Chevrolet Suburban Reliability by Year
10,444 NHTSA complaints (1981–2024). Complaint rate: 174.9 per 1,000 vehicles.
Chevrolet Suburban reliability varies significantly by model year. Based on 10,444 NHTSA complaints (1981–2024), the most problematic years are 2015, 2001, with high complaint volumes linked to service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Better choices include 2020, 2014, 2019, which show significantly fewer reported problems.
Why these years are worse
The most common issues driving the complaint spikes:
- service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip — 1,566 complaints (19.4% involved a crash)
- airbag malfunctions — 580 complaints (10.2% involved a crash)
- brake failures — 563 complaints (7.6% involved a crash)
- unknown or other — 509 complaints (1.6% involved a crash)
- engine problems — 465 complaints (0.9% involved a crash)
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1993–2004 Chevrolet Suburban (615 crash-related complaints). The 2019–2020 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Chevrolet Suburban Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1,566 | 19.4% |
| AIR BAGS | 580 | 10.2% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 563 | 7.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 509 | 1.6% |
| ENGINE | 465 | 0.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 413 | 1.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 301 | 3.0% |
| STEERING | 270 | 5.6% |
| TIRES | 212 | 3.3% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 207 | 4.3% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983GOOD | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | View → |
| 1984GOOD | — | 6 | 1 | — | View → |
| 1985GOOD | — | 12 | 1 | 1 | View → |
| 1986GOOD | — | 7 | 0 | — | View → |
| 1987GOOD | — | 21 | 0 | 4 | View → |
| 1988GOOD | — | 35 | 2 | — | View → |
| 1989GOOD | — | 68 | 4 | 6 | View → |
| 1990GOOD | — | 67 | 2 | 7 | View → |
| 1991GOOD | — | 65 | 6 | 7 | View → |
| 1992 | — | 226 | 45 | 7 | View → |
| 1993AVOID | — | 616 | 110 | 3 | View → |
| 1994AVOID | — | 1,038 | 158 | 12 | View → |
| 1995AVOID | — | 587 | 64 | 8 | View → |
| 1996AVOID | — | 531 | 25 | 17 | View → |
| 1997AVOID | — | 556 | 27 | 15 | View → |
| 1998AVOID | — | 299 | 11 | 3 | View → |
| 1999AVOID | — | 861 | 65 | 15 | View → |
| 2000AVOID | — | 382 | 30 | 8 | View → |
| 2001AVOID | — | 543 | 38 | 6 | View → |
| 2002AVOID | — | 352 | 34 | 9 | View → |
| 2003AVOID | — | 360 | 39 | 5 | View → |
| 2004AVOID | — | 265 | 14 | 7 | View → |
| 2005 | — | 161 | 5 | 1 | View → |
| 2006GOOD | — | 33 | 0 | 2 | View → |
| 2007AVOID | — | 358 | 4 | 8 | View → |
| 2008AVOID | — | 276 | 4 | — | View → |
| 2009 | — | 133 | 1 | — | View → |
| 2010 | — | 161 | 3 | 1 | View → |
| 2011 | — | 192 | 3 | — | View → |
| 2012 | — | 139 | 3 | 5 | View → |
| 2013 | — | 170 | 4 | — | View → |
| 2014GOOD | — | 77 | 0 | 3 | View → |
| 2015AVOID | — | 585 | 29 | 9 | View → |
| 2016AVOID | — | 291 | 11 | 1 | View → |
| 2017 | — | 179 | 8 | 2 | View → |
| 2018 | — | 108 | 3 | — | View → |
| 2019GOOD | — | 86 | 3 | 2 | View → |
| 2020GOOD | — | 59 | 3 | 1 | View → |
| 2021 | — | 228 | 12 | 3 | View → |
| 2022 | — | 137 | 7 | 2 | View → |
| 2023 | — | 125 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2024TOO NEW | — | 43 | 0 | 1 | View → |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Tap any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
See also: Chevrolet Suburbanaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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