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: Over 10 years, the Suburban averaged 87.8 complaints per year and had 36 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year and had 151 recalls. The Suburban also had 0 deaths vs 1 for the F-150. 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 is a large SUV often used for family hauling and towing. Over 10 years, it averaged about 88 complaints per year, with most issues reported in the engine, power train, and electrical systems. Owners describe serious problems like engine shuddering, sudden loss of power, and brake failures. These patterns suggest that while the Suburban is capable, it may require more frequent attention to major components than some buyers expect.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup popular for work and daily driving. It averaged about 1,162 complaints per year over the same period, with the highest counts in power train, electrical, and lighting. Owners report recurring transmission problems, electrical glitches, and even rear window shattering. The volume of complaints indicates that many owners experience persistent issues that can affect safety and reliability.
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 | 878 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 87.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 Better | 297 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE345
- 02POWER TRAIN202
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM117
- 04SERVICE BRAKES87
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER81
Owners report jerking, shuddering, and flashing check engine lights, with some cases of engine seizure at low mileage. These symptoms can lead to sudden loss of power and expensive repairs.
Complaints include rough running, loss of power, and transmission issues that may cause the vehicle to enter limp mode. This can leave drivers stranded or unable to accelerate safely.
Problems range from trailer brake disconnection warnings to vehicles that crank but won't start due to electronic transmission issues. These faults can disable towing features or prevent the vehicle from being moved.
Reports describe brake failure, including a master cylinder defect that caused the brakes to come and go. This is a critical safety concern because it can prevent the vehicle from stopping.
“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…”
“While driving down a two-lane blacktop road at 70 MPH (the posted speed limit) the engine, a 6.2 L L87 with a little over 15,000 miles, grenaded and seized. At the time I recall a warning message that said something like "engine shutdown". Fortunately the ele…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission malfunctions, such as limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures. These issues can cause sudden loss of power and near-collisions, requiring costly repairs.
Complaints include lead frame problems and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical glitches can also cause rear window defroster shorts and shattered windows.
Some owners report rear window shattering after using the defroster, which can be dangerous and costly. The cause is often linked to electrical shorts.
While specific complaint text is not provided, the high number of complaints in this area suggests lighting failures that could affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Suburban or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Suburban has far fewer complaints per year (about 88) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162). This means that, on average, Suburban owners report fewer issues, but both vehicles have serious problems in key areas like engine, transmission, and brakes. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint rate suggests a greater likelihood of encountering recurring faults.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 13 times more complaints per year than the Chevrolet Suburban, indicating a much higher rate of owner-reported issues.
- The F-150's most common complaint area is power train, with recurring transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, while the Suburban's top issue is engine problems like shuddering and seizure.
- The Suburban has 0 deaths reported in the data, while the F-150 has 1 death, though both have crash-related complaints and injuries.
- Electrical system complaints are prominent in both, but the F-150 also has many exterior lighting complaints, which are not a top category for the Suburban.
- During a test drive, listen for engine jerking or shuddering and watch for a flashing check engine light, as these are common owner complaints.
- Check for any signs of brake issues, such as a soft or failing pedal, and ask if the master cylinder has been replaced, since failures have been reported.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear, as these are frequent complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and test the defroster, as some owners report the window shattering after use due to electrical shorts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for engine, transmission, and electrical issues.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or shifting problems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission fluid changes and any engine or brake repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed by a dealership, and confirm with NHTSA using the VIN.
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 | 15 | 35 |
| 2025 | 30 | 345 |
| 2024 | 42 | 638 |
| 2023 | 125 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 124 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 198 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 44 | 44 |
| 2019 | 78 | 52 |
| 2018 | 81 | 79 |
| 2017 | 141 | 59 |
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
- 878
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet Suburban total recalls
- 36
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet Suburban avg complaints/year
- 87.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Suburban top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN