Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 3 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

3 total · 3 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V050000 · Feb 2021

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. 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 N212328760.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V054000 · Feb 2021

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 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 N212328800.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 14V827000 · Dec 2014

If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

148 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
15

Most reports here involve fluid leaks. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

fluid leaks 6unintended acceleration 4
A recent report: The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving with the cruise control feature activated, there was a clanking noise coming from under the…
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The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving with the cruise control feature activated, there was a clanking noise coming from under the vehicle, and the contact smelled a fuel odor. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected. The contact stated that the fuel tank was swollen. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who could not provide a cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 191,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11604440 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
18

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 5electrical shorts 3
A recent report: I am experiencing the symptoms listed for the ignition coil recall listed 20011 suburban, but the recall is not on my vin. I've been experiencing the symptoms for quite some time now yrs even, but…
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I am experiencing the symptoms listed for the ignition coil recall listed 20011 suburban, but the recall is not on my vin. I've been experiencing the symptoms for quite some time now yrs even, but didn't know about the ignition recall. I've been replacing and fixing the parts and damage to the vehicle. Fortunately no accidents or injuries to report. I am currently experiencing my door locks cycling , brief losses of power while vehicle is in drive, on highway, My electrical components periodically work seat warmer, sensors oil, air, coil packs, cooling fans (the relays keeps burning out), Ac motor, water pump, cruise control, the main fuse, and 4 x4 engaging on its own.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11737613 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
4

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 3unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: ON MY VEHICLE BRAKE OIL WAS LEAKING MY MECHANIC FIND THAT MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. AFTER CHANGING THE MASTER CYLINDER WHEN I START DRIVING MY BRAKES GOT LOCKED. I PARK THE CAR WHEN IT'S COOL DOWN BRAKE…
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ON MY VEHICLE BRAKE OIL WAS LEAKING MY MECHANIC FIND THAT MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. AFTER CHANGING THE MASTER CYLINDER WHEN I START DRIVING MY BRAKES GOT LOCKED. I PARK THE CAR WHEN IT'S COOL DOWN BRAKE RELEASED BUT SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I START DRIVING . SO MY MECHANIC CHANGED THE BRAKE BOOSTER BUT NOW STRANGE THING HAPPENING THAT BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR AND IT'S BARELY BRAKES. JUST LEFT THE SUV ON A CHEVORELLET DEALER SHIP SEE WHAT THEY WILL SAY. BUT THIS IS DEFINITELYA SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY BRAKE SHOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND BARELY BRAKE.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11233577 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
3

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 3
A recent report: UNSAFE TO DRIVE SPECIALLY DRIVING OVER 40 MILES

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11306404 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
72

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 8premature wear 5
A recent report: This is not connected with a specific crash in this vehicle. It is a defect with all vehicles with this seat. There is known common defect with the stitching on the side of the front seats covering…
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This is not connected with a specific crash in this vehicle. It is a defect with all vehicles with this seat. There is known common defect with the stitching on the side of the front seats covering the airbag. The stitching is designed to come apart if an airbag is deployed. The defective stitching deteriorates and falls apart. This exposes the airbag system in the seat. This occurs on all GM vehicles with the same leather seats. Models include Suburbans, Yukons, and pickup trucks. In this Suburban the stiching started to come apart about 6 years ago with a few loose threads. The entire side of the seat has now come apart. The rest of the seat is in relatively good repair without any holes, rips or torn stitching. GM claims this is cosmetic and not covered. The safety issues caused by this includes the potential deterioration of the airbag system interfering with deployment in a crash. Another safety issue is the potential for foreign objects to get lodged in this space and injuring someone if the airbag goes off. The third safety issue is the potential of a person, or child, to access the airbag and cause it to go off without warning.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11645734 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
13

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

premature wear 2
A recent report: The dash has broken apart on the top in front of the driver. It constantly vibrates and makes a loud distracting noise. There is no way to stop this noise and it causes the driver to constantly hold…
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The dash has broken apart on the top in front of the driver. It constantly vibrates and makes a loud distracting noise. There is no way to stop this noise and it causes the driver to constantly hold the broken part down with their hand taking their attention off the road. Our Chevrolet dealer inspected it and said they've had lots of similar complaints. He also said it would cost us $2,000 to fix the problem.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11431835 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
23

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 4 mention an injury.

premature wear 14fluid leaks 3
A recent report: Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was…
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Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 133,000. The contact stated that at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 233,793.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11715292 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 148 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2012 and 2026, roughly 11 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 148 complaints on file, more than the 2010 (117) and more than the 2012 (101). Of the 15 model years of the Chevrolet Suburban we cover, the 2015 has the most (428). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.