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Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014 problems by year and mileage

10th generation (GMT900)

NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,633 complaints, 1,009 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2007 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
80,000 mi
Complaints filed
482
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2007

  1. Airbag system209 reports · median 110,000 mi
  2. Body structure71 reports · median 74,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise60 reports · median 99,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2007: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2008 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
80,000 mi
Complaints filed
314
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2008

  1. Airbag system136 reports · median 100,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise57 reports · median 79,000 mi
  3. Body structure48 reports · median 71,000 mi

4 recall campaigns name the 2008: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2009 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
80,000 mi
Complaints filed
161
Recalls naming this year
5

Most reported on the 2009

  1. Airbag system63 reports
  2. Problems owners could not categorise37 reports · median 91,000 mi
  3. Electrical system22 reports

5 recall campaigns name the 2009: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system; Fuel system, gasoline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2010 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
82,000 mi
Complaints filed
170
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2010

  1. Airbag system74 reports · median 86,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise61 reports · median 85,000 mi
  3. Body structure41 reports · median 75,000 mi

3 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2011 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
74,000 mi
Complaints filed
228
Recalls naming this year
5

Most reported on the 2011

  1. Airbag system98 reports · median 75,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise78 reports · median 81,000 mi
  3. Body structure44 reports · median 60,000 mi

5 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Steering — linkages. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
66,000 mi
Complaints filed
101
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2012

  1. Problems owners could not categorise38 reports · median 90,000 mi
  2. Airbag system25 reports
  3. Body structure23 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Steering — gear box. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2013 Chevrolet Suburban

Close
Median failure report
60,000 mi
Complaints filed
118
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2013

  1. Problems owners could not categorise45 reports · median 69,000 mi
  2. Airbag system28 reports
  3. Body structure23 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2013: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system; Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2014 Chevrolet Suburban

Close
Median failure report
55,000 mi
Complaints filed
59
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2014

  1. Problems owners could not categorise17 reports
  2. Airbag system15 reports
  3. Body structure8 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2014: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system; Service brakes, hydraulic. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2010 reports latest and the 2014 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2010 has had 4 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.

The short answer

“Is the 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?”

Median of reported failures
75,000 mi
90% of reports came by
152,000 mi
Reports with mileage
1,009
Recalls
15

Most reported

  1. Airbag system39.7% of complaints · median 88,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise24.1% of complaints · median 86,000 mi
  3. Body structure17.0% of complaints · median 70,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 1,633 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban; the airbag system leads with 39.7% of them, and half of the 1,009 that record an odometer reading came by 75,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,000 and 111,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban, half of the 1,009 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 75,000 miles and 90% by 152,000 miles.

116 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 25 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Suburban reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014 · 1,009 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 89 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014Histogram of 1,009 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 10,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 60,000 to 70,000 miles with 89 complaints, 8.8 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,000 and 111,000 miles. A further 25 complaints, 2.5 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 75,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 25 complaints (2.5%), plotted separately
10%
25,000
25%
47,000
Median
75,000
75%
111,000
90%
152,000

Tallest bin: 89 complaints between 60,000 and 70,000 miles. Based on 1,009 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 10,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–10,000474.7%
10,000–20,000353.5%
20,000–30,000353.5%
30,000–40,000686.7%
40,000–50,000848.3%
50,000–60,000848.3%
60,000–70,000898.8%
70,000–80,000818.0%
80,000–90,000818.0%
90,000–100,000878.6%
100,000–110,000515.1%
110,000–120,000444.4%
120,000–130,000393.9%
130,000–140,000393.9%
140,000–150,000292.9%
150,000–160,000292.9%
160,000–170,000181.8%
170,000–180,000121.2%
180,000–190,000202.0%
190,000–200,000121.2%
200,000+252.5%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.

Common Suburban problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Latches and locks68 reports50,00030,000–61,000Latches and locks: 68 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 61,000 miles.
  2. Electrical system161 reports66,00044,000–114,000Electrical system: 161 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 114,000 miles.
  3. Body structure277 reports70,00047,000–90,000Body structure: 277 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 90,000 miles.
  4. Transmission and driveline61 reports70,00027,000–111,000Transmission and driveline: 61 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 111,000 miles.
  5. Problems owners could not categorise393 reports86,00056,000–110,000Problems owners could not categorise: 393 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 56,000 to 110,000 miles.
  6. Airbag system648 reports88,00059,000–123,000Airbag system: 648 reports, median 88,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 123,000 miles.
  7. Engine137 reports103,00067,000–147,000Engine: 137 reports, median 103,000 miles, middle half 67,000 to 147,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Airbag system64839.7%88,00059,000–123,000
Problems owners could not categorise39324.1%86,00056,000–110,000
Body structure27717.0%70,00047,000–90,000
Electrical system1619.9%66,00044,000–114,000
Engine1378.4%103,00067,000–147,000
Latches and locks684.2%50,00030,000–61,000
Transmission and driveline613.7%70,00027,000–111,000
Electronic stability control (esc)482.9%95,00061,000–141,000
Fuel and propulsion system392.4%98,00050,000–157,000
Brakes332.0%75,00035,000–103,000
System by system, in words

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The airbag system accounts for 39.7% of complaints (648 reports, 249 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 88,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 123,000 miles.

A single system taking 39.7% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 24.1% of complaints (393 reports, 272 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 110,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 17.0% of complaints (277 reports, 216 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 90,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 9.9% of complaints (161 reports, 133 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,000 and 114,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 8.4% of complaints (137 reports, 115 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 103,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 67,000 and 147,000 miles.

Latches and locks account for 4.2% of complaints (68 reports, 62 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 61,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2007–2014 Suburban

Engine 2010–2014

Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) valve lifter collapse on the Gen IV 5.3L V8 — the AFM lifter's locking pin fails, the lifter collapses, the camshaft lobe is wiped, and the engine misfires with progressive internal damage. Closely coupled to excessive oil consumption: the AFM oil pressure relief valve sprays oil at the piston skirts and the low-tension piston rings pass oil to the combustion chamber, fouling plugs and accelerating lifter failure. Worst on the flex-fuel LC9 variants. No safety recall was issued; repair typically requires cam and lifter replacement.

Interior 2007–2014

Dashboard top pad cracks and splits, typically radiating from the airbag seams and speaker grilles, with associated rattles. Widespread across the whole generation and a large ODI complaint category.

Before you buy a 2007–2014 Suburban: the 3-minute check

Generated from 1,009 mileage-tagged complaints, 15 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 15 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  2. Check engine on 2010–2014 cars. Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) valve lifter collapse on the Gen IV 5.3L V8 — the AFM lifter's locking pin fails, the lifter collapses, the camshaft lobe is wiped, and the engine misfires with progressive…
  3. Check interior on 2007–2014 cars. Dashboard top pad cracks and splits, typically radiating from the airbag seams and speaker grilles, with associated rattles. Widespread across the whole generation and a large ODI complaint category.
  4. Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
  5. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,000 and 111,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the airbag system and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 86,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Suburban problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi35% belowAt 90k mi60% belowAt 120k mi78% belowAt 150k mi89% belowAt 200k mi98% below
Airbag system59,000–123,000in windowin windowin windowearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise56,000–110,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Body structure47,000–90,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system44,000–114,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Engine67,000–147,000laterin windowin windowearlierearlier
Latches and locks30,000–61,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Transmission and driveline27,000–111,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014 · 1,009 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014Of 1,009 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 10,000-mile bin edge. 35 percent below 60,000 miles. 60 percent below 90,000 miles. 78 percent below 120,000 miles. 89 percent below 150,000 miles. 98 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 75,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 35% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 60% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 78% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 89% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 2.5% of reports (25) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban recalls (15)

NHTSA records 15 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), the electrical system (4), the steering (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. Feb 2021 · 2010–2014 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL…

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

    The free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-054 (2021-02-05).

  2. Feb 2021 · 2009–2010, 2013 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold…

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

    The free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-053 (2021-02-05).

  3. Feb 2021 · 2007–2009 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles…

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

    The free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-052 (2021-02-05).

  4. Feb 2021 · 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever…

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

    The free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-051 (2021-02-05).

  5. Feb 2021 · 2007–2011 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra…

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

    The free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-050 (2021-02-05).

  6. Dec 2014 · 2011–2012 · Electrical SystemIf stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected…

    What can happen. 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 free fix. 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…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-827 (2014-12-30).

  7. Oct 2014 · 2013–2014 · Electrical SystemIf the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and…

    What can happen. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick)…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-614 (2014-10-01).

  8. Aug 2013 · 2014 · Service Brakes, HydraulicLoose caliper bolts may cause reduced braking performance and result in lengthened stopping distances…

    The defect. General Motors is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured July 9, 2013, through July 22, 2013; and 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, through July 23, 2013; and model year 2014 GMC Yukon vehicles…

    What can happen. Loose caliper bolts may cause reduced braking performance and result in lengthened stopping distances, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts on both rear brake caliper brackets. Any bolts found loose will be replaced and tightened. This service will be performed, at no charge.…

    NHTSA campaign 13V-342 (2013-08-06).

  9. Jan 2013 · 2013 · Power TrainAs a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF…

    The defect. General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles…

    What can happen. As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while…

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call…

    NHTSA campaign 13V-001 (2013-01-02).

  10. Mar 2012 · 2012 · SteeringIf this condition occurs, a loss of steering could result, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The defect. General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet express and Suburban vehicles, and GMC savana and yukon xl heavy duty vehicles. The steering gear pitman shaft may not have been adequately hardened and could fracture.

    What can happen. If this condition occurs, a loss of steering could result, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering gear and, if necessary, replace the steering gear pitman shaft. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-112 (2012-03-22).

  11. Jun 2011 · 2011 · SteeringThis could allow the joints to separate, and the driver could experience loss of steering increasing the risk…

    The defect. Gm is recalling certain model year 2011cadillac escalade, escalade esv; Chevrolet silverado hd, silverado ld, Suburban, tahoe; and GMC sierra hd, sierra ld, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles. The intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts may not have been…

    What can happen. This could allow the joints to separate, and the driver could experience loss of steering increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Gm dealers will inspect and ensure that the intermediate steering shaft bolts are tightened to the proper specification. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 13, 2011. Owners may…

    NHTSA campaign 11V-339 (2011-06-28).

  12. Jan 2011 · 2011 · SuspensionThe driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without…

    The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, colorado, express, silverado, Suburban, tahoe; and GMC canyon, sierra, savana, yukon and yukon xl vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were…

    What can happen. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.

    The free fix. Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall began on january 11, 2011. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at…

    NHTSA campaign 11V-007 (2011-01-06).

  13. Jun 2010 · 2007–2009 · Electrical SystemIt is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.

    The defect. Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, Suburban, tahoe; GMC…

    What can happen. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.

    The free fix. Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has…

    NHTSA campaign 10V-240 (2010-06-04).

  14. May 2009 · 2009 · Fuel System, GasolineWater in the module could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the service engine soon lamp…

    The defect. Gm is recalling 27,188 my 2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade hybrid, escalade esv, and escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, Suburban, tahoe, tahoe hybrid, and colorado; and GMC yukon, yukon hybrid, yukon xl, and canyon vehicles. The fuel system control modules…

    What can happen. Water in the module could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the service engine soon lamp, setting of diagnostic trouble codes or the engine may be hard to start, may not start or may…

    The free fix. Dealers will install a new fuel system control module free of charge. The recall began on may 18, 2009. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at…

    NHTSA campaign 09V-154 (2009-05-06).

  15. Aug 2008 · 2007–2008 · Electrical SystemThis may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk…

    The defect. Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 Buick lucerne; Cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, Suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, Saturn outlook; and my 2008 Buick…

    What can happen. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.

    The free fix. Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or…

    NHTSA campaign 08V-441 (2008-08-28).

Some of these 15 campaigns also cover Chevrolet Tahoe 2007–2014 (14 of them), GMC Yukon 2007–2014 (14 of them), Cadillac Escalade 2007–2014 (13 of them) and GMC Sierra 1500 2007–2013 (11 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair. 1 of the 15 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,633 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
23 (1.4%)
Fires
17
Injury reports
65
Fatality reports
0

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Suburban problems by model year

The 2007 drew the most complaints of this generation, 482, most of them about the airbag system, and the 2014 the fewest, 59. A typical year drew about 166.

That makes the 2007 stand out at roughly 2.9 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
200748227380,000Airbag system (209)4
200831417980,000Airbag system (136)4
200916110980,000Airbag system (63)5
201017011082,000Airbag system (74)3
201122813974,000Airbag system (98)5
20121018466,000Problems owners could not categorise (38)4
20131188060,000Problems owners could not categorise (45)4
2014593555,000Problems owners could not categorise (17)3

What Suburban owners reported

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was restarted and driven; however, approximately one minute later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was restarted and driven to a nearby parking lot.…

2010 · 243,000 miles · Electrical system

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 30 MPH, she started to choke and was unable to breathe, which resulted in the driver fully colliding into a cement wall. The driver sustained injuries, and medical attention was provided, and the contact child was…

2008 · 154,000 miles · Airbag system

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…

2011 · 191,000 miles · Fuel system

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the rear end of the vehicle was leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rear end pinion yoke needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure…

2011 · 71,000 miles · Suspension

Built from 1,009 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Suburban generations

Other full-size SUVs from the same years