268 of the
1,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Suburban 1500
are about the electrical system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
1) Both screens (driver display and infotainment) go black intermittently. Sometimes the infotainment comes back on, however, you cannot use all the buttons. The hard buttons under the screen for climate control (aside from the on/off ) wont work. The climate will automatically go to 76 degrees on Max Defrost. The rear climate will shut off when this happens. It also causes the radio controls on the back of the steering wheel to not work. 2) It is extremely dangerous to not have a visual indicator for the speed at which I am driving. It is also dangerous to be driving with no AC and instead 76 max defrost, in triple digit temperatures. Especially with small children and a newborn baby. 3) The car has had several repair attempts by a Chevrolet Service department. 4) When it happens its sudden. No warnings. After it happens the Check Engine Light comes on sometimes. This started a week after the car was purchased in March 2026. It is still occurring now in August 2026.
NHTSA complaint #11758024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2025 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HIGH COUNTRY. Vehicle is parked in my garage. Went out in the AM and the engine only cranks, will not start. Called On Star for roadside assistance. Sent a tow truck, the vehicle could not be towed due to the electronic transmission. There is no way for an owner to place the transmission in neutral. Vehicle is stuck in my garage. GM customer service referred me back to roadside assistance who for the second time stated that they could not help me. This is a serious issue. The fact that the transmission can NOT be shifted into neutral unless the engine is running is a very serious safety concern.Called GM helpline a second time. They said that I should call for a tow on my own. Waiting for the selling dealer to call me back. Vehicle is currently stuck in my garage and GM does not care.
NHTSA complaint #11732473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My rear passenger door flys open while driving. It happens during very cold weather. It also will not latch when trying to shut it after getting off the road and trying to shut it. My daughter has been in the seat next to the door each time and it has happened multiple times. Betten Chevrolet has tried to fix it twice and it is currently in their shop. This is totally unsafe!
NHTSA complaint #11713948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The complete infoentertainment system went out within one week of purchase and has been in the dealership possession since. The dealer’s service department tried to perform updates on the system after the radio went out and it caused the whole dash to go completely black and they haven’t been able to get it to turn back on. The vehicle has been in the shop for 8 weeks now and no estimate when I’ll receive the vehicle back. Since the dash is black you can not see the speedometer, gas gauges, etc and it is not safe to drive without it having fully working electronic components. The dealer is next going to try and replace the radio but that part is back order indefinitely.
NHTSA complaint #11709801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Main display, driver display, and HUD froze while driving. Speedometer froze as well. Main display goes back while the driver display freezes. NO blinkers worked. This happened 3x throughout the day. Only way to reset is unhooking the battery.
NHTSA complaint #11661649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OnStar Module factory defaults/Malfunctioning - Power button don’t turn on so there’s no internet connection. This effect all the safety features in the car. Please recall. There has been numerous incidents reported online to this particular default.
NHTSA complaint #11660820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1/10/25 Complete braking system failure, could no brake, could not use emergency brake. Almost crashed into my garage -Chevy Service Dept. replaced Electronic Braking Control Module 1/24/25 Complete braking system failure, could no brake, could not use emergency brake -Chevy Service Dept. replaced battery 2/1/25 Car shaking terribly, my kids screaming we were going to “explode” , car smoking, white smoke coming from exhaust -Chevy Service Dept. states there is an engine issue, they will need to break down and replace parts / repair
NHTSA complaint #11641893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The windows would go down all by themselves and not roll up . The infotainment system will flash on and off telling you to start strip all by itself. The door locks will lock you out and in not letting unlock the truck . The key fob is the only way to unlock it. I have taken it to the dealer five times to be repaired and they say GM software is not capable of finding the electrical problem. They just keep replacing parts. I filed a complaint with The State AG office and GM said they were not going to address the complaint because the vehicle was still under warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11613930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I recently took my 2023 Chevrolet Suburban in to make sure everything was working properly with the power train... it has been having bucking and stuttering between 15-45mph, which was super concerning to me, as I am transporting 3 children [XXX]. I took in yesterday, and was called back today to confirm that the issue is happening... the problem is that instead of Chevrolet recalling these vehicles to have this computer issue taken care of... they did an update and are charging their clients to have this update done. This is a serious safety hazard, especially for families like mine that cannot afford to have this update done. I will likely have to drive around without having it done, all because of GM's greediness. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11593901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR RADIO/CONTROL SYSTEM STARTED TO SMOKE WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION IN OCTOBER 2018. WE HAVE NOT TRIED THE RADIO, BUT THE HEATED SEAT DOESN'T WORK. WE ARE UNSURE IF WE SHOULD GO OUT OF TOWN WITH IT AND HAVE NOT HAD IT INSPECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11208083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE IGNITION AND AC WILL NOT WORK. OIL PRESSURE SENSOR READING WRONG. TOOK IT TO GET CODE READ AND 35 CODES CAME UP. HAD TO PUT ON A TOGGLE SWITCH JUST TO START IT. CANT SEE SPEED AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. THINK ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO WATER LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE. STEERING CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING TODAY. THIS REALLY NEED TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN TO THE MANUFACTURER AS IT COULD REALLY GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #11155129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR RADIO/CONTROL SYSTEM STARTED TO SMOKE WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WE HAVE NOT TRIED THE RADIO, BUT THE HEATED SEATS STILL WORK. WE ARE UNSURE IF WE SHOULD GO OUT OF TOWN WITH IT AND HAVE NOT HAD IT INSPECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11151818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN I START MY TRUCK. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME TO LIFE AFTER DRIVING A BIT OR SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN, WHERE OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE,
NHTSA complaint #11142362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOTICED CORRODED AND WHAT I WOULD CALL CHARRED OR BURNT WIRING ON THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE OF MY SUBURBAN. I NOTICED IT WHEN I OPENED THE LIFT GATE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE SUBURBAN. IT APPEARS THAT THE RUBBER GROMMET MATERIAL PROTECTING THE WIRING HARNESS, WAS BURNT OR MELTED AWAY. THE RUBBER HOSE THAT SUPPLIES WATER TO THE REAR WINDOW WASHER/WIPER HAD A HOLE IN IT, AND MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID ONTO THE WIRES FOR A TIME. THE WIRES WERE BARE IN SOME SPOTS, SOME OF THE WIRE INSULATION LOOKED MELTED/BURNT AWAY, AND THEY LOOKED CORRODED/WITH A GREEN COLOR TO THEM. THE CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTS THE HARNESS, TO THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LOOKED LIKE IT HAS SOME BLACK/ POSSIBLY BURNT RESIDUE ON IT. I CAN TAKE A GUESS AT BEST, THAT BECAUSE OF THE HOLE IN THE RUBBER HOSE, WATER MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKING ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING/CONNECTIONS WHEN I USED THIS FEATURE TO CLEAR DIRT FROM THE LIFT GATE WINDOW, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE IF THAT IS HOW THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS HAS OCCURED! THANKS!
NHTSA complaint #11141961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT KEEPS STALLING ON US. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL THE CENSORS, THE CONTROL MODULE AND WE EVEN REPLACED THE REAR END WE HAVE SPENT WELL OVERA THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THIS VEHICLE STILL WONT STAY RUNNING IT STALLS WON'T START WE HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING THE CODES ARE READING. THIS CONTINUES TO STALL IT SHUTS DOWN BY ITS SELF IT ALMOST KILLED MY WIFE AND KIDS A FEW TIMES I WANT THIS VEHICLE FULLY REPAIRED FOR FREE. I HABE ONE INCOME AND I CANT EVEN CATCH UP ON MY BILLS AS WE HAVE SPENT MORE ON HER VEHICLE TO STILL CAUSE PROBLEMS AND ME ALMOST LOOKING MY FAMILY MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STALLED IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11140221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11102811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PERSONAL STORAGE LOT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE TWICE AND REQUESTED TO INSPECT IT A THIRD TIME. THE INVESTIGATOR CHECKED THE FUSE BOX AND THE HVAC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN MADE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT BE FORTHCOMING WITH THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11084068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULTS OR SHORTS IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESSES HAVE CAUSED PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEADLAMPS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE AUTO PARTS STORE THEY CONFIRM THAT MANY PEOPLE COME IN WITH THIS SIMILAR FAILURE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUPPLIER QUALITY ON GM FORUMS SUGGEST THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE MODEL LAUNCH. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL LIGHTS AND FUSES CHASING THE HARNESS AND NOT STILL HAVE THE DEALERSHIP STATING THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL HARNESS SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11043225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK ACTUATORS ARE FAILING TO OPERATE, WHICH POSES SAFETY CONCERN FOR CHILDREN IN THESE VEHICLES. I'VE HAD TWO FAIL. THIS IS A COMMON AND WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE WITH MANY 2007-2013 GM TRUCKS AND SUVS. JUST FOR MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (2009 SUBURBAN) I COUNTED 13 OTHER COMPLAINTS (WITH NHTSA ID #S) ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE ACTUATOR MODULE FOR EACH DOOR LOCK IS POOR QUALITY AND PRONE TO FAILURE. GIVEN THE SAFETY RISK AND NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED, I'M SURPRISED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10995503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.