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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

80 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 80 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues56.3%
Steering behavior45.0%
Transmission and shifting33.8%
Braking behavior22.5%
Fuel system concerns11.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
32
Unknown Or Other
32
Structure
9
Structure:Body
8
Power Train
5
Electrical System
4
Seats
4
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags32
Unknown Or Other32
Structure9
Structure:Body8
Power Train5
Electrical System4
Seats4
Vehicle Speed Control3

Air Bags: 32; Unknown Or Other: 32; Structure: 9; Structure:Body: 8; Power Train: 5; Electrical System: 4; Seats: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
3
2012
3
2013
2
2014
5
2015
6
2016
24
2017
18
2018
13
2019
5
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20113
20123
20132
20145
20156
201624
201718
201813
20195
20211

2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 24; 2017: 18; 2018: 13; 2019: 5; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10610416 · 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)

2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE DEALER FOUND THE WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE BODY SEAM BELOW THE DASH ALONG THE FIREWALL. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER FRONT SEATS MADE A CHATTERING NOISE. THE DEALER GREASED THE TRACKS. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. ALSO, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE IN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10610416 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10915164 · 2016-10-10 (October 10, 2016)

DASHBOARDS HAVE CRACKED AND FAILED TWICE. SHARP EDGES RESULT FROM CRACKING. UNSAFE EXPOSURE TO DASHBOARD WIRING--SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOISTURE, FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE.

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915164 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10820813 · 2016-01-18 (January 18, 2016)

THE DASHBOARD ABOVE STEERING COLUMN HAS A CRACK ALMOST TO THE WINDSHIELD. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND WANTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. IT IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER FAULTY PART THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RECALL. MOST OF WHICH ARE CRACKED BY THE AIRBAGS. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A HAZARD.

Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10915025 · 2016-10-10 (October 10, 2016)

THE DASH ON THE SUBURBAN HAS CRACKED IN 2 PLACES. 1 BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE OTHER BEHIND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND NOISY, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER WITH THE AIRBAG RIGHT THERE.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915025 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10401870 · 2011-05-16 (May 16, 2011)

TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL LUNGE SOMETIMES JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BE HIT LIGHTLY FROM THE BACK END. HAVE COME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING OTHER CARS. THE LUNGE LAST FOR JUST A SPLIT SECOND.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401870 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10981069 · 2017-04-27 (April 27, 2017)

THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE HAS BECOME DETACHED DUE TO VIBRATIONS IN THE ENGINE.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10441080 · 2011-12-23 (December 23, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY DECELERATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441080 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11021385 · 2017-09-04 (September 4, 2017)

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY 2011 SUBURBAN WILL RANDOMLY NOT WANT TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFTER ACTS LIKE IT IS STUCK. I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE. OVER THE WEEKEND MY HUSBAND HAD MY CAR KEYS IN HIS POCKET, OUR 4 YEAR OLD SON CLIMBED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT AND STARTED TO HOP OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO GET TO PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIM TO SIT IN DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN MY SON HOPPED OVER, HE ACCIDENTLY GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO…

Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11090101 · 2018-04-25 (April 25, 2018)

FUEL LEAK HAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN TWO FUEL LINES THAT HAVE BEEN RUBBING TOGETHER FROM THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE UNTIL 4/23/18. THIS LEAK DEVELOPED LESS THAN INCHES FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THE BRADED LINE PORTION OF THE FUEL LINES NEAR THE CONNECTIONS AT THE FUEL TANK END. THE ISSUE WAS NOTICED AS I WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON 395 NORTH IN WASHINGTON DC THROUGH THE 3RD ST. TUNNEL. THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS DETECTED, BUT THOUGHT TO BE COMING FROM ELSEWHERE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANOTHER MILE BEFORE I REALIZED THE SOU…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11090101 at NHTSA ↗