2011 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
148 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 148 complaints (44.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 66 |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 |
| Structure:Body | 19 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Structure | 7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Air Bags: 66; Unknown Or Other: 46; Structure:Body: 19; Engine: 10; Electrical System: 8; Structure: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5; Service Brakes: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 60 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 16; 2016: 31; 2017: 35; 2018: 18; 2019: 12; 2020: 10; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10662541 · 2014-12-06 (December 6, 2014)
THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED MAJOR CRACKS IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK IS ADJACENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE OTHER CRACK IS ABOVE THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WILL BECOME SHRAPNEL IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD "FLAPS" WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10662541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819934 · 2016-01-13 (January 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SURBUBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD CRACKED IN SIX PLACES. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507216 · 2013-04-05 (April 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR LIFT GATE CLOSED ON ITS OWN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING TO HER FACE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512842 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)
I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN DECELERATING & APPLYING MY BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING A STOP THAT MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY WILL ACCELERATE ALL OF THE SUDDEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOT ALWAYS, BUT ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE CONCERNED. MY DAUGHTER ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING MY SUBURBAN. SHE, LIKE ME, SAID IT HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND WAS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490235 · 2012-12-27 (December 27, 2012)
1.)WHEN WE WERE DRIVING THRU THE MOUNTAINS OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO GO HAYWIRE AND THE LIGHTS STARTED GOING IN AND OUT AND THE IGNITION STARTED TO ACT UP CAR TURNED OFF A FEW TIMES WE HAD TO RESTART IT WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED OUT THEY SAID THERE WAS COINS IN THE RADIO. 2.) THE DEFROSTERS FOR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DOESN'T DEFROST THE WINDOW AT ALL WHEN DRIVING IN COLD DAYS THE WHOLE WINDOW FOGS UP AND FREEZES MAKING VISIBILITY TO NONE AND WE HAVE TO STOP WIPE DOWN THE WIND SHIELD AND DRIVE AGAIN FOR TEN MIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10810520 · 2015-12-15 (December 15, 2015)
DASHBOARD CRACKING POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE USE OF THE AIRBAG AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277293 · 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED CAUSING FUEL TRANSFER PUMP TO OVERFILL FRONT FUEL TANK. CAUSING FRONT FUEL TANK TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP A FUEL LEAK.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315633 · 2020-03-02 (March 2, 2020)
ENGINE LIGHT ON-DIAGNOSIS P0455. LAST 2YRS TOOK TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS. REPLACED, GAS CAP, PURGE VALVE, CANISTER VALVE, CHARCOAL CANISTER. TOOK TO CHEVY. THEY REPLACED PURGE VALVE BECAUSE THEY SAID OTHER MECHANICS USED NON CHEVY PARTS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. CHEVY DID SMOKE TEST AND SWORE IT WAS THE FUEL SENSOR COST $1200+. ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON AFTER A WEEK. ANOTHER SMOKE TEST AND NOW PRESSURE TEST BLEW A SMALL SECTION OF FUEL TANK WHERE IT NOW LEAKS. CHEVY SAID THE SEAL MOST LIKELY NOT SEATED PROPERLY AND I NEED A NEW FUEL TANK ABOUT $1000. …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156445 · 2018-12-05 (December 5, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH, MY SUBURBAN STARTED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, NO LIGHTS APPEARED ON MY DASH. LOCKS, RADIO AND FRONT LIGHTS STARTED TO GO OFF AND ON AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION HAPPENED. WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED THE ISSUE RESOLVED. STILL NO INDICATORS OF ANYTHING WRONG ON MY DASH, PROCEEDED TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE FREEWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. MINUTES LATER THE CAR ACTED NORMAL AGAIN. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11156445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11246388 · 2019-08-26 (August 26, 2019)
VEHICLE RECENTLY REACHED 160,000 MILES. MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT WITH ITS OPERATION AS IT WILL THROW ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WE ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW DUE TO ITS UNPREDICTABILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11246388 at NHTSA ↗