2018 Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Report

Valve lifters fail, causing ticking or rattling, rough idle, misfires, and in some cases a sudden loss of power on the road. Dealers call it a known issue that can also damage the camshaft. No recall covers it, and repair quotes run to several thousand dollars. One lifter failure came after 60000 miles. Some owners link the problem to Active Fuel Management. Other reports describe stalls dealers cannot duplicate, a failed fuel injector, and a water pump that blew and dumped coolant.

Air conditioning stops blowing cold, usually because of a failed condenser. Owners point out that the condenser was recalled on 2015-2017 Suburbans but not on 2018 models, so they pay for repairs themselves, and some need the fix more than once. Other reports describe a black infotainment screen that also disables the backup camera and a failing UV coating on the hood and roof. One report describes a slipping torque converter with metal shavings in the transmission fluid. Another describes sluggish uphill acceleration and weak braking.

Second-row seat belt retractors stop retracting or locking, often on the captain's chairs. That leaves the seat unusable and makes it hard to secure a child seat. Several owners report both second-row belts failing. Warning signs include slow retraction and loud clicking before the belt quits. One dealer blamed child car seat use. Owners outside warranty pay for the repair, with estimates around $500 or more. One report describes a rear center belt that will not extend.

The brake pedal turns hard and is nearly impossible to press, which sharply cuts stopping power. It happens at highway speed and in reverse. A brake assist message, the ABS light, or a Hill Descent Assist disabled message may appear. In some cases dealers replaced the vacuum pump, then the brake booster when the problem returned. One booster failure came at about 39,000 miles. Owners describe pulling onto the shoulder or standing on the pedal to stop.

Front-end crashes end with no deployment in two reports, which together list 4 people injured. One of those crashes happened at about 4,700 miles. Another owner reports a driver warning light traced to the overhead airbag, with the repair waiting on parts. In a separate case, a buyer who purchased from a private third party found that no air bags were installed, and the DMV refused to register the vehicle.

Tires slowly lose air because the alloy wheels corrode where the tire bead seats. Pressure can drop enough to make the steering pull, and owners end up checking tire pressure every week. Reports name the 22-inch chrome wheels on the Premier as well as factory alloy rims in general. Tire shops say the fix is refurbishing or replacing the rims. If corrosion goes far enough, it could cause a sudden loss of pressure.

Problems center on the capless fuel filler. On one nearly new vehicle, the filler neck was replaced because a missing O-ring kept the fuel tank from pressurizing and triggered a fault code. In another case, the filler's automatic flap broke shortly after purchase. Neither report mentions a fire, a leak, or a loss of power. Both read as nuisance failures rather than safety risks.