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 9 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

12 total · 9 to confirm

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

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V274000 · Apr 2025

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.
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.

Transmission recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V797000 · Oct 2024

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.
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.

Seat belts recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V617000 · Aug 2022

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.
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.

Transmission recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V036000 · Jan 2022

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.
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.

Fuel system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V739000 · Sep 2021

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.
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.

Seat belts recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V190000 · Mar 2021

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.
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.

Seat belts recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 20V811000 · Dec 2020

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.
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.

Seat belts recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 20V792000 · Dec 2020

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.
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.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 20V735000 · Nov 2020

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.
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.

Exterior lighting recall

Fixed over the airRecall 22V827000 · Nov 2022

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.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Steering recall

Fixed over the airRecall 21V455000 · Jun 2021

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.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Fixed over the airRecall 21V421000 · Jun 2021

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.
Status
Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

194 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

Minor
142

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 62premature wear 26transmission slipping 24
A recent report: Sudden Loss of Power & Shaking: The misfire itself causes a drastic drop in acceleration. If you are merging onto a highway or trying to pass another vehicle, the sudden loss of power can leave you…
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Sudden Loss of Power & Shaking: The misfire itself causes a drastic drop in acceleration. If you are merging onto a highway or trying to pass another vehicle, the sudden loss of power can leave you stranded in the path of oncoming traffic. No Stability Assistance: Because StabiliTrak and Traction Control are automatically disabled, the vehicle loses its ability to correct for skids, fishtailing, or hydroplaning. In rain, snow, or emergency swerving maneuvers, a heavy SUV becomes much harder to control. "Limp Mode" (Reduced Power): To prevent the unburned fuel from a misfire from destroying the expensive catalytic converters, the vehicle may force itself into a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Limp" mode. This limits your top speed (often to around 30 mph), which is highly dangerous if you are in the fast lane of a highway. Violent Transmission Shifting: To protect the drivetrain from the erratic power dips of a misfiring engine, the vehicle's computer will maximize transmission fluid pressure. This causes the Suburban to shift gears incredibly hard, which and feel as though the transmission is exploding

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764500 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
19

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 4 mention an injury.

software faults 6sudden stalling 3
A recent report: The radio control unit that controls all the interior features of the car failed due to an over the air update. We can no longer use the radio, gps, hot and cold on the screen or what the rear…
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The radio control unit that controls all the interior features of the car failed due to an over the air update. We can no longer use the radio, gps, hot and cold on the screen or what the rear climate is at, there is no sounds from any of the blinkers or emergency lights.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764547 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
10

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

loss of braking 7sudden stalling 1
A recent report: My wife was driving the vehicle and was pulling into a parking lot. The brakes failed and would not stop the vehicle. She pressed on the brakes very hard, multiple times, for several seconds, before…
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My wife was driving the vehicle and was pulling into a parking lot. The brakes failed and would not stop the vehicle. She pressed on the brakes very hard, multiple times, for several seconds, before the vehicle finally came to stop. She then proceeded into a parking spot where the brakes again failed to stop the vehicle promptly. Several lights illuminated and a “System Brake Failure 43 MPH Top Speed” message appeared, alternating with several other messages appearing. The vehicle is in for service at Classic Chevrolet in Granbury, Texas. They are telling me that they reset the codes and that the codes are not returning. I am extremely concerned that if I pick up the vehicle at this point, the brakes could fail again and cause an accident with serious injury.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11674084 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
5

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 1loss of steering 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the…
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The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, there was an abnormal whining sound while turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11727466 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
9

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 3software faults 1
A recent report: Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Equipment: - Anti-lock Brakes - Full Front Air Bag - Passive Disabling Anti-theft Device Introduction: I am the registered owner and primary driver of a 2021 Chevrolet…
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Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Equipment: - Anti-lock Brakes - Full Front Air Bag - Passive Disabling Anti-theft Device Introduction: I am the registered owner and primary driver of a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. I am filing this safety complaint regarding a serious system malfunction that occurred during an accident in 2023, resulting in injury to myself and my daughter. As a responsible vehicle owner who has maintained this vehicle according to manufacturer specifications since its purchase on July 21, 2021, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this incident. Safety Defect Description: In 2023, my vehicle experienced a critical system malfunction during a collision incident. While the vehicle was not in a rollover situation, the system incorrectly detected one, resulting in: 1. Complete vehicle shutdown during active accident conditions 2. All airbags deployed simultaneously 3. False rollover detection despite vehicle only experiencing vertical displacement when something from another vehicle hit the front of my vehicle Injuries and Medical Response: - Driver (self) sustained mild concussion requiring emergency transport - Daughter required emergency medical evaluation - Both occupants transported via ambulance to hospital Insurance Claim Impact: - MetLife denied accident and hospital claims - Denial basis: Absence of traffic citation - Virginia State Police report indicated no-fault accident - This denial has created significant financial hardship due to medical expenses and vehicle repairs - The vehicle's system malfunction has contributed to difficulties in proving accident circumstances Ongoing Vehicle Issues Post-Incident: - Persistent power loss issues, Multiple alignments required, Compromised driving dynamics and handling, vehicle does not track correctly despite repairs Safety Concern: The vehicle's incorrect rollover detection and subsequent complete shutdown during an active accident scenario presents a serious safety risk.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11658176 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

other issues 3
A recent report: I was sold a vehicle from a dealership in Green Bay Wisconsin under the impression all safety regulations were met. The day I drove it off the lot, I had issues with the back drivers' door, making…
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I was sold a vehicle from a dealership in Green Bay Wisconsin under the impression all safety regulations were met. The day I drove it off the lot, I had issues with the back drivers' door, making wind noise. I had messaged the salesman, he stated it may have been the door seal. Days went by, it wasn't sitting well with me, I made an appointment with a local body shop in. regard's to the door and suspicion of something not right. I brought it to the body shop, they informed me, that the back air bags were deployed and stuffed back into the roof, body work on the left side was done incorrectly and is very unsafe to drive, seat belts where my children sit were finger tightened, frame is held on by a bolt etc. The body shop states that if this vehicle were to be in an accident, it would not sustain impact the way vehicles are designed to do so. The owner of the dealership I had bought from refuses to come to an agreement about this situation. I have all the paperwork and documents from the body shop along with another local dealership near me who I also brought it to look it over as well so the owner could understand that this vehicle should have never been able to be sold on his lot. They also agree that this is super unsafe and should not be driven until it is fixed properly and all safety standards should be met. They believe that it should have been totaled out, it is very obvious that the left side was hit and smashed in. I also asked the owner if he would feel safe for his children to drive in this vehicle and he said, “no” I have many documents/pictures/reports to share once needed.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11623927 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
6

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: Lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, adaptive high beam, forward collision warning system became unresponsive while driving on highway during trip. Had to take…
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Lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, adaptive high beam, forward collision warning system became unresponsive while driving on highway during trip. Had to take vehicle into GM dealership for ADAS camera replacement.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11730078 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 194 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 36 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 2021 has 194 complaints on file, more than the 2020 (44) and more than the 2022 (119). 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.