General Motors has issued another safety recall affecting full size Chevrolet SUVs after identifying a transmission defect that raises the risk of a crash due to the rear wheels locking while the vehicle is in motion.
The recall involves certain units of the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban, two of the brand’s best known and bestselling large sport utility vehicles. The action comes after the automaker discovered that a key component in the transmission system could wear prematurely and fail under certain driving conditions.
Transmission Valve Failure Could Cause Sudden Wheel Lock-Up
According to reports filed with U.S. safety regulators, the problem centers on the transmission control valve body, a critical component responsible for regulating hydraulic pressure inside the transmission.
If excessive wear occurs within the valve assembly, hydraulic pressure may drop unexpectedly. That pressure loss can cause harsh shifting and, in rare cases, lead to the rear wheels locking momentarily while driving.
While the lock up may last only a fraction of a second, even a brief loss of wheel rotation can destabilize a vehicle at highway speeds. Drivers could temporarily lose control, especially on slippery roads or while towing heavy loads.
The recall covers approximately 43,700 full size SUVs across several General Motors brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC models that share similar drivetrain components. The vehicles were produced using a 10-speed automatic transmission that GM introduced across many trucks and SUVs in recent years.
A Growing Pattern of Transmission Recalls
This latest campaign is closely tied to a much larger recall issued in 2024 that involved more than 460,000 vehicles equipped with similar transmissions. That earlier action included diesel powered versions of GM trucks and SUVs and was also linked to transmission valve wear that could trigger wheel lock up.
The new recall focuses on vehicles that may not have been fully corrected by the earlier repair or that could develop a related failure mode. Federal safety documents indicate that GM opened a new product investigation in late 2025 after identifying a distinct condition affecting certain vehicles with the 10-speed transmission.
Under the remedy plan, dealerships will install updated transmission control module software designed to detect abnormal wear inside the valve body. If the software identifies signs of excessive wear, it will modify transmission behavior to prevent the conditions that could cause the rear wheels to lock.
In some cases, the updated calibration may limit the transmission to lower gears to protect the drivetrain until the vehicle can be serviced. The repair will be performed free of charge for affected owners.
Software Fix Aims to Prevent Loss of Control
GM estimates that only a small percentage of recalled vehicles will actually experience the defect. Nevertheless, the company initiated the recall because the potential safety risk could be significant if the problem occurs during normal driving.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive official notification letters instructing them to schedule a service appointment with a dealership. Drivers can also check whether their SUV is included in the recall by entering their vehicle identification number into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database.
The recall adds to a growing list of transmission related investigations involving modern multi speed automatic gearboxes across the auto industry. As automakers increase the number of gears in automatic transmissions to improve efficiency and performance, the complexity of the internal hydraulic systems has also grown.
For now, GM says the software update should significantly reduce the chances of a wheel lock event. Still, the fact that the issue has prompted multiple recalls highlights the challenges automakers face when managing advanced transmission technologies in heavy duty trucks and large SUVs.