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Chevrolet Suburban 2015–2020 problems by year and mileage

11th generation (K2XX)

NHTSA data through 24 September 2026992 complaints, 561 with mileageMethod

A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.

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

The 2015 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
62,000 mi
Complaints filed
428
Recalls naming this year
11

Most reported on the 2015

  1. Brakes149 reports · median 65,000 mi
  2. Steering59 reports · median 73,000 mi
  3. Electrical system58 reports · median 68,000 mi

11 recall campaigns name the 2015: Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist. 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 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
60,000 mi
Complaints filed
220
Recalls naming this year
6

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2016

  1. Brakes78 reports · median 59,000 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline45 reports
  3. Engine27 reports

6 recall campaigns name the 2016: Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist; Seat belts — pretensioner. 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 2017 Chevrolet Suburban

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Median failure report
53,000 mi
Complaints filed
141
Recalls naming this year
5

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2017

  1. Brakes41 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline39 reports
  3. Engine25 reports

5 recall campaigns name the 2017: Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist. 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 2018 Chevrolet Suburban

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
81
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2018

  1. Engine18 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline17 reports
  3. Electrical system16 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2018: Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic — power assist. 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 2019 Chevrolet Suburban

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
78
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2019

  1. Transmission and driveline38 reports
  2. Engine26 reports
  3. Electrical system7 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2019: Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Service brakes; Seat belts — rear/other. 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 2020 Chevrolet Suburban

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
44
Recalls naming this year
4

Most reported on the 2020

  1. Engine17 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline10 reports
  3. Electrical system8 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2020: Power train — transfer case (4-wheel drive); Tires; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. 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. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2015 reports latest and the 2017 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2015 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.

The short answer

“Is the 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?”

Median of reported failures
60,000 mi
90% of reports came by
120,000 mi
Reports with mileage
561
Recalls
16

At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported

  1. Brakes28.8% of complaints · median 61,000 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline19.8% of complaints · median 90,000 mi
  3. Engine15.3% of complaints · median 77,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 992 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban; the brakes leads with 28.8% of them, and half of the 561 that record an odometer reading came by 60,000 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 35,000 and 90,000 miles.

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

How many miles does a 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban, half of the 561 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 60,000 miles and 90% by 120,000 miles.

24 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 7 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Suburban reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Chevrolet Suburban 2015–2020 · 561 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 = 71 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Chevrolet Suburban 2015–2020Histogram of 561 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 10,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 10,000 miles with 71 complaints, 12.7 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 35,000 and 90,000 miles. A further 7 complaints, 1.2 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 60,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 7 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
10%
5,000
25%
35,000
Median
60,000
75%
90,000
90%
120,000

Tallest bin: 71 complaints between 0 and 10,000 miles. Based on 561 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 10,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–10,0007112.7%
10,000–20,000315.5%
20,000–30,000254.5%
30,000–40,000305.3%
40,000–50,000498.7%
50,000–60,0006912.3%
60,000–70,0005610.0%
70,000–80,000346.1%
80,000–90,000508.9%
90,000–100,000437.7%
100,000–110,000223.9%
110,000–120,000223.9%
120,000–130,000162.9%
130,000–140,000132.3%
140,000–150,00061.1%
150,000–160,00071.2%
160,000–170,00040.7%
170,000–180,00020.4%
180,000–190,00030.5%
190,000–200,00010.2%
200,000+71.2%

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 2015–2020

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. Problems owners could not categorise115 reports45,00014,000–66,000Problems owners could not categorise: 115 reports, median 45,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 66,000 miles.
  2. Body structure49 reports48,00029,000–80,000Body structure: 49 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 80,000 miles.
  3. Electrical system136 reports58,00030,000–89,000Electrical system: 136 reports, median 58,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 89,000 miles.
  4. Brakes286 reports61,00046,000–85,000Brakes: 286 reports, median 61,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 85,000 miles.
  5. Steering106 reports62,00029,000–92,000Steering: 106 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 92,000 miles.
  6. Engine152 reports77,00030,000–101,000Engine: 152 reports, median 77,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 101,000 miles.
  7. Transmission and driveline196 reports90,00043,000–117,000Transmission and driveline: 196 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 43,000 to 117,000 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%
Brakes28628.8%61,00046,000–85,000
Transmission and driveline19619.8%90,00043,000–117,000
Engine15215.3%77,00030,000–101,000
Electrical system13613.7%58,00030,000–89,000
Problems owners could not categorise11511.6%45,00014,000–66,000
Steering10610.7%62,00029,000–92,000
Body structure494.9%48,00029,000–80,000
Suspension464.6%56,00030,000–70,000
Fuel and propulsion system404.0%47,00015,000–86,000
Electronic stability control (esc)323.2%70,00058,000–93,000
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 60,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The brakes account for 28.8% of complaints (286 reports, 188 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 85,000 miles.

A single system taking 28.8% 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.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 19.8% of complaints (196 reports, 82 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 90,000 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 43,000 and 117,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 15.3% of complaints (152 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 101,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 13.7% of complaints (136 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 89,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.6% of complaints (115 reports, 63 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 45,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 66,000 miles.

The steering accounts for 10.7% of complaints (106 reports, 61 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 92,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2015–2020 Suburban

Engine 2015–2020

Active Fuel Management lifter failure continues on the 5.3L L83 — collapsed AFM lifter, wiped cam lobe, misfire on the deactivating cylinders (1, 4, 6, 7). Same mechanism as the GMT900 Gen IV engines.

Transmission 2018–2020

Torque converter clutch shudder on GM's 8-speed and 10-speed automatics — a rumble-strip sensation at steady 40-70 mph cruise, caused by transmission fluid unable to maintain the required friction characteristics. GM's remedy is a fluid flush to Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP per TSB 18-NA-355; where the flush fails the torque converter is replaced. Subject of class action litigation covering GM's 8-speed applications.

Before you buy a 2015–2020 Suburban: the 3-minute check

Generated from 561 mileage-tagged complaints, 16 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
  2. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 16 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  3. Check engine on 2015–2020 cars. Active Fuel Management lifter failure continues on the 5.3L L83 — collapsed AFM lifter, wiped cam lobe, misfire on the deactivating cylinders (1, 4, 6, 7). Same mechanism as the GMT900 Gen IV engines.
  4. Check transmission on 2018–2020 cars. Torque converter clutch shudder on GM's 8-speed and 10-speed automatics — a rumble-strip sensation at steady 40-70 mph cruise, caused by transmission fluid unable to maintain the required friction characteristics. GM's…
  5. Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
  6. 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 35,000 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 60,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the brakes and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The brakes in particular shows a median failure mileage of 61,000, 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 mi49% belowAt 90k mi74% belowAt 120k mi89% belowAt 150k mi96% belowAt 200k mi99% below
Brakes46,000–85,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Transmission and driveline43,000–117,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Engine30,000–101,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system30,000–89,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise14,000–66,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Steering29,000–92,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Body structure29,000–80,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Chevrolet Suburban 2015–2020 · 561 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 2015–2020Of 561 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 10,000-mile bin edge. 49 percent below 60,000 miles. 74 percent below 90,000 miles. 89 percent below 120,000 miles. 96 percent below 150,000 miles. 99 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 60,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 49% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 74% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 89% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 96% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.2% of reports (7) came above 200,000 miles.

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

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2015–2020 Chevrolet Suburban recalls (16)

NHTSA records 16 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.

2 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.

The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (3), the seat belts (3), 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. May 2026 · 2015, 2017–2020 · Power Train do not driveFront or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020…

    What can happen. Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters…

    NHTSA campaign 26V-289 (2026-05-07).

  2. Feb 2021 · 2020 · TiresOver cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC…

    What can happen. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle…

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267…

    NHTSA campaign 21V-115 (2021-02-25).

  3. Nov 2019 · 2020 · Fuel System, GasolineOver-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for…

    What can happen. Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-837 (2019-11-21).

  4. Oct 2019 · 2015–2020 · Service BrakesUnintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a…

    What can happen. Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly…

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-761 (2019-10-24).

  5. Sep 2019 · 2015–2018 · Service Brakes, HydraulicAs the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

    What can happen. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-645 (2019-09-06).

  6. Sep 2018 · 2018–2019 · Seat BeltsIf the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully…

    What can happen. If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-673 (2018-09-26).

  7. Sep 2018 · 2015 · SteeringIf EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.

    What can happen. If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-586 (2018-09-07).

  8. Jul 2017 · 2015–2016 · Seat BeltsA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and…

    What can happen. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-437 (2017-07-10).

  9. Jan 2017 · 2016–2017 · VisibilityIf equipped with the incorrect right-side rear-view mirror, the driver may misjudge the distance of other…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Suburban HD vehicles. These vehicles were assembled with a convex right-hand outside mirror, instead of with a non-convex (flat) right-hand outside mirror. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…

    What can happen. If equipped with the incorrect right-side rear-view mirror, the driver may misjudge the distance of other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the convex mirror with a non-convex mirror and provide a new page for the owner's manual with the customer notification letter, free of charge. The…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-033 (2017-01-12).

  10. Sep 2016 · 2015–2017 · Seat BeltsA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet…

    What can happen. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-651 (2016-09-08).

  11. Apr 2016 · 2016 · Suspension do not driveInadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms…

    What can happen. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-256 (2016-04-28).

  12. Oct 2015 · 2015 · 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 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks manufactured January 24, 2014, to February 26, 2014, 2015 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured February 12, 2014 and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles…

    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 replace the ignition lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or…

    NHTSA campaign 15V-640 (2015-10-09).

  13. Nov 2014 · 2015 · SteeringAn unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and Yukon XL vehicles, equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Due to a problem with the EPS module, the affected vehicles may experience a…

    What can happen. An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering assist motor kit, free of charge. The recall began on November 17, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-719 (2014-11-10).

  14. Jul 2014 · 2015 · Air BagsDuring deployment, the RRAB may be punctured or torn by the roof carrier hardware, reducing its performance…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, Suburban LTZ, Tahoe, Tahoe LTZ, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL Denali vehicles manufactured on May 13, 2014. The affected vehicles were assembled with a roof rail air bags (RRAB) that…

    What can happen. During deployment, the RRAB may be punctured or torn by the roof carrier hardware, reducing its performance and increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the roof carrier attaching hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-451 (2014-07-23).

  15. Jun 2014 · 2015 · Power TrainIf the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer…

    What can happen. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case…

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-374 (2014-06-27).

  16. Mar 2014 · 2015 · Power TrainIf the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot…

    The defect. General Motors LLC (GM ) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Light Duty Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 series and model year 2015 Suburban and Tahoe; GMC model year 2014 Sierra Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 Series…

    What can happen. If the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot surface and cause a vehicle fire.

    The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler line connection and repair the vehicles, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact…

    NHTSA campaign 14V-152 (2014-03-31).

Some of these 16 campaigns also cover Chevrolet Tahoe 2015–2020 (14 of them), GMC Yukon 2015–2020 (13 of them), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2014–2018 (10 of them) and GMC Sierra 1500 2014–2018 (10 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 16 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 992 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
44 (4.4%)
Fires
14
Injury reports
31
Fatality reports
1

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 2015 drew the most complaints of this generation, 428, most of them about the brakes, and the 2020 the fewest, 44. A typical year drew about 111.

That makes the 2015 stand out at roughly 3.9 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
201542829362,000Brakes (149)11
201622013160,000†Brakes (78)6
20171417153,000†Brakes (41)5
20188127under 30 reportsEngine (18)4
20197826under 30 reportsTransmission and driveline (38)3
20204413under 30 reportsEngine (17)4

† At least 40% of this year’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. Its median rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

What Suburban owners reported

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud booming sound coming from the vehicle, and the sunroof glass exploded. During the failure, the sunroof cover was closed. Upon inspection, the contact discovered shards of glass inside the sunroof…

2016 · 202,000 miles · Visibility equipment

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed a cylinder misfire and determined that the engine…

2019 · 125,000 miles · Engine

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission overheating warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and waited for the engine to cool down. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The failure…

2017 · 84,000 miles · Transmission and driveline

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the middle row seat belts failed to retract, and the seat belts became inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and to two dealers, and the contact was informed that the seat belts could not be replaced because parts…

2019 · 120,000 miles · Seat belts

Built from 561 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