YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Suburban Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 39 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban, 28% of all 141 complaints filed for the year. The median mileage at failure was 96,000 miles, and one crash was linked to this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
39
28% of 141
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
96,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report hard, abrupt jerking or lurching between gears, sometimes with the RPM gauge spiking before the vehicle suddenly stops moving.
  • Some describe a hesitation when pressing the accelerator followed by a delayed, forceful surge forward.
  • Several owners report full transmission failure requiring replacement, with dealers reportedly acknowledging that other 2017 Suburban owners had the same problem.
  • Owners describe shuddering and shaking accompanied by a loss of power, including one case where the vehicle would not respond in park, drive, or reverse.
  • Whirling or abnormal sounds from the transmission area are reported alongside the jerking, sometimes appearing right before a diagnostic visit.

When 2017 Chevrolet Suburban transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 12, 2019, latest Aug 10, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Suburban transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2019Jun 2021Jun 2022Dec 2022Jul 2023Jan 2024Jan 2025Jun 2026
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2022 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban

  1. NHTSA 26V289000May 7, 2026Transmission & Powertrain66 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

    Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Suburban model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20101 (1%)
  2. 20118 (3%)
  3. 20125 (5%)
  4. 20136 (5%)
  5. 20145 (8%)
  6. 201547 (11%)
  7. 201645 (20%)
  8. 201739 (28%)
  9. 201817 (21%)
  10. 201938 (49%)
  11. 202010 (23%)
  12. 202136 (18%)
  13. 202232 (26%)
  14. 202320 (14%)
  15. 20247 (17%)
  16. 20255 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA lists 39 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Suburban, which is 28% of the 141 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2017 Suburban transmission problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 96,000 miles.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban?
The related recall on file (campaign 26V289000) covers 2026 model-year GM SUVs and trucks with 4WD or all-wheel drive, not the 2017 Suburban directly.
Did the 2017 Suburban transmission issues cause any crashes?
NHTSA data links one crash to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Suburban, with no reported fires or injuries.
How does the 2017 Suburban compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2017 model's 28% share of complaints in this area is higher than 2015 (11%), 2016 (20%), and 2018 (21%), though lower than 2019's 49%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.