2019 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 77 complaints (48.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 49.4% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 11.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 37 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Power Train: 37; Engine: 25; Electrical System: 6; Steering: 6; Seat Belts: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2019: 3; 2020: 8; 2021: 6; 2022: 7; 2023: 8; 2024: 6; 2025: 22; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 38 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11308560 · 2020-02-11 (February 11, 2020)
2019 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 4X4. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ADDITIONALLY, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND FACING FORWARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419159 · 2021-06-01 (June 1, 2021)
As I first started the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed and the transmission in Park, I heard and felt a grinding similar to what would be heard and felt when the ABS is activated when braking on a slippery surface such as snow or ice. At that point, the "Service Brake Assist" message was displayed in the center of the instrument cluster. I cleared the message to let the vehicle move. Every time that I depressed the brake pedal, the same thing would happen -- grinding similar to what would be heard and felt when the ABS being activated…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325089 · 2020-05-19 (May 19, 2020)
2019 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP, I HEARD AND FELT A GRINDING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL WAS A LITTLE "MUSHY" AS WELL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYED A WARNING WHICH SAID "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST." THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER SENSOR. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED EACH TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, WHETHER I WAS IN MY SUBDIVISION AT VERY LOW SPEED OR ON A FOUR LANE DIVIDED SECONDA…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297147 · 2020-01-04 (January 4, 2020)
STEERING DANGERIOUSLY STIFF, VEHICLE TAKES CONTROL AWAY FROM THE DRIVER VEHICLE WILL NOT TRAC STREIGHT, VEHICLE STALLS, LURCHES RUNS INTO OTHER VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDDLE TO SENSETIVE ENGINE UNRESPONSIVE DANGERIOUS
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11491273 · 2022-10-28 (October 28, 2022)
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while pressing the accelerator pedal. The contact indicated that the RPM would increase but the vehicle would not respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the catalytic converter; however, after retrieving the vehicle, the failure recurred and the vehicle stalled while driving on the freeway. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11491273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11241952 · 2019-08-06 (August 6, 2019)
DRIVING OUR NEWLY PURCHASED 4 WEEK OLD SUBURBAN DOWN I95. FOLLOWING A BATHROOM BREAK AT A REST STOP, WE LOADED UP IN THE CAR, STARTED IT VIA THE PUSH IGNITION AND DROVE DOWN THE ON RAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE HOOD. A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ENSUED. WE WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40MPH, WHEN THE SMOKE BECAME SUDDENLY HEAVY. WE PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF. FOR 30-40 SECONDS, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF, RATHER, IT SHOOK AND SPUTTERED. WE EVACUATED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11495339 · 2022-11-29 (November 29, 2022)
Electrical: Noticed a few months ago that the lane assistance/departure and blind spot warning work off and on. At times the blind spot warning does not warn and will when there is nothing there. Lane assistance and departure have the same issue. Transmission: Gears slipping. I am not a mechanic but there were no telltale signs until it just went out on me while driving with my children in the car! The only thing I noticed in several months prior was that the vehicle would shake as if you were running over the paved warning bumps on the side o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253855 · 2019-09-13 (September 13, 2019)
2019 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM. *LD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER OUT OF THE LANE. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAUSING TENDONITIS TO THE HANDS AND ARMS, HEADACHES, AND FATIGUE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO ADJUST TO THE CONSUMER'S DRIVING. *JS *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11253855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11750421 · 2026-07-14 (July 14, 2026)
Since December 2020, our Suburban has been in for seven extended, documented dealership repair events at Guaranty Chevrolet and Simpson Chevrolet of Garden Grove, totaling 192 cumulative days out of service and $47,560.86 in documented repair invoices , approximately 71% of what we paid for the vehicle. Those repairs have included a complete transmission replacement (58,861 miles), a recurrence of the same active-lifter defect only ten days later, an ignition coil failure, fuel injector and air conditioning failures, an oil pump failure, and, m…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11750421 at NHTSA ↗