Chevrolet Suburban Problems by Year

We compared every Chevrolet Suburban model year from 1995–2024 using 6,383 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 73 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2015, 2021, 2023, 2022 and 2024, which drew far more complaints than other Suburban years at the same age. The best years are 2014, 2009 and 2020.

30model years
6,383complaints
73recalls
2015, 2021worst years
2014, 2009best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24457360414201634282440286301204129232922131061171481011185943122014284784420012413144
Owner complaints per model year, Chevrolet Suburban. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
2024441.5×1EngineCaution
20231312.2×3EngineAvoid
20221241.7×4EngineCaution
20212002.6×12EngineAvoid
202044−58%4EngineGood
201978−42%3TransmissionGood
201884−42%4EngineGood
2017142−21%5BrakeAverage
20162201.3×6BrakeAverage
20154312.6×11BrakeAvoid
201459−67%3AirbagGood
2013118−41%4AirbagGood
2012101−44%4AirbagGood
2011148−26%3AirbagAverage
2010117−52%3AirbagGood
2009106−63%5AirbagGood
2008213−37%4AirbagAverage
2007292−43%4AirbagGood
200623−90%1BodyGood
2005129−48%6ElectricalGood
2004204typical4ElectricalAverage
20033011.4×5BrakeCaution
20022861.5×2BrakeCaution
20014402.5×6BrakeAvoid
20002821.7×8BrakeCaution
19996343.9×1BrakeAvoid
19982011.3×2BrakeAverage
19974142.7×2SteeringAvoid
19963602.3×3BrakeAvoid
19954573.0×6BrakeAvoid

* Complaints compared with the median Suburban year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Chevrolet Suburban problems

Latest Chevrolet Suburban recalls

Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)

NHTSA recall 26V-289 · May 7, 2026 · 66 vehiclesDo not drive

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge.

Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Valves/valve body

NHTSA recall 26V-085 · Feb 13, 2026 · 43,743 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.

Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026.

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA recall 25V-274 · Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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…

Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Valves/valve body

NHTSA recall 24V-797 · Oct 24, 2024 · 463,295 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a…

Suspension › Rear

NHTSA recall 23V-642 · Sep 20, 2023 · 189 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023.

All 73 Chevrolet Suburban recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Chevrolet Suburban should you avoid?

2015, 2021, 2023, 2022, 2024 and 1999 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Suburban years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 2015.

What is the best year for the Chevrolet Suburban?

2014 has the fewest complaints compared with other Suburban years at the same age, followed by 2009 and 2020. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Chevrolet Suburban problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the brakes (1,637), engine & cooling (773) and electrical system (747). Brake complaints peak in the 1999 model year.

How many recalls has the Chevrolet Suburban had?

73 recalls across 1995–2024. The model year with the most is 2021. See all Chevrolet Suburban recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.