CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year

2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

104 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 104 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 SUBURBAN is engine with 17 filings, followed by electrical system (14) and service brakes (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2018 SUBURBAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

104
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

104 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14
SERVICE BRAKES12
POWER TRAIN11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
STEERING8
SEAT BELTS5
AIR BAGS4
WHEELS4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
SUSPENSION2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2

Recalls (3)

18V67300026/09/2018

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly pre

19V76100024/10/2019

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is tra

19V64500006/09/2019

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

Recent Complaints

20260205Other/I am not sure

I am reporting a safety issue involving a Cybex Eternis S child car seat. The seat was manufactured on 02/28/2020 and has a printed expiration date of 02/25/2030, indicating a 10 year usable life. At approximately five years of use, the head impact foam failed and is broken into two separate pieces. The foam pieces are detached. This foam is a required safety component. Cybex customer service confirmed in writing that if the head impact foam is detached or broken into separate pieces, the seat does not meet safety requirements and should not be used. Cybex also confirmed that no replacement part is available and no repair or remedy is offered. As a result, the seat is unsafe and unusable halfway through its stated usable life, with no ability to repair or replace the failed safety component. This raises concerns about product safety support for child restraint systems marketed with extended usable lifespans.

20260202ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was parked and running, or while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. Occasionally, the vehicle was able to be restarted; however, on other occasions, the vehicle required towing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the battery cable and ignition switch were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 208,257.

Mileage: 208,257

20260202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was parked and running, or while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. Occasionally, the vehicle was able to be restarted; however, on other occasions, the vehicle required towing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the battery cable and ignition switch were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 208,257.

Mileage: 208,257

20260131ENGINE

1.) January 29 2026 @6:00PM Vehicle was in use. Driver accelerated to avoid another vehicle and the engine loss all power. When pushing on the accelerator the tachometer would increase as if I was reving the engine however there was no power. SAFETY ISSUE: With power completly lost, I had to coast over to the should of highway 10 and sit on the shoulder. Vehicle had to be turned off and restarted in order for the vehicle to have power. ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2.) March of 2021 - Vehicle was in use. Driver accelerated to merge with traffice and the engine experienced a loss of all power. When pushing on the accelerator the tachometer would increase as if I was reving the engine however there was no power. Driver contacted ON-STAR seeking assistance. ON-STAR rep advised that I pull over onto the shoulder of the

20251217LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Transmission will not go into drive or reverse. This also happens when car is in drive going down the road it will all of a sudden lose power and not go when pressing gas pedal. Vehicle has to completely shut off several times before it will go back into gear. No warning before it started. This can be dangerous when it happens in traffic and I can’t move car out of the road. It has not been inspected yet. Also blind spot warning does not always says it needs serviced.

20251217POWER TRAIN

Transmission will not go into drive or reverse. This also happens when car is in drive going down the road it will all of a sudden lose power and not go when pressing gas pedal. Vehicle has to completely shut off several times before it will go back into gear. No warning before it started. This can be dangerous when it happens in traffic and I can’t move car out of the road. It has not been inspected yet. Also blind spot warning does not always says it needs serviced.

20251216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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!

20251106POWER TRAIN

Transmission has to be replaced due to transmission slipping and delayed shifting under heat and prolonged highway driving. This issue also causes SUDDEN hard shifting, hard breaking, shaking of the steering wheel, along with grinding of gears!! This is a safety issue to to no warning signs at all along with a sudden drop in speed and power!! While driving on the interstate or highway this sudden change can cause the vehicles behind you to rear end you or cause a pile up!!! The driver has no control of vehicle when these issues happen!! A loss in control due to shaking of the steering wheel is a huge issue!!! Lack of shifting or hard shifting causes a SUDDEN stop of vehicle with no warning signs while driving!! It is going to cause a crash!!!! These are serious and dangerous issues that Gm will NOT do a recall for!! GM is aware of the issues due to Suburban, Tahoe and Silverado vehicles in the year models 2018-2023 having this reoccurring issue!!! I recall needs to be done to save som

20251014WHEELS

Wheels 22" Chrome upgrade from the standard wheels from the factory The tire bead where the chrome meets the interior alloy metal corrodes. Thetires start losing air pressure. The tires should be 35 PSI. The front tire dropped to 23 PSI making sterring pull to the right. This is a problem with all 4 tires on the 2018 Chev Suburban Premier. I need to check tire pressure weekly

20250912SERVICE 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. Before this going uphill is extremely sluggish, where I have the gas peddle almost to the floor, but nothing happens other than decrease in speed until it finally, about 30 seconds-1 minute, where it kicks into overdrive. Even then, speed does not increase by more than 5-10 mph depending on the incline. I have not brought it to get looked at yet, as I've seen these issues have been reported by numerous consumers without any recalls being sent out other than the breaking system update.

20250912ENGINE

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. Before this going uphill is extremely sluggish, where I have the gas peddle almost to the floor, but nothing happens other than decrease in speed until it finally, about 30 seconds-1 minute, where it kicks into overdrive. Even then, speed does not increase by more than 5-10 mph depending on the incline. I have not brought it to get looked at yet, as I've seen these issues have been reported by numerous consumers without any recalls being sent out other than the breaking system update.

20250912UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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. Before this going uphill is extremely sluggish, where I have the gas peddle almost to the floor, but nothing happens other than decrease in speed until it finally, about 30 seconds-1 minute, where it kicks into overdrive. Even then, speed does not increase by more than 5-10 mph depending on the incline. I have not brought it to get looked at yet, as I've seen these issues have been reported by numerous consumers without any recalls being sent out other than the breaking system update.

20250825ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

20250825UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

20250622POWER TRAIN

Dear NHTSA, I am submitting this complaint to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with the transmission in my 2018 Chevrolet Suburban, which I purchased brand new in 2018. At approximately 60,000 miles, I experienced severe transmission issues that led to a complete transmission replacement. Now, at around 133,000 miles, I am encountering the same symptoms once again. The transmission makes a loud clunking noise during acceleration and braking, and shifts gears abruptly and harshly. These symptoms appeared suddenly, with no warning lights or prior alerts. This problem poses a significant safety concern. The vehicle sometimes struggles to accelerate properly, making it dangerous to merge into traffic. Additionally, the forceful shifting makes the vehicle feel unstable and unpredictable, as though something beneath the car might fail while in motion. I transport my husband and our children in this vehicle, and this issue puts all of us at serious risk. I have scheduled

20250430POWER TRAIN

My Suburban is having the same issues as the most recent recall on the 2021-2025 Chevrolets. The issue is with pretty much all of the motors that go from the V8 to the 4 cylinders. It's doing the same exact thing a friend of mine's 2019 Tahoe did. It's making a loud knocking/ticking noise. When you first get to going it starts almost sputtering which can cause issues if you're in oncoming traffic trying to cross roads.

20250425UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Infotainment center display is black and therefore unable to utilize backup camera. The screen is still sensitive to touch but does not display anything for any function. Primarily a safety risk for backing up a large vehicle.

20250424ENGINE

LIFTER ISSUES AFTER 60000 MILES HAD TO REPLACE ALL AROUND 5000 DOLLARS

20250423ENGINE

Currently own a 2018 Chevy Suburban with a lifter issue in the engine. This is a known issue with Chevy as many vehicles have experienced this problem from zero to over 100k miles. Chevy has not issued any help or support with customers with this issue. My vehicle is well maintained I get oil changes frequently and have never not done a required service when needed. When I notice an issue I immediately take it to in Regal Chevy for repairs and no matter what the issue is I get it repaired on the spot. I find it odd that this is a recurring issue and Chevy has done nothing to help support loyal customers.

20250325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the instrument cluster failed to function as intended. The instrument panel flickered intermittently and then went black, preventing the contact from safely operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

Mileage: 132,000

Compare 2018CHEVROLETSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN have?
The 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 104 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
Yes, the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
The most-complained component for the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is ENGINE with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2018 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.