The vehicle experienced an initial incident of significant engine power loss while traveling at highway speeds approximately two weeks prior to the eventual complete engine failure. During that incident, the vehicle unexpectedly lost engine power while traveling at speeds exceeding 65 mph. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, a second incident occurred within approximately one-half mile of leaving my residence. The vehicle again experienced a significant loss of engine power. I had already notified the dealership of the this occurrence and had a scheduled appointment for repairs the following day. I was attempting to drive the vehicle to the dealership as planned. Shortly after leaving my neighborhood, I stopped at a nearby gas station after the vehicle displayed a "Low Oil Pressure" warning on the dashboard. I also subsequently received an email notification from OnStar identifying diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0016. The vehicle was then driven again and subsequently experienced a catastrophic and complete loss of engine power while traveling at highway speeds above 65 mph. Following this failure, the engine would not turn over or crank and the vehicle could not be restarted. The sequence of events is significant because the vehicle had previously experienced engine power loss at highway speeds, the dealership had been notified of the initial incident, and the vehicle was being driven to the dealership for its scheduled repair appointment when the second power-loss event occurred. The vehicle subsequently suffered complete engine failure. I am documenting these events, including the dates, circumstances, dashboard warning, OnStar diagnostic notification, and sequence of failures, for purposes of establishing the history of the vehicle's mechanical problem and the circumstances leading to the catastrophic engine failure.
2023 Chevrolet Suburban: won't start
7 of the 133 complaints about the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- recalls
- 1
Won't start by model year
What owners say
I was driving the vehicle and without warning it just stopped shut off and immediately shot an error code that there was a critical issue with the engine and that the oil pressure was low, and the vehicle would not start and was not drivable. It had to be towed to a dealership.
I was driving my family to San Antonio for a vacation when the vehicle suddenly stopped working. The display read restart engine but the car just abruptly stopped and I was forced to pull to the side of the road. Once the car came to a complete stop the car shifted into park and could not shift out of park. The car would not start, display would read conditions not met? I had to have the car towed to the dealership. They are giving me a hard time.
[XXX], driving on [XXX] at mile marker [XXX], 4 miles east of Moorcroft, Wyoming, the vehicle lost power and engine quit. We made it to the side of the road and vehicle would not start. The temperature was negative 5 degrees. With cell phone service, we were able to secure a ride and a towing company before we got extremely cold in the car. The vehicle was towed by Manning's Towing of Gillette, Wyoming to White's Frontier Motors, 444 Skyline Drive, Gillette, WY 82718. After 10 days in the shop, the service department diagnosed the engine was inoperable and the vehicle would need a new engine. There was no indication of the engine failure prior to its failure. To date I have had 15 communications with the service department at the dealership and GM Motors with no resolution or date of repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was cruising at 45 - 50 mph and the vehicle went into NEUTRAL, shut off, would not restart, and would not shift into drive. I pulled into a Publix. I pressed the start /Stop button and the dash turned off. I turn pressed the brake and pressed the ignition button and the Suburban started up. Drove out of the parking lot and began accelerating when the vehicle shut off again. I could not restart the vehicle. I was able to coast into a gas station parking lot, but half of the vehicle was sticking out into the road. The vehicle would not go into neutral and would not start. The vehicle was towed to Palm Chevrolet in Ocala, Florida.
I was driving on [XXX] in rural Montana (zero cell phone coverage) on [XXX] (freezing weather, snow packed roads). Without warning the suburban just shut down. It seemed to still have "power". interior lights worked ect. but the engine just died. I tried to pull mostly off of the road but I couldn't get it entirely off of the road because of the snow pushed off of the road by snow plows. I tried to restart the vehicle several times but it would not turn over. I assumed it was an electrical issue at the time. There was zero warning that there was any engine issue. When a mechanic finally had the opportunity to look into the issue he told me the engine has seized up. I had to walk several miles in the cold hoping to get cell phone service to get to a place to warm up. I also couldn't get the vehicle off of the road and I was sure the vehicle was going to be hit or cause an accident on the narrow highway. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving the vehicle on an interstate highway with the flow of traffic at 70 mph, without warning the engine shut off. This caused loss of speed and loss of power steering, almost causing me to be hit in the rear end twice at highway speeds. There were no warning lights or any instrument indication prior to the failure. After barely being able to get the vehicle into the brakedown lane, the vehicle would not restart. The electronics all worked, there were no warnings or indicator lights but the engine would not start despite multiple attempts by myself and the tow truck driver. The vehicle is currently at the dealership being diagnosed.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have...
- Under Field Actions N252494000, N252494001, the service procedure includes performing a PICO test on...
- Condition that could
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the camshaft actuator magnet to correct customer...
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- This bulletin advises the tech to inspect deeper into what may be to main
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle...
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000...
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
- Risk
- Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
Recall number 25V274000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
7 of 133 owner complaints about the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban (5%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 1999.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
There is 1 recall and 106 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban
Engine failure 37Check engine light 18Loss of power 16Knocking 6Stalling 6Misfire 5
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