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Chevrolet Suburban 1500 loss of power problems

29 of the 1,439 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Suburban 1500 describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2002 model year.

owner complaints
29
worst model year
2002
typical mileage
109,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2026
    2
  • 2025
    2
  • 2023
    2
  • 2011
    1
  • 2010
    1
  • 2009
    3
  • 2008
    1
  • 2007
    1
  • 2005
    2
  • 2004
    3
  • 2003
    5
  • 2002
    6

Often reported together

Stalling 3Engine failure 3Check engine light 3Misfire 2Knocking 2Door locks 2

Trouble codes mentioned

P0300 2P1235 1P0700 1P0307 1

What owners say

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · NY

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] while driving my 2026 Chevrolet Suburban (VIN [XXX], approximately 2,795 miles) on [HIGHWAY NAME], the vehicle suddenly lost all power without warning. The check engine light came on, all the dashboard warning lights lit up, the 4WD indicator light came on, and the steering wheel wouldn't turn, making the vehicle very difficult to control at highway speed. The instrument cluster also displayed a "Service Transmission" warning and a "Lane Change Alert System Off" message. The myChevrolet mobile app simultaneously reported "Service Now: Engine and Transmission System" and "Antilock Braking System." I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop and shift into Park. There was no crash and no injuries. The vehicle was purchased new approximately one month earlier (September 2026) and had already been serviced once by the dealer (September 21-22, 2026) for an engine oil leak (oil pan seal failure) and a front-view camera/ADAS software issue. A sudden loss of power at highway speed is a serious safety defect. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed for this incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · VA · crash

While exiting the highway my vehicle suddenly lost power and could not move. I could not put the vehicle in neutral. The engine had completely seized. As a result, my car got hit by a Semi-truck.

Filed Nov 11, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · MI

7/13/25: Car repeatedly jerking/shuddering/rough ride. A flashing check engine light came on for 10 or 15 minutes. After stopping car and restarting it, the check engine light went off. 9/15/25: Car jerking and another flashing check engine light. Took to dealership. They drove it and said no codes stored. Told it was probably the transmission "breaking in." Took home. Car continued to jerk/stumble. 8/28/25 to 9/15/25: Car jerking and flashing check engine light back on. Took to Autozone. A Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Code was detected (P0300). Took to dealership and confirmed P0300 Code stored. GM TAC engineers involved. Told they were unable to figure out why car was having multiple misfires. Returned car to me because no active code/light. 9/29/25: Car jerking and flashing check engine light back on. Got a warning of "reduced acceleration and drive with care." Car lost power. I have video of this and contacted On Star with report generated and P0300 code. On 10/1/25 on way to dealer, car making audible ticking noise. I have video of this. Took to dealer, the ECM was replaced and oil changed because it was "very dark" (in vehicle with 4,600 miles). Car continued to jerk/stumble. Told by dealer that problem would have to get worse before diagnosis could be made. 10/31/25: Jerking and another flashing check engine light with "reduced acceleration drive with care warning." Turned car off and engine light off. On Star report P0300. Took to dealer. The dealership was given the videos of check engine lights/reduced acceleration warnings and ticking noise video. All show problem happening around 1,200 rpms. Told by dealer on 11/11/25 that GM rep said they will not pay dealer for any work because no active engine light/codes. Told to pick up car. Asked dealer today for reason in writing, but no response. Very concerned about vehicle safety when repeatedly going into limp mode and flashing check engine lights with GM offering no solution.

Filed Oct 31, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Purchased the vehicle on April 7, 2025. On 7/15/25, the car had 6948 mi. and started running rough, had a loss of power, an odor from the engine, and then on the display: check engine, blinking green vehicle light, and a message stating that the car was lowering for stability control. Took the vehicle to the closest Chevrolet service. The service dept. determined that code found P0307 and P0300, cylinder seven had the most misfires above 500. After completing oil service, the vehicle began to click on the passenger side; however, it was not misfiring. They inspected and found potential lifter issue. Found ticking coming from cylinder 7 and verified misfires. Found 2 pushrods damaged. Heard noise coming from cylinder 4, removed valve cover, removed rocker arms, and found 1 pushrod damaged. They removed and replaced all lifters and 3 pushrods. They stated there was no more noise //after this repair. These repairs were completed on July 25, 2025. On 8/15/25 took back to service because it continued to run rough and made excessive noise and whistling when starting the vehicle. The dealer inspected and heard the noise, inspected the vehicle exhaust leak, checked exhaust manifolds, pipe connections, and determined there were no issues found. On 9/26/25 at 11,821 miles the car was making excessive noise, running rough, and was losing power. Drove home, and the vehicle was running rougher and losing power. No check engine lights or warnings were present. Drove home, and the vehicle was running rougher and losing power until it turned off. Towed in. Maintenance techs determined catastrophic engine failure, all bearings and engine rods seized. After this repair hen the catalytic converter failed. This car has been out of service due to engine failures for 43 days out of the 204 of ownership.

Filed Jan 18, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CT

When traveling at highway speeds our vehicle suddenly lost all engine power. Driving in the passing lane of [XXX] at 75 mph our 2023 Chevrolet suburban RST 6.2 lost all engine power and went into neutral. We were barely able to make it over to the right breakdown lane without getting hit and making it with no power. We were stranded on the busy interstate for three hours with my wife and three young kids in a very dangerous location. They were scared and because we barely made it into the breakdown lane and so close to speeding traffic had to stand outside of the vehicle close to the woods further from dangerous traffic. The Suburban was flatbedded to nearest Chevrolet dealer where we were told the engine was seized and would need to be totally replaced. We were lucky to be alive but now stranded 1000 miles away from home as we were returning from a vacation in Florida. The sudden lose of all engine power traveling on the highway with our entire family was both scary and dangerous. The suburban has now been in the shop for three weeks with no date in sight to be ready and 1000 miles away. This was a truly dangerous situation and thankfully we came out unscathed but I fear someone else may experience the same type of failure and not be so lucky. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 3, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · AZ

While driving our 2023 Chevrolet Duramax diesel suburban, I was waiting, at a complete stop, against the median to make a U turn. When the traffic cleared, I began the turn when I suddenly noticed a nearly complete loss of power, hesitancy of engine engagement, and little response to the gas pedal being depressed. Then an error message appeared on the dashboard stating "Low acceleration warning". There was very little acceleration power available. The rear wheels seemed to spin. I was perilously endangered while making a U-turn across lanes because of this loss of power. The vehicle was then taken immediately to our local Chevrolet dealer who diagnosed a error code message (P0700, 0747) related to transmission valve and injectors. We are very concerned that this was a dangerous occurrence and should be further investigated. We have a 30-year history of Suburban ownership, however this is our first diesel model. We have never had problems of this significance, or seen this error message before. Since this diesel Suburban is nearly new, we are particularly concerned about the durability and safety of this vehicle. Please see attached servive report. The AC compressor was also failed and replaced

Filed Dec 26, 2018 · 109,000 miles · MD

On three (3) separate occasions in the past year, the vehicle enters what appears to be an "electrical system reset" of sorts. This has occurred on long distance trips during operation at highway speeds. The entire electrical system will suddenly power off and on repeatedly, the electric door locks will unlock and relock, the engine will lose power (quite scary at highway speeds) and the vehicle must be removed from the road, powered down, let sit idle for 5-10 minutes and then can be restarted to a normal operating condition. It is almost as if the computer system is resetting itself while the vehicle is in operation and moving. This has happened three (3) times in the past year - all on long trips - march, july, and november. The most recent, instance occurred about three hours into a return trip home and recurred again about 1-1/2 hours later (10 minutes from home) during the same trip. By restarting/resetting the vehicle, I was able to get home. I took to advanced auto and the diagnostic came up negative - no codes, battery and startup all good. I have a large family and use this vehicle to transport them around town and for vacations and such. This is quite a dangerous situation when it occurs and I am afraid it may leave us stranded at some point in time, or worse.

Filed Jun 20, 2018 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 86,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Jan 5, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 810,000 miles · OR

While driving, vehicle suddenly goes into "reduced engine power" mode ("limp mode") with console message "traction contol disabled, service stabilitrak, engine power reduced". Generally occurs when temperatures are lower than 25 degrees farenheit. Shutting down vehicle for several minutes and restarting leads to normal operation, however vehicle will generally repeat same problem within 5-15 minutes if outside temperature is cold enough (below 25 degrees farenheit) . Error code p1235 (throttle position sensor 1-2 correlation...) is set, but may not persist in memory. Gm is providing owners with additional protections for 10 years/120,000 miles under csc-10047220-3332 (bulletin no. 11273), however not all vins are included. Vehicle had throttle body (including sensor) replaced in 2010 and appears to be exhibiting exact problems covered by this bulletin, however gm dealer and gm are not extending protection for this vehicle. Dealer is recommending another new throttle position sensor and/or throttle body (including sensor), along with computer reset. This intermittent problem has occurred for more than three years and poses a significant safety risk when the vehicle is in motion at normal highway speeds (drastic sudden deceleration in traffic).

Filed Jan 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 150,000 miles · TX

Traveling on hwy 35 in dallas texas and message appeared on instrument cluster "reduced power mode". Vehicle speed dropped to 20 MPH (posted speed was 70 MPH). Had to have vehicle towed to dealership and a fix has not been determined. The dealer so far has charged me $900 and it did not fix it.this same problems been posted on gm forums, gm truck forums with these same results. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of complaints for this issue. It is very unsafe.

Related recalls

Engine and engine coolingReported August 3, 2006 · 38,439 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.
Risk
If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 and gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463.

Recall number 06V289000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Suburban 1500 loss of power

Which Chevrolet Suburban 1500 years have sudden loss of power problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2002 (6 complaints), 2003 (5 complaints) and 2004 (3 complaints).

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