in some cases the vehicle dropping out of gear or refusing to move. Several say it happened without warning lights, and that dealers or independent shops diagnosed torque converter or internal transmission damage and recommended a rebuild or replacement. A few report the same symptoms returning after an earlier repair. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 133,000 miles, sometimes during highway driving or under load.

    Recall 26V289000 · DO NOT DRIVE1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test drive at highway speed and on a hot day, watching for shudder, delayed engagement or harsh downshifts; ask for service records showing transmission fluid changes or repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2018 LT Chevy suburban with 110000 miles has been giving me transmission and motor problems. I took it to chevy vannuys and they took 3 days and did nothing. I saw a recall on line for the same year. Explaining about transmission problems. Where can I go to have it fixed.”

    NHTSA complaint #11723745, filed 2026-03

    “I purchased the vehicle in June. On a trip in July the transmission stopped functioning in the middle of a major highway. There was no warning and the car just stopped. After getting it to a service dealer in the state we were traveling in, we were told it was the transmission. The car had less than 34,000 miles on it. Fast forward to today and 4 garage visits later, I know own a vehicle that I am told by service dept could need an entire transmission. At less than 40,000 miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #11437798, filed 2021-10
  2. Engine

    Engine shudder, lifter noise and loss of power

    • 16 complaints (19%)
    • median 115,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2022–2026

    Complaints describe rough idling, rattling or chirping noises, and abrupt loss of power while driving. Some owners say a dealer identified failed lifters or camshaft wear, in one case with an estimate for camshaft and lifter work, while others report dealers could not duplicate the problem. A few mention check engine lights and repeated shop visits without a confirmed fix. Spread from low mileage (one at about 60 miles) up to roughly 130,000 miles, with several reports around 90,000 to 120,000 miles.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Listen for ticking or rattling on a cold start and during acceleration, and ask whether any camshaft actuator or lifter work has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I had noticed an intermittent chirping noise coming from the vehicle, but no warning lights were on and it did not seem significant, I thought maybe it was a squeaky belt that I would have checked at our next routine maintenance. My husband drove the vehicle next for an approximately 12-mile round trip. He noticed the noise get more consistent and louder, and while pulling into our driveway, I observed that the sound was very loud and smoke was coming from the right side wheel well. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11457631, filed 2022-03

    “Car has been at dealer 3 times for Wi-Fi issue. Mechanic took car home for longer drive to check. No found issues. Brought in for small noise that comes and goes. They Came back saying $10000 for cam shaft and lifters they are assuming.”

    NHTSA complaint #11501145, filed 2023-01
  3. Electrical system

    Stalls or shuts off while driving (electrical)

    • 15 complaints (18%)
    • median 113,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off or losing all power while driving, sometimes with the dash going black or the instrument cluster flickering, and occasionally restarting on its own. Several owners say battery cables, an ignition switch or a battery were replaced, and some report dealers unable to find a stored code. Others mention no-start conditions and remote start or door lock functions not working. Reported from about 37,000 to 132,000 miles, with several owners describing repeated occurrences over weeks.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask about any battery cable, ground or ignition switch repairs, and check that the cluster, remote start and door locks work consistently during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My vehicle completely shuts off while driving. All of the components on the dash and even my steering wheel moves into the prestarted vehicle position. It has happened 3 times in the past week now. One particular instance, I was on the highway and thankfully it came back on immediately before completely stopping but shutting off while driving 65mph is so dangerous.”

    NHTSA complaint #11682767, filed 2025-08

    “I've taken this SUV to the Chevy dealership 4 times now for the same issue. SUV will not start at times then starts, it will even turn off on the road without warning. New Battery and Chevy can not find out issues $500.00 later. The brake pedal becomes hard to push down, and it will not start: wait 10 mins or so and it will start. Even the remote start at times will not work. Chevy has had it for 30 days at a time and I'm being told to bring it back when it happens, how do I that!”

    NHTSA complaint #11705323, filed 2025-12
  4. Brakes

    Hard brake pedal and reduced brake assist

    • 12 complaints (14%)
    • median 59,500 mi at 3.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners report the brake pedal becoming very firm or hard to press, sometimes with a brake assist or hill descent message on the dash, and needing heavy effort to stop. Some describe the condition appearing in reverse or while driving, and a few say a vacuum pump or brake booster was replaced without fully resolving it. Others describe the pedal going to the floor before the vehicle slowed. Mostly reported between about 39,000 and 80,000 miles, in some cases within the first few years of ownership.

    Recall 19V761000Recall 19V645000

    What to check: Ask whether the vacuum pump recall work was completed, and check pedal feel at a stop and while reversing before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My wife and son were traveling on the interstate in Indianapolis and the brakes began to fail in our 2018 Chevy Suburban. The brake pedal was almost impossible to depress to get the vehicle to even slow down. She was afraid that she was not going to be able to stop and get in a crash. Fortunately, she was able to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder as it finally slowed down enough. She was afraid to go any farther to an exit for fear of not being able to stop down a sloping exit. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11424458, filed 2021-07

    “When placing the car in reverse, the car started to go backwards quickly and I had to put all my weight on the brakes and it took about 40 feet for the car to stop.”

    NHTSA complaint #11434507, filed 2021-09

Buying note. Have a mechanic check transmission behavior and listen for engine top-end noise, confirm the brake and rear seatbelt recall work was done, and review service records for transmission, battery cable and brake assist repairs before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 84 consumer complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. 27 of the complaints include a mileage, and 56% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 42,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns (1 marked do-not-drive) and 1,255 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Chevrolet Suburban model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (3), Electronic stability control (2), Suspension (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Equipment (1), Lane departure (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “I purchased this vehicle in dec of 2019 used. 35,000 miles. Now has 88,000 and the transmission went out. Regular oil changes. No warning lights. No issues. Stopped running. After having someone look at it to see what the issue was, the mechanic said the entire transmission has to either be rebuilt or replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #11395943, filed 2021-02, 88,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle was parked and engine off and kids were getting into car when one of the kids pulled in the shifter and shifted the vehicle into gear. The vehicle began to roll. The Suburban was stopped when it hit another vehicle parked behind. The slope was small and the impact was inconsequential. Upon further inspection it was found the vehicle can be shifted in/out of park with or without keys in the vehicle and the vehicle in the off position. This event could have been catastrophic, had a child been behind the vehicle when it came out of park and into gear. …”

NHTSA complaint #11287024, filed 2019-12, 42,000 miles

Electrical system: “My doors lock with the car with the keys in the car, my kids were in my car and I got locked out with my keys in it, there was a battery replacement done when I took my car in for a recall notice a month ago (maybe 2 months), also the lock button works but when I push the middle button it will not auto start , when I push the button on the handle outside the car door it will not unlock,& my car will tell me that my remote isn't detected when the keys are in the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11416217, filed 2021-05, 68,000 miles

Brakes: “No official incident has happened yet, but the brake assist kicks in, yet does not work until it's revving engine to over 4000rpm, which causes a sudden jerk and scary sounds from engine. I have had a few instances where the vehicle did not want to stop almost causing an accident, and these have happened without anything in the car other than my daughter who is 2 and myself. The most recent problem is a weird rattling sound while going uphill. …”

NHTSA complaint #11686951, filed 2025-09

Mileage when problems were reported

56% of the 27 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 88,000 miles.

22%0–1011%10–2522%25–5015%50–757%75–10019%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (27 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 42,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20182019202020212022202316202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Suburban 1500 · SUV 4WD★★★★☆4 / 4543 · 20.3% risk
Suburban 1500 · SUV RWD★★★★☆4 / 4543 · 21.2% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Chevrolet Suburban version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Suburban C1500 2WD5.3L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162319$3,550
Suburban K1500 4WD5.3L 8-cyl6-speed automatic152218$3,700
Suburban C1500 2WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic162319$3,550
Suburban K1500 4WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic152218$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,255 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,255 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Suburban

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20244516,6001417Too new to compareToo new
202313147,000341789 · MoreToo new
202212458,166441773 · MoreRising
202120469,22412417100 · MoreRising
20204430,000441852 · TypicalRising
20197867,000341850 · TypicalRising
20188442,000441950 · TypicalRising
201714253,333541985 · MoreStable
201622059,9636419100 · MoreFalling
201543162,00011418100 · MoreFalling
20145955,000341723 · FewerFalling
201311860,000441740 · TypicalFalling
201210166,300441741 · TypicalFalling
201114870,0003——31 · FewerFalling
201011790,0003——0 · FewerFalling
200910685,0005——30 · FewerFalling
200821385,0004——32 · FewerFalling
200729285,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20062390,0001———Falling
200512983,0006——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200420463,2004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200330176,7315——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200228664,0002——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200144060,6506——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200028270,9758——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199963485,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199820176,5002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1997414100,8582——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199636093,1003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995457113,4506——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1994858122,0003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993499120,0000—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199218930,0003—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199152106,7443—12Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199054—3—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198962127,5003—12Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198830112,5003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198718—0———Stable
19867200,0000—13—Not enough data
19859—0—13—Not enough data
19846—0—13—Not enough data

All Chevrolet Suburban model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban?

Complaints from owners of this model year most often center on the 8-speed automatic transmission, which some describe as slipping, clunking, or losing drive with little warning, and on engine problems such as lifter wear and stalling. The issues reported most often: Transmission slipping, clunking or losing drive; Engine shudder, lifter noise and loss of power; Stalls or shuts off while driving (electrical).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban have?

NHTSA recorded 84 consumer complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 19 complaints (23% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 19.

Has the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban (Suburban C1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban reported?

Among the 27 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 42,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 88,000 miles; 56% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.