FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAS LOCKED UP, STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE
2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
51 reports with mileage · 29 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
5 reportsTHE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE HAS BECOME DETACHED DUE TO VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE.
WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE RIGHT BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE IS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND IT QUICKLY LUNGES FORWARD RIGHT BEFORE IT GETS COMPLETELY STOPPED. HAS DONE THIS ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IF I HAD BEEN VERY CLOSE TO THE CAR/OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME I MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. …
Read full complaint
WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE RIGHT BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE IS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND IT QUICKLY LUNGES FORWARD RIGHT BEFORE IT GETS COMPLETELY STOPPED. HAS DONE THIS ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IF I HAD BEEN VERY CLOSE TO THE CAR/OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME I MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. *TR
THE VEHICLE IS ONE WEEK OLD WITH 1200 MILES ON THE CLOCK. THE PROPSHAFTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTING. THE YOKES ARE RUSTED. DEALER SAID GM REFUSED TO FURTHER PERFORM REPAIR AND CONSIDER IT NORMAL. *TR
TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL LUNGE SOMETIMES JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BE HIT LIGHTLY FROM THE BACK END. HAVE COME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING OTHER CARS. THE LUNGE LAST FOR JUST A SPLIT SECOND.
Official recalls
211V339000 · Steering:linkages
Jun 28, 2011
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
11V007000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle
Jan 6, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration