Reliability
Chevrolet

Suburban (K2XX)

2015-2020 · Full-Size SUV · 3 engines
991 NHTSA Complaints
16 Recalls
14 Fire Reports
44 Crash Reports
View all 5 generations of the Chevrolet Suburban → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

6.0 / 10

Reliability score

More owner complaints than similar full-size SUVs

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit run well above similar vehicles. They set this score.

Owners filed 323 powertrain complaints. A typical full-size SUV fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 313.

Scores this low have often eased: the three years after looked about 1.5 points better in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall323 complaints against about 313 for similar vehicles
6.9
Last three years139 complaints against about 132 for similar vehicles
6.9
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced134 complaints against about 87 for similar vehicles
5.8
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating6 complaints against about 26 for similar vehicles
9.4

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

By model year
  • 20156.4
  • 20166.3
  • 20175.6
  • 20188.1
  • 20195.2
  • 20207.0

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

By engine

5.3L 8-cyl 6.2/10
No clear difference from the 6.2L 8-cyl. (305 complaints, about 339,000 built) Complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit set this score: 125 against about 85 for similar vehicles.
6.2L 8-cyl 5.9/10
No clear difference from the 5.3L 8-cyl. (12 complaints, about 8,000 built)

A complaint counts toward an engine only when its VIN names the engine. Each score is that engine on its own against similar vehicles, worked out the same way as the score above.

On the record · from NHTSA's files, not reviewed by hand

Recall14V374
Power Train, Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) · 18,828 vehicles (5% of those built)

Complaints by Engine Code

L83 - VVT, Active Fuel Management, Aluminum.

5.3L 8-cyl
933 complaints 145.0 per year Gasoline
13 fire reports
View details

Chevrolet Suburban Unidentified Engine

36 complaints 6.0 per year
2 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
14
safety systems
4
interior
4
exterior
3
other
3

L86 - SIDI VVT, AFM, E85 MAX, ALUM

6.2L 8-cyl
20 complaints 10.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
14
transmission
3
interior
2
safety systems
1
other
1

Same engine used in

Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Suburban, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Brakes: 297 owner complaints
Transmission: 197 owner complaints
Engine: 155 owner complaints
Electrical System: 150 owner complaints
Steering: 106 owner complaints

What to check on a used 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban

On a used 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the brakes (297), the transmission and drivetrain (197) and the engine (155). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

  1. On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 297 owner complaints on the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban about the brakes.
  2. Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 197 owner complaints on the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
  3. Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 155 owner complaints on the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban about the engine, all engines combined.
  4. Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 150 owner complaints on the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban about the electrical system.
  5. Turn the wheel from lock to lock while parked, then drive straight on a level road with a light grip.Safety. NHTSA has 106 owner complaints on the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban about the steering.
Open the full inspection checklist for the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban

Recalls (16)

26V289000May 7, 2026serious
Powertrain

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 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

21V115000Feb 25, 2021serious
Tires

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 Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

19V837000Nov 21, 2019serious
Fuel System

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 over-pressurization of the fuel system.

19V761000Oct 24, 2019serious
Service Brakes

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 wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.

19V645000Sep 6, 2019serious
Service Brakes

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.

Show 11 older recalls
18V673000Sep 26, 2018serious
Seat Belts

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 pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

18V586000Sep 7, 2018serious
Steering

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.

17V437000Jul 10, 2017serious
Air Bags

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 Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

17V033000Jan 12, 2017serious
Visibility

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 with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

16V651000Sep 8, 2016serious
Air Bags

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 Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

16V256000Apr 28, 2016serious
Suspension

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 may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

15V640000Oct 9, 2015serious
Electrical System

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 manufactured February 6, 2014, to February 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.

14V719000Nov 10, 2014serious
Steering

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 sudden loss of power steering assist during vehicle operation.

14V451000Jul 23, 2014serious
Air Bags

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 were not reinforced at the points were the bags contact the hardware used to attach the roof carrier.

14V374000Jun 27, 2014serious
Powertrain

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 case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.

14V152000Mar 31, 2014serious
Powertrain

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 and model year 2015 Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (feature code MYC). The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.4% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.4% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (20.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
3/5 (21.2% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban complaints?

Owners have filed 991 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban. The systems they name most often are the brakes, the transmission and the engine.

Is the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 991 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban have?

NHTSA has 991 owner complaints on file for the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban?

NHTSA lists 16 recalls covering some 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Suburban?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the brakes, the transmission and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Suburban?

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 991 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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