2021 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
189 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 189 complaints (42.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 16.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 13.2% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 10.1% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 9.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 80 |
| Power Train | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 22 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
Engine: 80; Power Train: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 22; Electrical System: 16; Unknown Or Other: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 8; Service Brakes: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 157 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 72 |
| 2026 | 52 |
2021: 13; 2022: 13; 2023: 18; 2024: 21; 2025: 72; 2026: 52
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 19 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11407855 · 2021-04-13 (April 13, 2021)
WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON FLORIDA STATE ROAD 54 TURN LANE TO GO ON US 75 WHEN THE OTHER CAR REAR ENDED US AND DROVE US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CRASH NUMBER 88482185. WE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS.
Owner-reported narrative. 361 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11416063 · 2021-05-11 (May 11, 2021)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE INITIAL COLLISION ME HEAD SWUNG SIDEWAY STRIKING THE B POST WINDOW AREA AND KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS FOR A SHORT TIME. I THEN T-BONED A TRUCK AND FINALLY CAME TO REST AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT NO TIME DID MY AIRBAGS (FRONT OR SIDE) DEPLOY. NOR HAS MY VEHICLE EVEN REGISTERED THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. I REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. AFTER E…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418519 · 2021-05-25 (May 25, 2021)
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. The contact pulled over and contacted the manufacturer, who provided a tow to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a bent push rod and that the lifter had collapsed. The contact related the failure to the Technical Service Bulletin number: PIP5776C. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 6,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11418519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420511 · 2021-06-10 (June 10, 2021)
This evening while driving the windshield wipers started (while the wipers were in the off position). When using the turning signal it speeds up to approximately 3 times the normal speed. The display says the back hatch is open and the cargo light is on (the back hatch is closed). We turned off the car multiple times and the conditions persist.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422158 · 2021-06-24 (June 24, 2021)
Purchased the new 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, 4 miles on odometer and left the dealer. Less than 20 minutes from dealer AC stopped working. Called dealer thinking it was small error. While on phone I looked under the vehicle which was now emitting foul burning odors. Noticed a very large amount of oil(1quart+) dripping from everywhere from engine to exhaust mid way down vehicle,oil cooler line was blown off. Towed newvehicle to dealer. Chevrolet wants me to keep this vehicle even though there was a TSB issued last year about this same issue. Chevr…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424684 · 2021-07-13 (July 13, 2021)
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. The car then accelerated with brake fully depressed and wouldn't stop. I then put gear to neutral Tac was very high maybe 5000. Put car into park and then turned off the engine. Restarted car and continued on my way. Contacted Chevrolet and my dealership for a service diagnosis coming up July19,2021. No image to anyone but I have heard of this problem …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11431340 · 2021-09-01 (September 1, 2021)
The lifter rods failed on my vehicle that has approximately 8,000 miles on it. The dealer said that this is a known issue and that there is a service bulletin out for it.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432193 · 2021-09-08 (September 8, 2021)
Transmission leaked oil and the suv didn’t advice the loss of fluid. Still under repair
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432193 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
12 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V735000 · Seats:Critical Fasteners | Seats
Reported: 2020-11-25 (November 25, 2020)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.
Consequence: If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202312720.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V792000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts
Reported: 2020-12-17 (December 17, 2020)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Consequence: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V811000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts
Reported: 2020-12-23 (December 23, 2020)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V190000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other | Seat Belts
Reported: 2021-03-18 (March 18, 2021)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Consequence: A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V421000 · Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | Electrical System:Software
Reported: 2021-06-10 (June 10, 2021)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Consequence: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V455000 · Steering:Steering Control Module
Reported: 2021-06-17 (June 17, 2021)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.
Consequence: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V739000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module
Reported: 2021-09-23 (September 23, 2021)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212332040.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V036000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2022-01-27 (January 27, 2022)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Consequence: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V617000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners
Reported: 2022-08-11 (August 11, 2022)
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Consequence: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V827000 · Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software
Reported: 2022-11-03 (November 3, 2022)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V797000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Fluid/Lubricant:Valves/Valve Body | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module:Software
Reported: 2024-10-24 (October 24, 2024)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Consequence: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V274000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Reported: 2025-04-24 (April 24, 2025)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
NHTSA campaign record ↗