FaultScore

2011 Chevrolet Suburban engine problems

10 of the 193 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban are about the engine — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 83,000 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 10 100.0%

Engine & Cooling across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1993 29 3.7%
1994 24 3.0%
1995 13 1.6%
1996 44 5.6%
1997 23 2.9%
1998 22 2.8%
1999 36 4.6%
2000 14 1.8%
2001 39 4.9%
2002 18 2.3%
2003 14 1.8%
2004 18 2.3%
2007 32 4.1%
2008 27 3.4%
2009 12 1.5%
2011 10 1.3%
2012 12 1.5%
2013 16 2.0%
2015 40 5.1%
2016 27 3.4%
2017 25 3.2%
2018 18 2.3%
2019 26 3.3%
2020 16 2.0%
2021 85 10.8%
2022 56 7.1%
2023 68 8.6%
2024 24 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Sneads Ferry, NC

ENGINE

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON GM VEHICLES AND IT AFFECTS BOTH MY 2011 SUBURBAN AND 2012 SILVERADO WITH 5.3 FLEX FUEL ENGINES. THE SUBURBAN IS MORE NOTICEABLE SINCE WE USE IT FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS. THE TRUCK IS MOSTLY CITY DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CAUSED BY THE AFM AND PCV. I WILL BE INSTALLING THE UPGRADED VALVE COVER IN HOPES OF PREVENTING A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF GM RECALLED THESE ENGINES WITH AN ADEQUATE FIX. I ONLY NOTICE BURNING OIL ON STARTUP COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE SUBURBAN IS 104,000. I HAVE NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING IN THE ENGINE BAY OR CABLE COVERS YET. PLEASE RESPOND QUICKLY IF I SHOULD NOT. THANK YOU, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11364820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodside, NY

ENGINE

UNSAFE TO DRIVE SPECIALLY DRIVING OVER 40 MILES

NHTSA complaint #11306404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,000 miles Chauvin, LA

ENGINE

TL* 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.

NHTSA complaint #11282409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Orlando, FL

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11113562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Eagan, MN

ENGINE

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION

NHTSA complaint #10995775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Staten Island, NY

ENGINE

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH GM REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10826046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,190 miles Frankfort, IL

ENGINE

ENGINE WAS IDLING LOW AND HESITATING AT LOW SPEEDS, THEN ENGINE STARTED RUNNING RALLY ROUGH. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CHANGED GAS IN VEHICLE, PROBLEM CONTINUED. ENGINE RUNNING REALLY ROUGH AND SERVICE STABILITRACK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE FIRST SPARK PLUG WAS FOULED DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION AND THAT ENGINE AND FUEL INJECTORS AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED CLEANING. THIS COST $475 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10721819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,396 miles Frankfort, IL

ENGINE

ENGINE IDLING LOW, HESITANT AT LOW SPEEDS. CHANGED GAS, NO CHANGE IN HOW THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED SPARK PLUG THAT WAS MISFIRING DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION. CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS AND THROTTLE BODY, REPLACED VALVE COVER TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING A THIRD TIME (HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY AND IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS). TOTAL REPAIR $1173. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10721821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,490 miles Normal, IL

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO INCREASE IN SPEED WITHOUT MY CONTROL. IT WENT FROM 65 TO 90 IN A FEW SECONDS AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO WE CAN NEVER LET THE GAS GET LOWER THEN A QUARTER OF A TANK OR THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN LIKE ITS EMPTY. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL JUST REV UP FOR NO REASON AND OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS AND IT FEELS LIKE THE SPEED IS DELAYED BUT THEN WILL CATCH UP.

NHTSA complaint #10616980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Saginaw, MN

ENGINE

THE ACCELERATOR HESITATES WHEN PRESSED. THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND WILL THEN ACCELERATE RAPIDLY WHEN AT A STOP AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE FOR REPAIRS. RECURRING ISSUE. ALSO HAS A POPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE IN BACK PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER HAS DUPLICATED BUT NOT REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10615532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Chevrolet Suburban problems

← Full 2011 Chevrolet Suburban report