repaired · 2023 Q1
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2011 Chevrolet SuburbanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 148 owner complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-050 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 13, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban has problems
148 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
66Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
26Structure2 crash/fire/injury
10Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
10Engine
5Service brakes
5Electronic stability control (ESC)
5Vehicle speed control
4Fuel/propulsion system
3Power train
138 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 66 | 2 |
| Structure | 26 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 |
| Engine | 10 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 2 |
| 8 other systems | 13 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Suburban recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power,…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 27 air bags complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.
0under 30k miles23under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Suburban year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Suburban median. How we score
1136971830625452189499858457360414201634282440286301204129232922131061171481011185943322014284794420812713447
'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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Suburban owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
This is not connected with a specific crash in this vehicle. It is a defect with all vehicles with this seat. There is known common defect with the stitching on the side of the front seats covering the airbag. The stitching is designed to come apart if an airbag is deployed. The defective stitching…
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact later received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) which she associated to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the…
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
Own a 2011 Suburban?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.