MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet Suburban years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2021, 2015 and 2016 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chevrolet Suburban Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2021 vs model median 3.4×
Model median3× median
Engine 51
Fuel System 20
Drivetrain 18
Avoid

2015 · 2021

Best

2010 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.48× 27 B
2011
1.19× 68 C
2012
0.94× 39 C
2013
1.04× 59 C
2014
0.75× 34 B
2015
7.00× 349 F
2016
2.75× 144 F
2017
1.77× 79 D
2018
0.91× 46 C
2019
0.96× 42 C
2020
0.54× 24 B
2021
3.38× 166 F
2022 P
3.43× 151 F
2023 P
3.38× 174 F
2024 P
1.14× 53 C
2025 P
0.70× 36 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2015 F 349 reports · median 58,000 mi

  1. Brakes 106

    \the accelerator pedal and brake pedal are separated by 1-1/4 inches. At rest, the brake pedal is about 1/2 inch higher than the accelerator pedal. When depressed, the brake pedal is 1 inch lower. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 34

    The vehicle had approximately 3500 miles when returned to dealership. The primary issue was "running rough." the vehicle was in the repair shop over five weeks. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 30

    I purchased a brand new 2015 chevrolet suburban lt on december 20, 2014 and by december 23, 2014, there was a major water leak about the driver visor and headliner and equipment failures. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

26 crash · 4 fire · 33 injuries

2021 F 166 reports · median 58,000 mi

  1. Engine 51

    The contact owns a 2021 chevrolet suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 75-80 MPH, the lifter collapsed and the contact heard the engine rattling. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Fuel System 20

    My vehicle died unexpectedly in the middle of the road while backing out of my driveway with cars coming and going around me. It would not start up again nor could I put it in neutral to move it out of the way. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 18

    Drove up to a stoplight 4th car in a turn lane, came to complete stop. Some cars closed ranks a little further so I released my foot off the brake and moved up a few more feet and stopped again. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

10 crash · 1 injuries

The best year for the Suburban

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring Suburban model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 77.2 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.48× 27 B
2020 0.54× 24 B
2014 0.75× 34 B

Recalls

40 campaigns on record, 2 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V651000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2015–2017 3,640,162
19V645000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM 2015–2018 3,456,719
21V050000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 2,641,272
21V054000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2014 1,778,128
18V586000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2015 1,015,918
22V903000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE 2022, 2023 740,108
21V053000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2013 692,526
19V761000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING 2015–2020 652,967
20V792000 SEAT BELTS 2021 624,216
25V274000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL 2021–2024 597,571
14V152000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES 2015 489,936
22V617000 SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS 2021, 2022 484,155

+ 28 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2021 were reported at a median of 58,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet Suburban years should you avoid?
2021, 2015, 2016 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chevrolet Suburban model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Suburban?
2010 is the best-scoring Chevrolet Suburban model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 77.2 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Suburban have?
40 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet Suburban model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 Suburban
Complaints in window
166
Severity-weighted
233.5
Model median (weighted)
69
vs model median
3.38×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
12
Open investigations
2
Score 3.3 F