NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 91 complaints against the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 Chevrolet Suburban complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban has generated 199 NHTSA complaints and has 3 active recalls. If your 2023 Chevrolet Suburban has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Chevrolet pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 83 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “Regarding a catastrophic engine failure involving my 2023 Chevrolet Suburban equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine. There is an active GM service bulletin that we never received from either Crabtree or GM. Vehicle details: • Purchased in North Carolina in 2024 • Approximately 4,000 miles at purchase (used, still under factory warranty) • Currently at approximately 60,000 miles • Within the 5yr/60k powertrain warranty at the time of failure Incident details: On Friday 2/20, the engine experienced a confirmed catastrophic failure while my wife was driving on the interstate at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly lost power, creating a significant safety hazard. She was able to maneuver to safety, but the situation presented a serious risk of injury. GM has since towed the vehicle and confirmed catastrophic engine failure. We have been provided a rental vehicle – not a comparable one either (they refuse to address that also). Given the safety exposure and warranty status, I am evaluating potential potential claims including breach of warranty, implied warranty of merchantability, and any product liability considerations. I am also interested in understanding leverage for buyback, diminished value, risk of serious injury to my wife, or extended warranty resolution. I have preserved documentation, service records, and a written account of the incident.” (NHTSA Complaint #11721619)
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban has generated 14 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Transmission, got a message stating the service transmission or won’t be able to shift. Took it in to the dealership was advised that car can shut down at any moment. As that what they have been seeing.” (NHTSA Complaint #11719940)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 9 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “My 2023 Chevy Suburban High Country had the L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion (Related field action: See Special Coverage N252494003) recall performed on it and completed on August 15, 2025. Higher viscosity oil was put in. This was at approximately 55,000 miles. While driving on the highway at 60mph on December 29, 2025 the vehicle twice lost propulsion and indicated the vehicle needed to be restarted. I took it to a Chevy dealer to have looked at in early January 2026 and they could find no issues or codes. On January 31, 2026 while driving on the hwy at 75 miles per hour the vehicle started to rattle and it lost propulsion. The DIC indicatd “System Failure” and I had to pull off to the shoulder of the highway. The DIC repeated “System Failure” and that the vehicle needed to be restarted. The vehicle would not restart when attempting to press the brake and restart. This happened on a busy interstate and the safety and well being of my family inside was put at a risk that could have been avoided, likely if the engine would have been replaced in August of 2025. The temperature outside was in the single digits and there was no air pushing through the vehicle while we waited for a tow truck and another family member to pick us up off the highway. There was no warning lights or messages prior to this happening. The vehicle is currenlty undergoing diagnostic testing at a Chevy dealership. This happened at 69,000 miles. This is highly concerning that this could happen in a 95,000 dollar vehicle. This is absolutely a saftey risk. I’m lucky I was able to merge on the interstate in a vehicle that could not maintain the speed with traffic and pull off to the shoulder.” (NHTSA Complaint #11715199)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 8 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “Following extensive research & uncovering the fact that there are several class action lawsuits underway calling out GM for not issuing a formal recal…”
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 8 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Since purchasing the car in March 2023, the battery has died 5-7 times. We contacted our dealer and they claimed nothing wrong and the battery was fine. We have contacted them about this issue and there is no fix. They performed an update in June 2025 which was supposed to fix it but it didn’t. The latest it has died is November 25. There was nothing left on for the battery to die. I have 4 children and it’s starting to get very cold outside. I live in a rural area with poor cell reception. I am worried I’ll be stranded somewhere with a new baby and 3 younger children.” (NHTSA Complaint #11701963)
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban by the NHTSA or Chevrolet. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac custo
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
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 le
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Chevrolet Suburban:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Chevrolet to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Chevrolet Suburban qualifies as a lemon under California law, Chevrolet may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Chevrolet a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Chevrolet dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Chevrolet pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Chevrolet a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Chevrolet Suburban has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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