Problems › Chevrolet › 2021 Suburban
2021 Chevrolet Suburban Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~30.3 complaints per year on the road — ranking 1 of 4 Chevrolet Suburban years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, cited in 76 of 182 filed complaints (42%).
Power Train is next (35 complaints, 19%), followed by Fuel/Propulsion System (22), Electrical System (17), Forward Collision Avoidance (11).
Across all complaints, 6 report a crash, 1 report a fire, 5 report injuries.
The most safety-critical cluster is Service Brakes: 1 crash, 1 fire, 4 injury report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 182.
Engine 76 2 crash
“my car was hit on the side passenger back door in a parking lot while parked and nobody inside- had it look at by the chevrolet dealer- diagnosis is it needs a new engine??? make this make sense??? super disappointed with this car from the very beginning! will never buy chevrolet again”
NHTSA complaint #11590234, 2024 · crash
“Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Equipment: - Anti-lock Brakes - Full Front Air Bag - Passive Disabling Anti-theft Device Introduction: I am the registered owner and primary driver of a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. I am filing this safety complaint regarding a serious system malfunction that occurred during an accident in 2023, resulting in injury to myself and my daughter. As a responsible vehicle owner who has maintained this vehicle according to manufacturer specifications since its purchase on July 21, 2021, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this incident. Safety Defect De…”
NHTSA complaint #11658176, 2023 · crash
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban used to tow a 30-foot trailer. The contact stated that while towing the trailer and driving 60 MPH up an incline with no shoulder, the vehicle shut off in a remote area. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brakes and power steering features became inoperable. The vehicle shifted to neutral without driver input. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not di…”
NHTSA complaint #11753933, 2026
Power Train 35
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? (On our 2021 gasoline suburgan, the rear wheels locked up at free-way speeds, which nearly caused a possibly fatal accident. The lock released but it appears the strain caused rear differential gear teeth to break and the rear differential now needs to be replaced for the vehicle to operate properly.) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? (The sudden rear wheel lockup at freeway speeds resulted in temporary loss of control of the vehicle and significant surprise to the driver,…”
NHTSA complaint #11750547, 2026
“COMPONENT: The 10-speed automatic transmission failed on 6/29/26, locking the vehicle completely in neutral. The neutral override could not be disengaged even by dealership technicians. Vehicle is currently at [XXX] Chevrolet, [XXX] and is available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: I have 3 young children who are regular passengers. The failure occurred without warning. Had it happened at highway speed in oncoming traffic, I would have had no ability to move the car — creating a direct risk of a serious or fatal collision. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Yes. Don Hewlett Chevrolet received the vehicle on 6/3…”
NHTSA complaint #11750175, 2026
“2021 Chevy Suburban started to have harsh shifting particularly on acceleration and shuddering at higher rates of speed (feeling like you are driving over a rumble strip). I took it to the dealer, and they confirmed the torque converter was in the process of failing. It's currently in the shop getting a new torque converter. No warning messages/lights had yet appeared. Technician at dealer stated that this was a common failure with this model.”
NHTSA complaint #11743773, 2026
Fuel/Propulsion System 22 1 fire 4 injury
“The vehicle caught on fire in our garage The Vehicle had been parked outside than moved into the garage nothing smelled like smoke after it was parked other than the exhaust after I got out of my suburban I have a good idea what caused this but until its done being ispected I happened to look back and saw a flame in the Suburban coming from the center area of the dash on the right hand side of the divers seat I thought for sure it was gonna blow up the dogs were in the back of the garage behind the vehicle off to the side I started screaming and calling for help and had to go around the hous…”
NHTSA complaint #11702142, 2025 · fire · 4 injury(ies)
“Pulled out in 4 lane traffic. Got almost to 55mph. Vehicle lost all power, slowed down and auto shifted to neutral, vehicle stopped and went to park. Vehicle would not start back nor transition to Neutral to remove from highways. 2021 suburban with just 35,000miles. Shut down a lane on a 55mph highway. Code P129F”
NHTSA complaint #11752904, 2026
“Vehicle stalled during routine driving. Code P129F. I was stranded in 95 degree weather with three small children. Please correct and advise ASAP. Had to be towed home. Vehicle inoperable.”
NHTSA complaint #11741176, 2026
Electrical System 17 1 fire 4 injury
“The vehicle caught on fire in our garage The Vehicle had been parked outside than moved into the garage nothing smelled like smoke after it was parked other than the exhaust after I got out of my suburban I have a good idea what caused this but until its done being ispected I happened to look back and saw a flame in the Suburban coming from the center area of the dash on the right hand side of the divers seat I thought for sure it was gonna blow up the dogs were in the back of the garage behind the vehicle off to the side I started screaming and calling for help and had to go around the hous…”
NHTSA complaint #11702142, 2025 · fire · 4 injury(ies)
“Had an engine replacement in dec of 2025 and had to pay for it since wasn’t under warranty or recall. And now my replacement engine which has a warranty now. Just failed in March 2026 which about 3 months later. Had metal shavings in engine and multiple cylinders misfiring. And now I don’t have a family vehicle to drive my family around again. There should’ve been a recall on my engine, but wasn’t this is not fair. And I’m paying the price for it.”
NHTSA complaint #11729192, 2026
“I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Chevrolet Suburban equipped with the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine. The vehicle has experienced a recurring problem related to the engine wiring harness. While driving, the vehicle will unexpectedly stall without warning. At the same time, there is an immediate loss of power steering assist, significantly reducing the ability to safely control the vehicle. This creates a dangerous situation, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The failure appears to be linked to a defect or malfunction in the engine wiring…”
NHTSA complaint #11725782, 2026
Unknown Or Other 13 1 crash
“WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON FLORIDA STATE ROAD 54 TURN LANE TO GO ON US 75 WHEN THE OTHER CAR REAR ENDED US AND DROVE US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CRASH NUMBER 88482185. WE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS.”
NHTSA complaint #11407855, 2021 · crash
“COMPONENT: The 10-speed automatic transmission failed on 6/29/26, locking the vehicle completely in neutral. The neutral override could not be disengaged even by dealership technicians. Vehicle is currently at [XXX] Chevrolet, [XXX] and is available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: I have 3 young children who are regular passengers. The failure occurred without warning. Had it happened at highway speed in oncoming traffic, I would have had no ability to move the car — creating a direct risk of a serious or fatal collision. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Yes. Don Hewlett Chevrolet received the vehicle on 6/3…”
NHTSA complaint #11750175, 2026
“The check engine and traction control light came on in my car. This was accompanied by a clanking sound, shaking. The panel said “ SERVICE ESC” “ service traction control” and “ forward collision system unavailable” The Chevrolet light logo on the back of my car will also not turn off occasionally whenever the car is turned off.”
NHTSA complaint #11719559, 2026
Forward Collision Avoidance 11 2 crash
“In traffic, approx. 10-15 MPH car in front stopped short. I put foot on the brake pedal and pushed the brakes pedal to the floor. The car did apply the brakes equally as hard as I was Appling brakes at the pedal”
NHTSA complaint #11484256, 2021 · crash
“WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON FLORIDA STATE ROAD 54 TURN LANE TO GO ON US 75 WHEN THE OTHER CAR REAR ENDED US AND DROVE US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CRASH NUMBER 88482185. WE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS.”
NHTSA complaint #11407855, 2021 · crash
“Lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, adaptive high beam, forward collision warning system became unresponsive while driving on highway during trip. Had to take vehicle into GM dealership for ADAS camera replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #11730078, 2026
Engine And Engine Cooling 9
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban used to tow a 30-foot trailer. The contact stated that while towing the trailer and driving 60 MPH up an incline with no shoulder, the vehicle shut off in a remote area. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brakes and power steering features became inoperable. The vehicle shifted to neutral without driver input. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not di…”
NHTSA complaint #11753933, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine was idling rough, the Check Engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine rods were bent, causing internal damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not in…”
NHTSA complaint #11744528, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on the highway, the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not…”
NHTSA complaint #11723503, 2025
Service Brakes 9 1 crash 1 fire 4 injury
“The vehicle caught on fire in our garage The Vehicle had been parked outside than moved into the garage nothing smelled like smoke after it was parked other than the exhaust after I got out of my suburban I have a good idea what caused this but until its done being ispected I happened to look back and saw a flame in the Suburban coming from the center area of the dash on the right hand side of the divers seat I thought for sure it was gonna blow up the dogs were in the back of the garage behind the vehicle off to the side I started screaming and calling for help and had to go around the hous…”
NHTSA complaint #11702142, 2025 · fire · 4 injury(ies)
“In traffic, approx. 10-15 MPH car in front stopped short. I put foot on the brake pedal and pushed the brakes pedal to the floor. The car did apply the brakes equally as hard as I was Appling brakes at the pedal”
NHTSA complaint #11484256, 2021 · crash
“My wife was driving the vehicle and was pulling into a parking lot. The brakes failed and would not stop the vehicle. She pressed on the brakes very hard, multiple times, for several seconds, before the vehicle finally came to stop. She then proceeded into a parking spot where the brakes again failed to stop the vehicle promptly. Several lights illuminated and a “System Brake Failure 43 MPH Top Speed” message appeared, alternating with several other messages appearing. The vehicle is in for service at Classic Chevrolet in Granbury, Texas. They are telling me that they reset the codes and that…”
NHTSA complaint #11674084, 2025
Fuel System 8
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the vehicle experienced reduced engine power and failed to exceed 30 MPH. A message pertaining to the deceleration was displayed. The following Monday, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH, and a friend followed the contact while driving to the dealer. The dealer recommended a fuel filter replacement. The contact declined the repair because the fuel filter life was at 47%; however, the dealer proceeded with the replacement. The contact provided the diagnostic trouble code to an independent mechanic…”
NHTSA complaint #11752994, 2026
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the map sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to another mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump sensor module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was referred to t…”
NHTSA complaint #11675698, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel pump power control module failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump power control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts to repair the vehicle had been ordered. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11644657, 2025
Exterior Lighting 7
“2021 SUBURBAN LT. Driver side headlamp adjuster failed while driving. Wife struggles to see at night so when the adjuster failed the driver side headlamp faced right to the ground causing no projected illuminating light. We attempted to adjust the light when she arrived home but it would not adjust due to the leveler failing and breaking. Looking into the matter we found out that numerous people with those, suburban's and even Silverado's that share the same parts have also reported the part failing due to the leveling being so thin and driving over bumpy roads will cause the weight of the lam…”
NHTSA complaint #11746579, 2026
“The front headlight leaks water which pools inside the led front headlight bezel causing the headlamp to blow/fail. This is a known GM issue and TSB's have been initiated. Concern was confirmed by the dealership who reported that the seal on the headlamp had failed causing the water leak and full replacement of the headlamp/headlight bezel needed to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #11742128, 2026
“The headlight adjustment screw is broken. Was never used or adjusted and now the headlights point to the ground. GM does not offer a replacement part for the adjustment screw, the only fix is to purchase a whole new headlight assembly which is roughly $1,000 before installation costs. This causes a dangerous situation since the drivers side headlight points to the ground and it is hard to see in front of you at night.”
NHTSA complaint #11687782, 2024
Seat Belts 7
“Sat may 3rd We went for tire change from that date since that day, every time we try to start the car there’s always a different warning light The warning light is never the same issue. On may 15 when we received a warning light about transmission we went to the dealership that day they said they were about two weeks backed up but flushed the transmission and paid $504 for the service. Since that day we also received numerous warning light which include. Driver window. Esc. Winshield fluid. Tire pressure. Lift gate open. Forward Collision System Unavailable. Your 2021 Chevrolet Suburb…”
NHTSA complaint #11661849, 2025
“A warning message appeared on my 2021 Chevy Suburban dashboard that says "Service Safety Restraint System". This impacts the airbag control module under the driver seat. After doing some research on my own this is a TSB PIT5759 but it is not covered under a recall, as per my local dealership. I took the vehicle to the Chevy dealership where purchased and was told this is not a recall or warranty part. This is very disappointing as it impacts the airbag controls which in an accident could cause severe injury or death.”
NHTSA complaint #11601501, 2024
“Service safety restraint constantly reappears. Taken into dealership 3 times and still has not been fixed. This could cause serious injury or harm and I have 4 children 10 and younger. This has been an on going problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11608906, 2023
Air Bags 6 2 crash 1 injury
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE INITIAL COLLISION ME HEAD SWUNG SIDEWAY STRIKING THE B POST WINDOW AREA AND KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS FOR A SHORT TIME. I THEN T-BONED A TRUCK AND FINALLY CAME TO REST AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT NO TIME DID MY AIRBAGS (FRONT OR SIDE) DEPLOY. NOR HAS MY VEHICLE EVEN REGISTERED THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. I REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. AFTER EXAMINATION AND SCANNING/XRAYS, ETC. I HAD RECEIVED…”
NHTSA complaint #11416063, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Equipment: - Anti-lock Brakes - Full Front Air Bag - Passive Disabling Anti-theft Device Introduction: I am the registered owner and primary driver of a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. I am filing this safety complaint regarding a serious system malfunction that occurred during an accident in 2023, resulting in injury to myself and my daughter. As a responsible vehicle owner who has maintained this vehicle according to manufacturer specifications since its purchase on July 21, 2021, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this incident. Safety Defect De…”
NHTSA complaint #11658176, 2023 · crash
“I was sold a vehicle from a dealership in Green Bay Wisconsin under the impression all safety regulations were met. The day I drove it off the lot, I had issues with the back drivers' door, making wind noise. I had messaged the salesman, he stated it may have been the door seal. Days went by, it wasn't sitting well with me, I made an appointment with a local body shop in. regard's to the door and suspicion of something not right. I brought it to the body shop, they informed me, that the back air bags were deployed and stuffed back into the roof, body work on the left side was done incorrectly…”
NHTSA complaint #11623927, 2024
Wheels 4
“[XXX] DIAGNOSE UNITS: 1.00 TECH(S) :1244 CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH, MAKING A NOISE WHILE DRIVING COMING FROM THE REAR, PLEASE CHECK & ADVISE, FEELS LIKE RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS RUBBING checked over and found noise to be coming from rear differential. found bulletin #21-NA-028 for rear axle moan type noise on turns. followed service procedure per bulletin and drained and refilled rear diff service multiple times to correct customer concern. test drove vehicle after repair and noise is no longer present at this time. May be necessary to Drive vehicle multiple times to work lubricant i…”
NHTSA complaint #11647131, 2025
“The 22 inch rims on my vehicle are cast aluminum I'm assuming. I have had several cracks causing me to rapidly loose air on the tires while driving at highway speeds. I have had three cracks in different rims within the last week and have had the rims repaired twice. The vehicle has 75k miles on it. This is a major concern and safety issue. I've never seen that many cracks happen at once. Some say well your hitting potholes but that isn't the case here.”
NHTSA complaint #11620782, 2024
“Rims keep cracking on the inside where the tire is sealed. This has happen a total of three times to both front and rear passenger side. Tire pressures are 36psi as recommended by manufacturer. No major pot holes or other road hazards have been hit.”
NHTSA complaint #11620213, 2024
Lane Departure 3 1 crash
“WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON FLORIDA STATE ROAD 54 TURN LANE TO GO ON US 75 WHEN THE OTHER CAR REAR ENDED US AND DROVE US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CRASH NUMBER 88482185. WE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS.”
NHTSA complaint #11407855, 2021 · crash
“Lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, adaptive high beam, forward collision warning system became unresponsive while driving on highway during trip. Had to take vehicle into GM dealership for ADAS camera replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #11730078, 2026
“The fuel pump power control module caused the fuel pump to fail and resulted in unexpected engine stall. The issue cause me and my 4 children to be stuck in the middle of the road waiting for a tow truck for over 3 hours. The vehicle could only be put in neutral while the car was on. Since I couldn’t start my car I could not put it in neutral to move the vehicle out of 2 way traffic. We want the issue confirmed by the dealership but the police who aided me and my children inspected the vehicle and recommend getting the fuel pump look at. No warnings were displayed.”
NHTSA complaint #11553902, 2023
Seats 3
“Seat, mirror, steering column pre-set driver adjustments do not come into proper driving configuration on a regular basis when starting vehicle. This is a dangerous situation when a malfunction does occur. Seat has tendency to squeeze driver torso into steering column and knees into dash. LH mirror inadvertently and unexpectedly tilts down toward the ground and ofter unnoticed. This makes for a dangerous condition where the driver assumes that there is no oncoming rear traffic and it's safe to pull away from a curb from a stopped position. This condition has occurred for over a year and while…”
NHTSA complaint #11599249, 2024
“Second row drivers side seat headrest latching mechanism failed. The head rest will not stay in the upright position and is a safety hazard if someone is sitting in the seat as it hits the passenger in the back of the neck.”
NHTSA complaint #11539490, 2023
“2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL ADVISING THE THIRD ROW SEATING POSITION BEING UNSAFE.”
NHTSA complaint #11496024, 2022
Steering 3
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that prior to the failure, there was an abnormal whining sound while turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for a…”
NHTSA complaint #11727466, 2026
“I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Chevrolet Suburban equipped with the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine. The vehicle has experienced a recurring problem related to the engine wiring harness. While driving, the vehicle will unexpectedly stall without warning. At the same time, there is an immediate loss of power steering assist, significantly reducing the ability to safely control the vehicle. This creates a dangerous situation, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The failure appears to be linked to a defect or malfunction in the engine wiring…”
NHTSA complaint #11725782, 2026
“The computer component surged, and the vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle brake function is lost. Stepping on the brake paddle did not apply brake. Brake function was disabled by the computer. I took the vehicle to dealer, they said it was a component that has high resistance that cause it. But not sure why it has high resistance at that time and the resistance is gone after driver restarted the vehicle. No one else inspected the component beside the dealership. There was no warning at all and this is the first time it happens. Driver was just driving normally and suddenly al…”
NHTSA complaint #11541953, 2023
Vehicle Speed Control 3 1 crash
“There is an electronic problem that continues to trip the warning for the Air Ride suspension system to fail leaving the vehicle stuck at its current ride height or it drops eithee the front or rear suspension to the ground while simultaneously raising the front or rear to its highest setting. It also causes the vehicle speed to drop immediately to 56 mph. Issue has been scanned by several dealers to determine air leaks, pinched wires, failing compressor and all were found to be in normal operation. This is a huge safety concern as well as a huge financial concern for the consumer.”
NHTSA complaint #11714782, 2026 · crash
“The computer component surged, and the vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle brake function is lost. Stepping on the brake paddle did not apply brake. Brake function was disabled by the computer. I took the vehicle to dealer, they said it was a component that has high resistance that cause it. But not sure why it has high resistance at that time and the resistance is gone after driver restarted the vehicle. No one else inspected the component beside the dealership. There was no warning at all and this is the first time it happens. Driver was just driving normally and suddenly al…”
NHTSA complaint #11541953, 2023
Structure 2 1 crash
“Safety Defect Complaint Vehicle Equipment: - Anti-lock Brakes - Full Front Air Bag - Passive Disabling Anti-theft Device Introduction: I am the registered owner and primary driver of a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. I am filing this safety complaint regarding a serious system malfunction that occurred during an accident in 2023, resulting in injury to myself and my daughter. As a responsible vehicle owner who has maintained this vehicle according to manufacturer specifications since its purchase on July 21, 2021, I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this incident. Safety Defect De…”
NHTSA complaint #11658176, 2023 · crash
“I was sold a vehicle from a dealership in Green Bay Wisconsin under the impression all safety regulations were met. The day I drove it off the lot, I had issues with the back drivers' door, making wind noise. I had messaged the salesman, he stated it may have been the door seal. Days went by, it wasn't sitting well with me, I made an appointment with a local body shop in. regard's to the door and suspicion of something not right. I brought it to the body shop, they informed me, that the back air bags were deployed and stuffed back into the roof, body work on the left side was done incorrectly…”
NHTSA complaint #11623927, 2024
Suspension 2 1 crash
“There is an electronic problem that continues to trip the warning for the Air Ride suspension system to fail leaving the vehicle stuck at its current ride height or it drops eithee the front or rear suspension to the ground while simultaneously raising the front or rear to its highest setting. It also causes the vehicle speed to drop immediately to 56 mph. Issue has been scanned by several dealers to determine air leaks, pinched wires, failing compressor and all were found to be in normal operation. This is a huge safety concern as well as a huge financial concern for the consumer.”
NHTSA complaint #11714782, 2026 · crash
“I bought the vehicle on January 11, 2025. Within 2 weeks the service leveling system indicator light came on the dashboard. The vehicle's front left air suspension system was not working properly and the vehicle lowered to the crash shield. The vehicle would not go over 55 miles and hour and was bouncing all over the road. The vehicle went back to the dealership and they reset and calibrated it. A few weeks later, the same thing happened. The vehicle again went down in the front, and was unsafe to drive. The dealership had the vehicle for 3 weeks, had difficulty assessing the situation…”
NHTSA complaint #11657714, 2025
Visibility/Wiper 2
“For the past 2 years my windshield wipers will fail randomly while using them during a rain storm. I will have to pull over and completely turn the vehicle off turn back on and they may start working again or restart a couple more times. I’ve taken it to the dealership twice over it and the one time it was when they didn’t work and no codes showed up. It just happened again while on the turnpike during a rain storm. It’s very scary because some roads you can’t pull over right away and It’s very hard to see when the windshield is completely covered and the wipers won’t work. A major safety issu…”
NHTSA complaint #11651671, 2025
“Yesterday marked the 2nd time that the front windshield wipers on my 2021 Chevy Suburban (58k miles) randomly stopped working while driving down the highway in a rainstorm. They would not come out of the resting position regardless on what setting they were put to on the wheel switch. They continued to not work for the hour drive back to my house. The last time this happened all fuses, motor, etc were checked and tested good. The wipers started working again a day or so later, using the windshield wiper fluid button to test. This marks the second time my family has been put in a situation dr…”
NHTSA complaint #11616767, 2024
Back Over Prevention 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the infotainment center malfunctioned and displayed a black screen. The contact stated that the backup camera was inoperable. The contact stated that due to the failure, the vehicle was unable to receive over-the-air updates from the manufacturer that were safety-related. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 88,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11640590, 2025
Chest Clip 1
“2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-617. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NOTICE INFORMED HER NOT TO USE THE 3RD ROW UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SEATBELT BUT DO NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL.”
NHTSA complaint #11493439, 2022
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban draws about 30.3 complaints per year on the road, ranking 1 of 4 among the Chevrolet Suburban model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
Before you buy this Chevrolet Suburban
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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.