Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2014
10th generation (GMT900)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,507 complaints, 947 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 49,000 and 115,324 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 27 complaints (2.9%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 31,000
- 25%
- 49,000
- Median
- 75,000
- 75%
- 115,324
- 90%
- 155,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 41 | 4.3% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 17 | 1.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 27 | 2.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 65 | 6.9% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 88 | 9.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 86 | 9.1% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 89 | 9.4% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 79 | 8.3% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 69 | 7.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 76 | 8.0% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 46 | 4.9% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 37 | 3.9% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 35 | 3.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 38 | 4.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 37 | 3.9% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 28 | 3.0% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 21 | 2.2% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 12 | 1.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 18 | 1.9% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 11 | 1.2% |
| 200,000+ | 27 | 2.9% |
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.
Owners filed 1,507 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2014 Chevrolet Suburban, and 947 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 49,000 and 115,324 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (31.0% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (19.3% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), body structure (12.8% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
11 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system90,000median 90,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 125,000
- Problems owners could not categorise85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 105,000
- Body structure70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 89,000
- Electrical system70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 130,000
- Engine110,000median 110,000 miles, middle half 66,000 to 149,000
- Latches and locks55,000median 55,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 65,000
- Transmission and driveline84,000median 84,500 miles, middle half 32,000 to 138,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 467 | 31.0% | 90,000 | 55,000–125,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 291 | 19.3% | 85,000 | 55,000–105,000 |
| Body structure | 193 | 12.8% | 70,000 | 47,000–89,000 |
| Electrical system | 113 | 7.5% | 70,000 | 49,000–130,000 |
| Engine | 106 | 7.0% | 110,000 | 66,000–149,000 |
| Latches and locks | 41 | 2.7% | 55,000 | 42,000–65,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 38 | 2.5% | 84,000 | 32,000–138,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 34 | 2.3% | 90,000 | 40,000–124,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 33 | 2.2% | 92,000 | 66,000–141,000 |
| Brakes | 29 | 1.9% | 74,000 | 31,000–103,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 31.0% of complaints (467 reports, 165 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 125,000 miles.
A single system taking 31.0% 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 19.3% of complaints (291 reports, 193 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 105,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 12.8% of complaints (193 reports, 148 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 46,732 and 88,789 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.5% of complaints (113 reports, 91 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 49,000 and 130,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 7.0% of complaints (106 reports, 88 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 110,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 66,490 and 149,000 miles.
Latches and locks account for 2.7% of complaints (41 reports, 39 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,529 and 65,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 358 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 77. The median year sits at 165.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 11 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 (3), the hydraulic brake circuit (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Reported severity
Of the 1,507 complaints filed against this generation, 22 reported a crash; 17 reported a fire; 103 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 1.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 49,000 and 115,324 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 85,000, 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.
Documented problems
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 358 | 181 |
| 2008 | 276 | 159 |
| 2009 | 133 | 94 |
| 2010 | 161 | 110 |
| 2011 | 193 | 126 |
| 2012 | 139 | 114 |
| 2013 | 170 | 117 |
| 2014 | 77 | 46 |
Recalls (11)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V052000 | 2021-09-20 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V054000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V053000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V051000 | 2021-05-11 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 21V050000 | 2021-03-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 14V827000 | 2015-02-12 | Electrical System:ignition |
| 14V614000 | 2014-12-26 | Electrical System |
| 13V342000 | 2013-08-02 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| 13V001000 | 2013-01-17 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| 12V112000 | 2012-04-04 | Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman |
| 10V240000 | 2010-06-11 | Electrical System |
What owners reported
The exterior door handles pull out of the car body on my 2007 chevy LTZ Suburban.. The design appears to use plastic plugs that either break apart or deteriorate, causing the door handles to break loose when grabbed and pulled to open the doors. My handles have all broken loose at the forward end of the handle, with…
2007 · 15,000 miles · Body structure
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the driver side and passenger side doors on the vehicle locked and the contact had to crawl through the window to get out. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the doors were repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000 and…
2007 · 20,000 miles · Latches and locks
I am filing this compliant about the cracked dash on my 2007 chevy regency Suburban, which i purchased brand new in 2008. This dash has been cracked for over 7 years now. I have tried several times to get the dealership (reliable Chevrolet) in dallas, tx to fix the issue but was told it would cost me somewhere around…
2007 · 30,000 miles · Body structure
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. Whenever the contact would attempt to start the vehicle, it would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the suspension sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was serviced by the dealer several different times for the failure, but it…
2007 · 32,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 947 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page