Menu

Chevrolet SuburbanYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 8,189 NHTSA owner complaints across 44 model years, the Chevrolet Suburban years to avoid are 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1999, and the strongest years are 1988, 1990, 2014 and 2020. The Suburban has 82 safety recalls on record.

Chevrolet Suburban
Years to avoid'93 '94 '95 '99Use caution: 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2021, 2023Best years'88 '90 '14 '20Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints8,189Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls821981–2024 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Suburban years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Suburban median. Tap a year for its full report.

'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2024Solid59/10046 complaints · 1 recall2023Caution41/100133 complaints · 3 recalls2022Solid46/100127 complaints · 4 recalls2021Caution39/100208 complaints · 12 recalls2020Best77/10044 complaints · 4 recalls2019Best69/10079 complaints · 3 recalls2018Best70/10084 complaints · 4 recalls2017Solid59/100142 complaints · 5 recalls2016Solid49/100220 complaints · 6 recalls2015Caution32/100432 complaints · 11 recalls2014Best79/10059 complaints · 3 recalls2013Solid66/100118 complaints · 4 recalls2012Best68/100101 complaints · 4 recalls2011Solid60/100148 complaints · 3 recalls2010Solid67/100117 complaints · 3 recalls2009Best69/100106 complaints · 5 recalls2008Solid51/100213 complaints · 4 recalls2007Caution41/100292 complaints · 4 recalls2006Not rated–/10023 complaints · 1 recall2005Solid63/100129 complaints · 6 recalls2004Solid49/100204 complaints · 4 recalls2003Caution39/100301 complaints · 5 recalls2002Caution40/100286 complaints · 2 recalls2001Caution31/100440 complaints · 6 recalls2000Solid42/100282 complaints · 8 recalls1999Avoid23/100634 complaints · 1 recall1998Solid51/100201 complaints · 2 recalls1997Caution32/100414 complaints · 2 recalls1996Caution36/100360 complaints · 3 recalls1995Avoid28/100457 complaints · 6 recalls1994Avoid16/100858 complaints · 3 recalls1993Avoid25/100499 complaints · 0 recalls1992Solid44/100189 complaints · 3 recalls1991Best76/10052 complaints · 3 recalls1990Best76/10054 complaints · 3 recalls1989Best72/10062 complaints · 3 recalls1988Best87/10030 complaints · 3 recalls1987Not rated–/10018 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Suburban problems

All model years combined: 8,189 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic2058362
Electrical system79678
Power train69361
Air bags652125
Service brakes56847
Engine54318
Visibility53410
Steering47232
Tires41424
28 other systems2831260
82 recalls

Chevrolet Suburban recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

64%Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)26V-289 · 2015–2020 · May 7, 2026 · 66 vehiclesDo not drive66%Control module: software26V-085 · 2022 · Feb 13, 2026 · 43,743 vehicles88%Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical25V-274 · 2021–2024 · Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles78%Control module: software24V-797 · 2021 · Oct 24, 2024 · 463,295 vehicles89%Suspension: rear23V-642 · 2023 · Sep 20, 2023 · 189 vehicles97%Lighting control module: software22V-903 · 2022–2023 · Dec 8, 2022 · 740,108 vehicles93%Lighting control module: software22V-827 · 2021 · Nov 3, 2022 · 338,735 vehicles90%Seat belts: critical fasteners22V-617 · 2021–2022 · Aug 11, 2022 · 484,155 vehicles88%Driveline: driveshaft22V-036 · 2021 · Jan 27, 2022 · 1,789 vehicles92%Fuel pump: control/drive module21V-739 · 2021 · Sep 23, 2021 · 14,939 vehicles96%Steering: steering control module21V-455 · 2021 · Jun 17, 2021 · 26,847 vehicles97%Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light21V-421 · 2021 · Jun 10, 2021 · 285,622 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 82 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

32 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Suburban

  1. Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyEA26005 · 2021–2024 · still open
    Open
  2. Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyRQ26001 · 2021–2024 · closed Aug 20, 2026
    No recall
  3. Loss of motive power due to engine failureEA25007 · 2021–2024 · still open
    Open
  4. Loss of motive power due to engine failurePE25001 · 2021–2024 · closed Oct 23, 2025
    Led to recall 25V-274
  5. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2007–2014 · still open
    Open
  6. Air Bag MalfunctionPE21010 · 2021 · closed Aug 24, 2023
    No recall
  7. Brake Vacuum Pump FailurePE18012 · 2015–2016 · closed Apr 10, 2022
    Led to recall 19V-645
  8. Brake line corrosion failureEA11001 · 1999–2003 · closed Apr 8, 2015
    No recall
  9. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · 1999–2003 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
  10. CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALLPE06016 · 2001–2002 · closed Sep 14, 2006
    No recall