Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6,539 owner complaints analyzed
82 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1978 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,923 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 736 of 6,539 complaints (11.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1,940 | 29.7% |
| Steering behavior | 499 | 7.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 490 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 383 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 291 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 233 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 736 |
| Air Bags | 576 |
| Service Brakes | 566 |
| Engine | 513 |
| Unknown Or Other | 503 |
| Electrical System | 419 |
| Power Train | 332 |
| Steering | 248 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 736; Air Bags: 576; Service Brakes: 566; Engine: 513; Unknown Or Other: 503; Electrical System: 419; Power Train: 332; Steering: 248
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 364 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 489 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 650 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 539 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 567 |
| 150,000 and above | 314 |
Under 25,000: 364; 25,000 to 49,999: 489; 50,000 to 74,999: 650; 75,000 to 99,999: 539; 100,000 to 149,999: 567; 150,000 and above: 314
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (650). 3,616 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 377 |
| 1996 | 154 |
| 2000 | 619 |
| 2001 | 393 |
| 2002 | 264 |
| 2003 | 377 |
| 2004 | 344 |
| 2005 | 395 |
| 2006 | 165 |
| 2007 | 118 |
| 2008 | 80 |
| 2009 | 54 |
| 2010 | 96 |
| 2011 | 101 |
| 2012 | 120 |
| 2013 | 116 |
| 2014 | 144 |
| 2015 | 154 |
| 2016 | 245 |
| 2017 | 307 |
| 2018 | 248 |
| 2019 | 316 |
| 2020 | 219 |
| 2021 | 179 |
| 2022 | 135 |
| 2023 | 149 |
| 2024 | 126 |
| 2025 | 312 |
| 2026 | 232 |
1995: 377; 1996: 154; 2000: 619; 2001: 393; 2002: 264; 2003: 377; 2004: 344; 2005: 395; 2006: 165; 2007: 118; 2008: 80; 2009: 54; 2010: 96; 2011: 101; 2012: 120; 2013: 116; 2014: 144; 2015: 154; 2016: 245; 2017: 307; 2018: 248; 2019: 316; 2020: 219; 2021: 179; 2022: 135; 2023: 149; 2024: 126; 2025: 312; 2026: 232
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1,940 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 499 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 490 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 10197710 · 2007-07-27 (July 27, 2007)
I WAS DISCUSSING A FRIEND'S BRAKE ROTOR REPLACEMENT WITH HIM ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT HIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL COULD HAVE AS MANY AS FIVE DIFFERENT DISKS, ALL OF WHICH SEEM TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE, UNTIL YOU TEST OUT THE VEHICLE AFTER COMPLETION. IS THERE ANY WAY OF TELLING THE RIGHT PARTS FOR HIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE? *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10197710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863181 · 2000-06-07 (June 7, 2000)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP, IT CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558307 · 2000-12-06 (December 6, 2000)
GOODYEAR DEALER OVERINFLATED TIRES (G159 UNISTEEL P235/85R16), THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED TIRES WITH A DEFECTED BENT RIM AND ANOTHER TIRE APPEARS TO BE A RECAP, THE JOINT WHERE THE TREAD CAP CONNECTS TO THE SIDEWALL, WHEN THE TIRES ARE OVERINFLATED IT CAUSES TIRES TO FEEL HARD AND ALSO CAUSES STEERING PROBLEMS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576312 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE P/S GEARBOX WAS SEPARATING FROM ITS MOUNT ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. THE STEERING BECAME LOOSER. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE U-CHANNEL FRAME WAS CRACKED OUT IN THE AREAS OF 3 OF THE 4 POWER STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTS. THESE CRACKS HAD TO BE WELDED. A YEAR AN A HALF LATER A CHECK OF THE WELDS WAS MADE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND A NEW CRACK WAS FOUND. THERE WAS NO COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DOUBLER/STIFFENER REPAIR PLATE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT CRACK UNDER NORMAL US…
Owner-reported narrative. 223,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 975298 · 1995-11-22 (November 22, 1995)
FIRE STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093598 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL OF FIRE/EXPLOSION CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT (IN OLDER MODEL G.M. VEHICLES) AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A "DIRECT SHORT" TO IT'S WIRING. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094538 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
THE LOCATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, IN GENERAL, AND ITS LOCATION TO THE FUEL TANK IN A REAR END ACCIDENT WOULD MASH THE HARNESS BETWEEN THE BUMPER AND THE FUEL TANK. IF RUPTURE OCCURS THEN THE IGNITION SOURCE WOULD BE PRESENT, RESULTING INTO AN EXPLOSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009687 · 2002-05-13 (May 13, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLS OUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, AND HAD ENGINE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS WATER IN AIR THE FLITER HOUSING AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DIED, ALSO NOTICES A RATTLING COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE WIH USED ENGINE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967681 · 1996-07-25 (July 25, 1996)
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, ALSO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT LOW TO THE FLOOR, REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967681 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 11; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 12; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 3 | 0 | Not available |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 | Not available |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 | -1 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 21 | 3 | +3 |
| 1989 | 33 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 28 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 81 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | 213 | 0 | -3 |
| 1994 | 414 | 3 | +3 |
| 1995 | 246 | 6 | +3 |
| 1996 | 178 | 3 | -3 |
| 1997 | 261 | 2 | -1 |
| 1998 | 143 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 582 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 282 | 8 | +7 |
| 2001 | 440 | 6 | -2 |
| 2002 | 286 | 2 | -4 |
| 2003 | 301 | 5 | +3 |
| 2004 | 204 | 4 | -1 |
| 2005 | 129 | 6 | +2 |
| 2006 | 23 | 1 | -5 |
| 2007 | 292 | 4 | +3 |
| 2008 | 213 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 106 | 5 | +1 |
| 2010 | 117 | 3 | -2 |
| 2011 | 148 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 101 | 4 | +1 |
| 2013 | 118 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 59 | 3 | -1 |
| 2015 | 428 | 11 | +8 |
| 2016 | 219 | 6 | -5 |
| 2017 | 141 | 5 | -1 |
| 2018 | 81 | 4 | -1 |
| 2019 | 77 | 3 | -1 |
| 2020 | 44 | 4 | +1 |
| 2021 | 189 | 12 | +8 |
| 2022 | 119 | 4 | -8 |
| 2023 | 121 | 3 | -1 |
| 2024 | 40 | 1 | -2 |