MYRModel Year Report

2009 Chevrolet Suburban

▲ Better than typical
2009 Chevrolet Suburban
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:35:56.434Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
106
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2009

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

36% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1990: 54 complaints 1991: 52 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1996: 360 complaints 1997: 414 complaints 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2002: 286 complaints 2003: 301 complaints 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2009 106 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2014: 59 complaints 2015: 431 complaints 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2017 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 202 complaints 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2023 2024: 45 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1984 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1990: 54 complaints 1990 1991: 52 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1996: 360 complaints 1996 1997: 414 complaints 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2002: 286 complaints 2002 2003: 301 complaints 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2009 106 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2014: 59 complaints 2014 2015: 431 complaints 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2017 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2020: 44 complaints 2020 2021: 202 complaints 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2023 2024: 45 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1985 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1989 1990: 54 complaints 1991: 52 complaints 1991 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1995 1996: 360 complaints 1997: 414 complaints 1997 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2001 2002: 286 complaints 2003: 301 complaints 2003 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2007 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2009 106 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2011 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2013 2014: 59 complaints 2015: 431 complaints 2015 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2017 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2019 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 202 complaints 2021 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2023 2024: 45 complaints

2009: 106 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19821
19833
19846
19859
19867
198718
198830
198962
199054
199152
1992189
1993500
1994876
1995457
1996360
1997414
1998201
1999634
2000282
2001440
2002286
2003301
2004204
2005129
200623
2007292
2008213
2009106
2010117
2011148
2012101
2013118
201459
2015431
2016219
2017142
201884
201977
202044
2021202
2022121
2023129
202445

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

36% · 38 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a low rate of speed, she attempted to make a left turn and was hit by a car coming from the opposite side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-07-20

Unknown

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-01-12

Electrical system

15% · 16 reports
INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Passenger seat motor overheated. Initial indication was smell. Seat is powered (Forward and back only). Seat switches were not in use at the time. Vehicle was in powered and in motion. Smoke followed w/I 20" Of initial smell.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-03-29

Also filed under Seats

Electrical malfunction on my 2009 Chevrolet Suburban ltz. The car was purchased new from the dealer in nov 2009. Upon delivery, it was noted that the dash lights for function buttons did not illuminate and visor lamps were inoperable.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-04-26

Also filed under Interior lighting

Structure

10% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing body.

Show complaint excerpts

Dashboard on the driver sided cracked into 2 pieces. I am not the only one who have had this issues. I found quite numbers of owner have the same problem.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-10-11

Engine

9% · 10 reports

Latches/locks/linkages

8% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing latch.

Show complaint excerpts

Door locks no longer working on driver door, front passenger, and now rear passenger. Dealership says all three need replaced. Driver door went first, then front passenger, and then rear passenger.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-05

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2009-05-18Fuel system, gasoline09V154000 GM is recalling 27,188 my 2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade hybrid, escalade esv, and escalade ext; Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe, Tahoe Hybrid, and Colorado; and GMC yukon, yukon hybrid…

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

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2010-06-11Electrical system10V240000 GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; hummer H2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade…

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

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2021-03-01Air bags21V050000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500,...

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2021-05-11Air bags21V053000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles...

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  6. R
    2021-09-20Air bags21V052000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL...

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2009 Chevrolet Suburban — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 38 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 16 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 11 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 09V154000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 10V240000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 21V050000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V053000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V052000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 36% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.