Chevrolet Suburban Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Chevrolet Suburban options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2017β2026 has 806 NHTSA complaints and 40 recalls. Engine issues lead with 303 complaints, followed by powertrain at 191. Crash-related complaints are low at 26. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Suburban
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 806
- Safety recall campaigns
- 40
- Crash-related complaints
- 26
- Fire-related complaints
- 8
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2021 (180 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (37 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Chevrolet Suburban: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Suburban 2017β2026 has 806 complaints and 40 recalls, with engine (303) and powertrain (191) as top concerns. Crash-related complaints are low at 26. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Engine complaints total 303, the highest of any component.
- Powertrain complaints total 191, the second most common issue.
- 2021 model year has 180 complaints, the most of any year.
- Engine issues including possible stalling or loss of power.
- Powertrain problems such as transmission failure or driveline noise.
- Electrical system malfunctions affecting various vehicle functions.
2021 (180 complaints) and 2017 (140 complaints) have the highest complaint counts, driven largely by engine and powertrain issues.
2024β2026 show fewer complaints (37, 27, 10 respectively), but data is limited due to newer model years.
- Obtain a professional mechanic inspection focusing on engine and powertrain.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for engine, transmission, and electrical repairs.
- Test drive to check for transmission shudder, engine hesitation, or brake pulsation.
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
40 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
WHEELS:HUB
WHEELS:HUB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
SUSPENSION:REAR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
TIRES
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 806 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
806 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Transmission faulty, loud, clunky and hard shifting! Service transmission now alert and code P0747
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked at an angle, and the message "Power Steering Not Active" was displayed, causing the vehicle to strike a curb. The steering column, control arm, radiator, fender, and wheel were significantly damaged due to the incident. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an investigation was completed. The failure mileage was 58,277.
On May 2, 2026, while the vehicle was in operation, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. At the time of failure, the instrument panel remained illuminated; however, the vehicle would not restart. In an effort to resolve the issue, the battery was replaced, but this did not correct the problem. The vehicle was then towed to a local Chevrolet dealership for further inspection and diagnosis. Following their assessment, I was informed by the dealershipβs service department that the engine had seized and that metal debris was present in the engine oil, indicating significant internal engine failure. I was further advised that a replacement engine has been ordered. At no point prior to this incident were there any warning indicators, abnormal noises, or performance issues that would have suggested an impending engine failure. The sudden nature of this incident raises concerns regarding the cause of failure and whether it may be related to a defect or internal mechanical issue.
1. Sunroof 2. Driving on 81 N slightly past the Middlesex exit at highway speeds. My 4 minor children and I heard what sounded like a large balloon popping inside my car. Upon further inspection, my sunroof spontaneously exploded. Absolutely nothing hit our car. The more research Iβm doing, this is a known issue with GM manufactures and they have done nothing to correct this issue. 3. Iβm working on getting a repair scheduled, once we figure out if itβs under warranty or we have to pay for it through insurance. 4. No warnings
Windshield wipers stopped working
The vehicle would jerk when changing gears and would have a rattle and vibration when accelerating.
Read 14 more owner reports
The glass of the front movable sun roof shattered. The glass shattered while driving on hwy 89 in Wyoming with no traffic or no identifiable reason for the event. While some glass was saved most of it blew out when is shattered. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer. The dealer blames a flying rock or other object impacting the glass even though no vehicles or source of incident impact was perceived. No one was interested in taking a report. There was a build up of pressure inside the vehicle prior to the blow out of the glass which caused the drivers ear's to pop when the sun roof blew. The remaining glass was visibly pushed upwards away from the vehicle. A picture is available.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while towing a trailer, the message "Trailer Brakes Disconnected" was displayed. Due to the failure, the trailer brakes locked up and the trailer came to an abrupt and rough stop. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 23-NA-149; which was related to the solar panel battery charger or generator on the trailer. The trailer battery was fully charged and had a higher charge than the battery needed and could back feed into the trailer brake power module and cause it to shut down. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Upon stepping on brakes, the car shifts into Neutral and says βpress start Button again.β This happened to me 2x now.
Complete and sudden failure of the L87 V8 engine at 70 mph on the highway. Had to maneuver to the right shoulder and coast to a stop. Engine was seized and would not restart. Waited 4 hours on a dangerous highway for a tow truck which took the Chevy Suburban 200 miles to my home Chevrolet dealership. They have ordered a new engine but it is on backorder so no ETA. Vehicle was built 06-26-2024 and has not been recalled so Chevy says I do not get the extended warranty on the replacement engine.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The sound became significantly louder while driving. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle felt like the rear wheels would lock up. The contact stated that the rear wheels locked while reversing, causing the vehicle to jerk abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with rear axle failure. The dealer determined that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The private warranty company declined to cover the repair unless the rear axle had completely failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and declined to cover the repair because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The contact had previously reported the failure to the dealer, who could not duplicate the failure while the vehicle was still covered under warranty. Additionally, the contact stated that upon engaging the air recirculation, the contact smelled fumes. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the failure persisted. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,300.
The vehicle went into limp mode! Everything associated with it happened so quickly,no brakes,no steering ,it was terrifying. We got safely to a gas station. We were advised to take it to a certified Chevrolet dealer which we did We had it towed to the certified Chevrolet dealer in Charlevoix, Michigan.They hooked it up to the diagnostics and said they found absolutely nothing wrong with the vehicle.Very Frustrating! After experiencing this terrible incident will never feel safe in this vehicle!
Sudden power loss on highway. Engine would not respond. We were fortunate to have been able to pull over to the side of the road but in an unsafe merging area. Vehicle restarted after multiple attempts, but engine would not exceed 3000 rpm causing unsafe speed on highway. Engine died again causing total power loss. I was able to coast down the hill to safely park out of the way of traffic. Tow truck was needed. Vehicle was towed to dealer where it was purchased. After inspection, the engine was confirmed to have failed. The dealer advised for engine replacement as part of the L87 recall. This engine was previously inspected less than 10,000 miles prior as part of the same recall, and the higher-weight oil had been used since per the manufacturer's recommendation. However the inspected engine appears to have failed regardless. This sudden loss of power happened about two weeks prior, with the driver able to pull to safety and restart. It was dismissed as a fluke since it did not occur for the next two weeks.
Both front CV axles have had to be replaced multiple times. Less than 70,000 miles on the vehicle.
I took my 2024 Chevrolet Suburban to get repairs associated with GM safety recall N252494000 - L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion. My vehicle "passed" the test, so the "correction" employed by GM is that "vehicles that pass inspection will be provided a higher viscosity oil, which will also require a new oil fill cap, an oil filer replacement, and an owner's manual insert." All of this was done free of charge. However, the owner's manual insert states that "For future engine oil changes, use SAE OW 40" oil. This updated owner's manual insert, which is provided as a solution to GM's recall of a faulty connecting road and/or crankshaft, causes the future costs of oil changes to increase from $160.00 to $230.00. Assuming quarterly oil changes, this will increase the cost of operating this vehicle to increase by $2,800 over an estimated 10 year lifespan. This increase should be covered by GM. GM sent me a letter that states, "If your dealer fails or is unable to remedy this defect without charge, or within a reasonable amount of time, you may submit a written complaint to the Administrator, NHTSA." By passing on the cost of the increase in oil change for all future oil changes, GM failed to remedy this defect without charge. I submit this claim because GM filed to remedy this defect without charge. Please see highlighted portions of attached documents in support.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while driving with her grandchildren inside the vehicle. The brake failure warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power and coasted and slowed down, and the contact shifted into park(P). The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two separate occasions. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,600.
i pulled on to the road and i heard a loud knocking and my vehicle started skipping and wouldn't go. the lights on the dash lit up and said, "brake failure" and "emergency brake failure" and i had no brakes. I managed to coast into a parking lot. The engine light was on. I turned the vehicle off and waited about 5 minutes and turned it back on, The engine light remained. The first time this happened I was going down the road and the vehicle started sputtering, the emergency brake light came on the dash and the car shut off. It has a rough idle when you start it. I am terrified of this car. I have grandbabies in the car with me, Had i been on the highway either time i would have caused a terrible accident. The dealer says they can't get the car to do it so they can't fix anything. It has happened twice so you know it will again.
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact requested a work order on the vehicle for the recall repair and the dealer refused. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was also made aware of the issue and refused to create a work order for the recall repair. The contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact's son owns a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that his son had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact's son had been calling the local dealer and was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact was informed by his son stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Showing 20 of 806 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet Suburban
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet Suburban, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Suburban has 806 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Suburban has 40 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 26 of the Chevrolet Suburban's 806 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Suburban vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Suburban vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Suburban has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Chevrolet Suburban by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Suburban.
Research more
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Chevrolet Suburban reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Average. The Chevrolet Suburban has 806 NHTSA owner complaints and 40 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Chevrolet Suburban years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2021 (180 complaints), 2017 (140 complaints), 2023 (111 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Chevrolet Suburban problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (303 complaints); POWER TRAIN (191 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (108 complaints).
Does the Chevrolet Suburban have recalls?
Yes β 40 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet Suburban. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.