Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Suburban vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Suburban and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Suburban vs FORD F 150: The Suburban averages 85.2 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1131.1. Suburban owners report engine and brake failures, whereas F-150 owners face transmission hard shifting and electrical glitches. Both have recalls, but the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Suburban or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban, a full-size SUV, shows a reliability profile dominated by engine and powertrain complaints, with owners reporting rough running, loss of power, and jerking. Electrical issues also surface, including starting failures and trailer brake warnings. While the complaint count is lower than the F-150's, the nature of the issues—such as sudden power loss and brake failures—can be alarming for a family hauler.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, with powertrain issues leading the list. Owners frequently describe hard shifting and clunking from the 10-speed automatic, along with electrical glitches like camera malfunctions. The sheer number of complaints and recalls suggests a higher likelihood of encountering problems, but many are not catastrophic, focusing on drivability and convenience features.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Suburban | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 852 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 85.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Chevrolet Suburban
- 01ENGINE329
- 02POWER TRAIN197
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM114
- 04SERVICE BRAKES87
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER79
Owners report the engine running rough, jerking, and losing power, often accompanied by a flashing check engine light. This can indicate serious internal issues, potentially leading to stalling or unsafe driving conditions.
Transmission-related complaints mirror engine issues, with jerking and shuddering during acceleration. Some owners also report the vehicle failing to move or shifting erratically, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical problems include the vehicle not starting, with the engine cranking but failing to fire, and false warnings like 'Trailer Brakes Disconnected' that can cause unexpected braking. These issues can leave owners stranded or lead to sudden stops.
Brake-related complaints include messages like 'brake failure' and 'emergency brake failure,' with a loss of braking ability. Owners also report a loud knocking and the vehicle skipping, which may be linked to engine or transmission issues but affects braking confidence.
“7/13/25: Car repeatedly jerking/shuddering/rough ride. A flashing check engine light came on for 10 or 15 minutes. After stopping car and restarting it, the check engine light went off. 9/15/25: Car jerking and another flashing check engine light. Took to dea…”
“Purchased the vehicle on April 7, 2025. On 7/15/25, the car had 6948 mi. and started running rough, had a loss of power, an odor from the engine, and then on the display: check engine, blinking green vehicle light, and a message stating that the car was lower…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is hard and delayed shifting, especially in the 10-speed automatic, with owners describing jerks and clunks between gears. Some report a total loss of power and the vehicle shutting off, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical complaints often involve warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which can disable safety features. Some also report loud bangs from the transmission area, possibly linked to electrical or mechanical faults.
Headlight issues are frequent, with owners reporting failures or malfunctions that reduce visibility at night. This can increase the risk of accidents, especially on unlit roads.
Engine problems, while less frequent than transmission issues, include rough running and potential stalling. Owners may experience a loss of power, which can be dangerous when merging or towing.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Chevrolet Suburban — 36 recalls
The defect: 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 d…
The risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Repai…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly…
The risk: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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, Chev…
The defect: 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 d…
The risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Repai…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Suburban or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Suburban has significantly fewer complaints per year (85.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Suburban's problems often involve critical safety systems like brakes and engine, which can be more severe. In practice, the F-150's higher volume suggests a greater chance of encountering a problem, but many are transmission-related and may be less immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The Suburban has far fewer complaints per year (85.2) than the F-150 (1131.1), but its issues often involve sudden power loss and brake failures, which are critical.
- The F-150's most common problem is transmission hard shifting and clunking, which is annoying but not always immediately dangerous, whereas the Suburban's engine and brake issues can lead to stalling or inability to stop.
- Electrical problems in the Suburban include starting failures and false brake warnings, while the F-150's electrical issues often disable driver-assist features like pre-collision assist.
- The Suburban has 36 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 145, indicating a higher recall frequency for the F-150.
- Inspect the engine for any signs of rough idling or hesitation during a test drive, and check for a history of check engine light issues.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including sudden stops, and listen for any unusual noises or warning messages about brake failure.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 6th gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check the electrical system by starting the truck multiple times and observing if any warning lights like 'Front Camera Malfunction' appear.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if any of the common complaints have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and brakes.
- Check for open recalls on the specific VIN and ensure they have been completed.
- Test drive on both city streets and highways to experience shifting and braking in different conditions.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and engine tune-ups.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Chevrolet Suburban | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 24 |
| 2025 | 30 | 329 |
| 2024 | 39 | 617 |
| 2023 | 119 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 119 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 189 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 44 | 33 |
| 2019 | 77 | 36 |
| 2018 | 81 | 56 |
| 2017 | 141 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Chevrolet Suburban or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Suburban vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Suburban total complaints
- 852
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Suburban total recalls
- 36
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Suburban avg complaints/year
- 85.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Suburban top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN